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Susquehanna Pirate

from Cutting Bracken by Fire In The Glen

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about

(sung to the tune of "The Last Saskatchewan Pirate")

lyrics

The Susquehanna Pirate

I used to be a farmer and I made a living fine,
I had a little stretch of land along the Lebanon line
But though I tried and tried, the money wasn't there
And bankers came and took my land and told me fair was fair.
(Mean bankers!)

I looked for every kind of job, the answer always no!
"Hire you now?" they'd always laugh. "We just let 20 go."
The government, they promised me a measely little sum
But I got too much pride to end up just another bum.

So I thought who gives a damn if poverty draws near,
I'm gonna be the Susquehanna's greatest buccaneer.

CHORUS:
And it's a heave-HO high-HO sail at early morn,
Stealing ripe tobacco and silver queen white corn.
And it's a ho-HEY way-HEY, farmers bar your doors
When you see the Jolly Roger off the Susquehanna shores.

Well, you'd think the local farmers would know that I'm at large,
But just the other day I sank an unprotected barge.
I snuck up right behind them and they were none the wiser,
I rammed their ship and sank it and I stole their fertilizer.

A bridge outside of Columbia spans the mighty river,
Farmers cross in so much fear their stomachs are a-quiver,
'Cause they know that Shoofly Jake is waiting for some fun --
I'll jump the bridge and steal their beans and leave 'em there with none.

CHORUS

The pirate life's appealing and it calls to seamen true
I hear the Conestoga's home to many a pirate crew
They sail their way through Intercourse, Gap and Bird-in-Hand
And you're bound to lose your chow-chow if you cross their merry band.

A ship, a sword, a skull & bones and very little stress,
I never pay my income tax, and screw the IRS!
From Harrisburg to Havre de Grace I leave 'em high and dry,
But, boys, I ain't no dummy, I steer clear of TMI!

CHORUS

The state police can't catch us, their boats are awful slow,
And when the wind's against us, watch our Flyin' Dutchmen row!
Last week they almost caught us when we came into the dock,
So now we keep a lookout posted up on Chickies Rock.

We never pay our hotel bill, we always steal the towels.
At night we slip ashore, have a beer and tip some cows.
But soon I hear the river call, it's time to sail once more,
The tobacco fleet is moving, so let's hear each pirate ROAR!

CHORUS

Lyrics by Tom Knapp,
tune and inspiration by the Arrogant Worms (used with permission).

credits

from Cutting Bracken, released January 16, 2023

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about

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Fire In The Glen York, Pennsylvania

Fire in the Glen, an energetic trio based in York, Berks and Lancaster counties, doesn't hold back at its performances! Featuring Tom Knapp (fiddle, bodhran, vocals), Amanda Wells (vocals, guitar), and Rod Nevin (vocals, bagpipes, whistles)
Fire In The Glen brings Irish, Scottish and Maritimes music, as well as their own brand of "Celtic eclectic" accents, to southcentral Pennsylvania and beyond. ... more

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