For a Fragile Moment’s Ease

A long way from the mainland forgotten by the crown
There's a cabin by the lookout cliff in this sleepy little town
Where there's laughter in the orchard and me small'uns run around
And me soul mate sings a lovesong from a distant County Down

In a harbor town bordello with the cattle I was raised
This mwas any years ago now and a long way from this place
But to rise up from the gutters, there's a price you have to pay
You tell me, "Was it worth it?" when you've listened to my tale

I have fallen through the gallows, I've donned a priest man's robe
Got stuck in the windwards shallows with a tackle and a rope
Made an orphan of a keelson, and I've stared a deadeye down
Even bedded with a stern gun and I danced her off the brow

I brought fire down on Bristol, in Portal Royal I have bled
And I've swung away me trusted boarding axe till navy decks ran red
And I've smuggled shady documents on pestilential dead
Sold out me loyal shipmates to save me sorry head

And I've sunk unarmed freighters, and I've watched the crewmen drown
And I shot my mate Johansen in the back in Kingston town
Even signed a sheet of paper to hunt my brethren down
Then stole away the navy sloop and ran that shit aground

Now I've swum across the Lethe, now I'm resting on the shore
I divided and I conquered, but now I sail no more
For my love and for my children, for a fragile moment's peace
With all my sins I paid for this friend enter, be at ease