Molly Starlite & the Sputniks - The Ballad of Bloody Bess Lyrics

In 1794, the magistrate sent me away
Seven years hard labor for my crimes I would pay
To the land down under; headed down Sydney way
But they didn't expect the mutiny I stirred up that day

Sixteen men on a dead man's chest
Welcome aboard; I'm-a Bloody Bess
If you join the crew you gotta do what I says
'Cause I am Bloody Bess

In two years' time I'd gained a reputation and a fleet
Even the bravest men dared not cross the Tasman Sea
The tales they told all warned of the Pirate Queen
Bloody Bess has brought Oceania to it knees

Sixteen men on a dead man's chest
Welcome to my ocean; I'm-a Bloody Bess
If you sail through, you gotta do what I says
'Cause I'm the legendary Bloody Bess

One September night, a storm came up the starboard side
We battened down the hatches but it took us for a ride
Shipwrecked on an island,; found an unlikely ally
Together we rule this island... the Tiki God and I

Sixteen men on a dead man's chest
Welcome to my island; I'm a-Bloody Bess
If you stay here, you gotta do what I says
'Cause I'm the one the Tiki Idol blessed

For quite some time our compromise
Gave us both what we wanted
I'd lure in souls from the sea
And the tiki'd give 'em a good haunting
Until my love from Coventry
Came back to me, over the sea
He'd come to take me home
But that meant leaving the Tiki alone

I went into the cave, where the Tiki dwelled
I'd only come to say my final farewell
The Tiki is trickster and he cast on me a spell
I had disappeared; the ship rang for me eight bells

Sixteen men on a dead man's chest
Should have just done my time, I must confess
I stay here, the Tiki's permanent guest
Don't you cry no tears for Bloody Bess