LYR ADD: Last Saskatchewan Pirate

Subject: LYR ADD: Last Saskatchewan Pirate^^^
From: Marion
Date: 23 Jul 99 - 01:58 PM

Since a few people have mentioned this song in the Saskatchewan thread, I thought I'd provide the lyrics, though I doubt it would serve Rick's purposes.

The song is by the Arrogant Worms (I've confirmed that) and is on their "Live Bait" CD.

THE LAST SASKATCHEWAN PIRATE

I used to be a farmer and I made a living fine
I had a little stretch of land along the C.P. 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
I looked for any 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 measly little sum
But I've got too much pride to end up just another bum
Then I thought who gives damn if the jobs are all gone
I'm going to be a pirate on the river Saskatchewan

And it's a heave ho, high ho, coming down the plains
Stealing wheat and barley and all the other grains
And it's a ho hey, high hey, farmers bar your doors
When you see the Jolly Roger on Regina's mighty shores

Well you'd think the local farmers would know that I'm at large
But just the other day I saw 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 Moose Jaw spans a mighty river
Farmers cross in so much fear their stomachs are a-quiver
Because they know that Tractor Jack is waiting in the bay
I'll jump the bridge and knock them cold and sail off with their hay

Well, Mountie Bob he chased me he was always at my throat
He'd follow on the shoreline cause he didn't own a boat
But cutbacks were a-coming and the Mountie lost his job
And now he's sailing with me and we call him Salty Bob
A swinging sword, a skull and bones, and pleasant company
I never pay my income tax and screw the GST
Prince Albert down to Saskatoon, the terror of the sea
If you want to reach the co-op, boy, you gotta get by me

Well, pirate life's appealing but you just don't find it here
I heard that in Alberta there's a band of buccaneers
They roam the Athabasca from Smith to Fort Mackay
And you're bound to lose your stetson if you have to pass their way
Winter is a-coming and a chill is in the breeze
My pirate days are over once the river starts to freeze
I'll be back in springtime but now I have to go
I hear there's lots of plundering down in New Mexico

Spoken: when the lead singer sings "Screw the GST" the band echoes, "Screw it!" During the instrumentals between verses, they yell, "Aarrrr... ya salty gopher.... aarrrrr... ya salty grain elevator..." and so forth

Saying a little prayer for the line breaks,

Marion
^^

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: Last Saskatchewan Pirate
From: Bob Landry
Date: 26 Jul 99 - 01:45 PM

Thanks, Marion, that's the one!

Bob

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: Last Saskatchewan Pirate
From: Sheye
Date: 27 Jul 99 - 09:13 AM

Thanks, Marion.

Captain Tractor made a video of this song, taped on the pirate ship at West Edmonton Mall.

Sheye

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: Last Saskatchewan Pirate
From: GUEST,Anthony Mason
Date: 02 Jul 24 - 07:09 AM

Here's a version I did for the Canberra Shanty Club: The Last Burley Griffin Pirate. I took my lead from another version called The Last Bristolian Pirate, by The Longest Johns. The later verse referencing our former Deputy PM was added recently.

The Last Burley Griffin Pirate

I used to be a farmer and my fortunes were so-so
I had a little stretch of land near Molongolo
But times were hard, and though I tried, the money wasn't there
And bankers came and took my land, and told me "fair is fair".

I looked for every kind of job, the answer always no
"Hire you now, " they'd always laugh, "we just let twenty go!"
The government they promised me a measly little sum
But I've got too much pride to end up just another bum
Then I thought, I’ll have a crack for goodness bloody sake,
I'm gonna be a pirate on Burley Griffin’s lake.

(Chorus)
'Cause it's a heave-ho, high-ho, coming down the hill
Robbing stand-up paddlers is such a bloody thrill
It’s a high-ho-hey, politicians bar your doors
When you see the Jolly Roger on Burley Griffin’s shores

You'd think the local people would know that I'm at large
But just the other day I saw an unsuspecting barge
It was cleaning blue-green algae and moving bloody slow
I rammed their ship and sank it – off a-roving I did go.

A bridge along Kings Avenue spans the mighty lake
Public servants cross in fear, their hands they start to shake
'Cause they know that I am lurking in the Parliamentary zone,
I'll jump the bridge and knock them cold and sail off with their phone.

(Chorus)

Well, the AFP they chased me, they were always at my throat
They followed on the shoreline, 'cause they didn't own a boat,
But cutbacks were a-coming and one copper lost his gig
So now he's sailing with me and we call him Salty Pig.

A swinging sword, a skull-and-bones, and pleasant company,
I never pay my income tax and screw the G.S.T. (Screw it!)
From Weston Park to Kingston, the terror of the sea
If you want to reach Ikea, boy, you gotta get by me!

(Chorus)

Parliament is sitting so there’s booty all around
The MPs and the lobbyists are easy to take down
They’re often pissed and miserable and wobbly on their feet
Sometimes you even find them passed out cold in Lonsdale Street

Well pirate life's appealing but you don't just find it here
I heard that in Belconnen there's a band of buccaneers
They roam Lake Ginninderra from Mackellar to UC
Their base is at the Lighthouse – where else would it be?


(Chorus)

Winter is a-coming and a chill is in the breeze
My pirate days are over once the Lake it starts to freeze
I'll be back in springtime, but for now I’ll sail away
I hear there's lots of plundering down in Batemans Bay.

(Chorus x2)

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: Last Saskatchewan Pirate
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Jul 24 - 09:52 AM

first verse of The Last Burley Griffin Pirate

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: Last Saskatchewan Pirate
From: sciencegeek
Date: 02 Jul 24 - 01:41 PM

LOL... on our public radio station WXXI one of the classical shows was hosted by delightful Brit who would start his morning slot with recorded bird calls and also include offbeat pieces in his salmagundi section ... I almost drove off the road when he played the last Saskatchewan Pirate LOL