Indian Empire

What will we do with ocean plastic?
What will we do with ocean plastic?
What will we do with ocean plastic?
Early in the morning
Early in the morning.

Delays so slow we need something drastic.
Delays so slow we need something drastic
Delays so slow we need something drastic

Way Hey we’ve found the answer
Way Hey we’ve found the answer
Way Hey we’ve found the answer
Early in the morning.
Early in the morning.

-Paul Brookes

The Ballad of Israel Hands
(Sung to the tune of The Ballad of Sam Hall, traditional)

Oh me name is Israel Hands, bless yer eyes, bless yer eyes
Me name is Israel Hands, bless yer eyes
I sailed across the sea with me cutlass on me knee
Bless yer eyes

Our captain’s name was Blackbeard, bless yer eyes, bless yer eyes
His beard as black as pitch, bless yer eyes.
He’s a captain good and true for he’s kindly to his crew
Bless yer eyes

We plundered from our foes, bless yer eyes, bless yer eyes
We plundered from our foes, bless yer eyes
We stole silver, spice and gold and we stowed it in the hold
Bless yer eyes

We collected many ships, bless yer eyes, bless yer eyes
We corralled quite a fleet, bless yer eyes
We captured ‘em at sea and we robbed them with some glee
Bless yer eyes

Oh and when I was ashore, bless yer eyes, bless yer eyes
They made a trap for Blackbeard, bless yer eyes,
Maynard’s men burst from the hold and my captain’s life was sold
bless yer eyes

They threw his body in the sea, bless yer eyes, bless yer eyes
His head hung on the bowsprit, bless yer eyes,
I got off scott free, the king’s pardon was on me
bless yer eyes

So Blackbeard’s pirate days were over, bless yer eyes, bless yer eyes
Flintlocks, grenades and irons couldn’t save him, bless yer eyes,
Farewell to the glory days, at least he went out in a blaze
bless yer eyes

I often think about him, bless yer eyes, bless yer eyes
And the times we put to sea, bless yer eyes,
Now I drink my tot of rum and wait for death to come
bless yer eyes

Note: Israel Hands was a crew member of Adventure, ship captained by the notorious pirate Blackbeard.

=Angela Topping