The Death of Charles Vane - Charlie Zahm

Subject: The Death of Charles Vane - Charlie Zahm
From: GUEST,EllenV
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 11:58 AM

Has anyone besides me heard - and loved - this song?

What do you all think of CZ in general?

Subject: RE: The Death of Charles Vane - Charlie Zahm
From: JedMarum
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 01:12 PM

CZ is a very fine singer!

Subject: RE: The Death of Charles Vane - Charlie Zahm
From: EllenV
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 07:44 PM

Huzzah! I'm glad someone agrees.

IMHO, his versions of "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda", "Green Fields of France", "I Hae Seen the Hielands", "Scots Wha Hae", and "Arthur McBride" (to name a few) are the best ever.

Subject: RE: The Death of Charles Vane - Charlie Zahm
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 07:50 PM

Can we get the lyrics for "The Death of Charles Vane," along with some background information?

-Joe-

Subject: Lyr Add: THE DEATH OF CHARLES VANE (Charlie Zahm)
From: EllenV
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 08:09 PM

Sure, Joe.

Charlie Zahm wrote "The Death of Charles Vane" a few years ago and recorded it on his album entitled "A Summer's Morning Rare".

The song is about a famous - or infamous - 18th-century pirate named Charles Vane, telling the story of a few of his famous exploits and his eventual capture and hanging from Vane's perspective. Subject-wise and format-wise, it's somewhat similar to "MacPherson's Rant" (a.k.a. "MacPherson's Farewell").

The words are as follows (words I'm not sure of are marked with "(?)" afterwards):

THE DEATH OF CHARLES VANE (Charlie Zahm)

Verse 1:
I was born on the winds of a cold winter's morning
In the throes (?) of Atlantic's own tide
Oh, a pirate am I, and I strike without warning
And me name it is known far and wide
Oh, they call me Charles Vane
I cause terror and pain
From Bermuda to north Delaware
I've killed many's the man, and their blood's on my hands
As we steal o'er the wave
Our flag's black as the grave
Grab your axes and guns, be prepared

Chorus:
Farewell to ye brown maids of Mexico
Farewell to the thundering waves
Farewell to the coves that I've called my own
For I'm bound for perdition today
And remember the name Charles Vane

Verse 2:
On December sixteenth of 1718
While cruising the warm waters fair
The pearl of Jamaica at anchor seemed waiting
For a captain and crew to take there
Oh we fired six-pounders
We struck and she foundered
Soon after we robbed of her hold
And all to the sword were thrown overboard
And left strait to the sea
And to our victory
And to Captain Charles Vane so bold!

[Chorus]

Verse 3:
In late February the very next year
While sailing from Barnacle Bay
Well, a storm overtook us, my crew showed no fear
Though our craft met the reef and was staved
Ah, and while most men drowned
Sure footing I found
On an island off the Honduras coast
Where I saw two men I used to call friends
Ah, but traitors were they
For the crown gave their pay
And they'd rather that I were a ghost

[Chorus]

Verse 4:
To Jamaica they took me, all cast in irons
Condemned by the good friends of old
For while I was sleeping, they cruelly conspired
Though I offered them silver and gold
Ah, for brothers betray you
Your men disobey you
When they see you grown weary and weak
And without clothes nor light
I suffered the night as we pulled from the shore
It's Honduras no more
And the hangman is waiting for me

[Chorus]

Verse 5:
They're building the gallows, for tomorrow morning
On them I bravely must stand
For the robbing, the killing, the burning, the hording
The murder at sea and on land
Oh, and look at the sky
The seagulls' shrill cry
Seems mocking and laughing at me
And the grinning (?) sun, it beckons me run
To the mast once again
As so oftentimes when
I was master of ship and of sea

[Chorus]

Summed up: Obviously, Charles Vane's fate was just, but Zahm succeeds in making you feel quite sorry for him...

Subject: RE: The Death of Charles Vane - Charlie Zahm
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 08:22 PM

Thanks, Ellen-
I'll have to start looking for a recording. Charlie Zahm has a very nice Website at http://www.charliezahm.com/. He has a photo of himself in front of the Peggy's Cove lighthouse, so I'm immediately in thrall...
And besides, he has sound clips on his Website. The Charles Vane is on his Summer's Morning Rare album.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: The Death of Charles Vane - Charlie Zahm
From: EllenV
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 08:24 PM

He does have a nice website, though I wish he'd update the look. Oh well.

Subject: RE: The Death of Charles Vane - Charlie Zahm
From: GUEST,Laura
Date: 23 Mar 14 - 10:15 PM

I've been trying to find this ever since we started watching Black Sails - I kept telling my husband I knew I had heard a song about Charles Vane. Is there anywhere on the internet it is recorded? I can't find the Charlie Zahm album (I have it somewhere). and yes, he is the best

Subject: RE: The Death of Charles Vane - Charlie Zahm
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Mar 14 - 10:36 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0q8yHTQjg0

Worth a look.