There Once Was a Pirate
Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater Lyrics
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Who put out to sea
His mates all around him
No maiden on his knee
Oh sail for a little
A little little litte
Oh sail for a little
Til she finds him
There once was a maiden
Who wandered the mead
To gather blue violets
Her mama would need
A wail through the willows
All hollow through the willows
She'll wail through the willows
'Til she finds him
The sea was so violent
The crew went below
They begged him to join them
But he would not go
Oh sail a little little
For just a little little
Oh sail for a little
'Til she finds him
Her heart was so laden
She fell by a tree
Sang of some pirate
Who haunted the sea
A wail through the willows
All hollow through the willows
She'll wail through the willows
'Til she finds him
A wail through the willows
(sail for a little)
All hollow through the willows
(the willow willows)
She'll wail through the willows
(sail for a little)
'Til she finds him
He'll sail for a little
A little little litte
He'll sail for a little
'Til she finds him
He'll sail for a little 'til she finds him
The song "There Once Was a Pirate" by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater tells a story about a pirate who went out to sea with his crew and a maiden who wandered the mead to gather blue violets for her mother. Despite the violent sea, the pirate stayed on deck while his crew went below, leaving him alone at the mercy of the ocean. The maiden, who was in love with the pirate, searched for him while wailing through the willows until she found him. The lyrics suggest that even though the sea was rough and the journey was dangerous, the pirate and the maiden are determined to find each other.
The song is a ballad that creates a melancholic atmosphere with its slow tempo and sad lyrics. The use of repetition throughout the song emphasizes the themes of persistence and longing. The repetition of the phrase "sail for a little" and "wail through the willows" creates a sense of urgency and determination to find each other.
Overall, the song "There Once Was a Pirate" tells a tragic love story that emphasizes themes of perseverance and never giving up on what you love.
Line by Line Meaning
There once was a pirate
The story is about a pirate.
Who put out to sea
The pirate sailed on the sea.
His mates all around him
His crew was with him.
No maiden on his knee
He did not have a woman with him.
Oh sail for a little
Let us keep sailing.
A little little litte
For a little bit of time.
Oh sail for a little
Keep sailing for a little while.
Til she finds him
Until someone finds him.
There once was a maiden
A woman was also part of the story.
Who wandered the mead
She was walking in a meadow.
To gather blue violets
She was picking blue violets.
Her mama would need
Her mother required violets.
A wail through the willows
She cried while walking through the willows.
All hollow through the willows
The sound echoed through the willows.
She'll wail through the willows
She will keep walking and crying.
Til she finds him
Until she finds the pirate.
The sea was so violent
The sea was rough and dangerous.
The crew went below
The crew went to the lower part of the ship.
They begged him to join them
They asked him to come with them.
But he would not go
However, the pirate refused to go.
He'll sail a little little
The pirate will continue to sail a bit.
For just a little little
For only a small amount of time.
Oh sail for a little
Let us keep sailing for a bit longer.
Til she finds him
Until someone finds him.
Her heart was so laden
She was heavy-hearted.
She fell by a tree
She collapsed by a tree.
Sang of some pirate
She sang a song about the pirate.
Who haunted the sea
The pirate was someone who was known to sail the sea.
A wail through the willows
She continued walking and crying through the willows.
All hollow through the willows
Her cries echoed through the willows.
She'll wail through the willows
She will keep walking and crying.
Til she finds him
Until she finds the pirate.
A wail through the willows
She continued walking and crying through the willows.
sail for a little
Keep sailing for a bit longer.
All hollow through the willows
Her cries echoed through the willows.
The willow willows
It emphasizes the sound of the willows.
She'll wail through the willows
She will keep walking and crying.
Til she finds him
Until she finds the pirate.
He'll sail for a little
The pirate will continue to sail for a bit.
A little little litte
For a little bit of time.
He'll sail for a little
Keep sailing for a bit longer.
Til she finds him
Until someone finds him.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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