shanty for the arethusa
Singer:decemberists, the
we set to sail on a packet full of spice
rum and tea-leaves. we've emptied out all the bars and the bowery hotels. tell your daughters do not walk the streets alone tonight
tell your daughters do not walk the streets alone tonight. to tell the tale of the jewess and the mandarin chinese boy
he led her down from her gilded canopy of cloth. and through her blindfold she could make out the figures there before her
and how the air was thick with incense
cardamom and myrrh. so goodnight
we set to sail on the clipper that's bound for south australia
the natives are dark and nubile. but if you listen
you can hear the footsteps on the cross-trees
the ghosts of sailors passed
their spectral bodies clinging to the shrouds. so goodnight