Tip the Black Spot
Pirate Jenny Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but what do they know?
Saying that it is time,
time for me to go.
Saying I'm a marked man,
that I've been chosen.
A man who called me ugly names
but never spoken.
with both hands
As I navigate
these shifty lads
And I'm watching out
with both eyes
My friends come and go
in disguise
I wont go down
I wont go down
'til they tip the Black Spot
'til they tip the Black Spot
'til they tip the Black Spot
'til they tip the Black Spot
The message is as clear
as it is simple
A Black Spot on a page
ripped from the Bible
And time is running out
that much I do know
The Black Spot never lies
as far as I know
And so I'm holding on,
there must be some mistake
And I'm praying that,
that it's not too late
And I'm rattled by
the cries of mutiny
And I watch them throw
my ashes to the sea
I guess I'll go
I guess I'll go
I'll go
When they tip the Black Spot
Fifteen men down a Dead Man's alley
got a quarter pound keg for a guilty man to tally
And we never play games and we never dillydally
In the midnight sun, keep those lights from the galley
We'll not bear his strikes or his bleeding or his whining
His irrational hope for a life will be tiny
Tie him up in the rope for the neck we're departing to the end of the pier
In the song "Tip the Black Spot" by Pirate Jenny, the singer seems to be speaking from the perspective of a pirate or sailor who is being accused of something, possibly a crime or betrayal. The singer acknowledges that people call them names and want them gone, but they are holding on and watching their back. The reference to the Black Spot, a mark of death in pirate lore, adds a sense of urgency to the situation. The singer is hoping that there has been some kind of mistake and that they will be able to prove their innocence before it's too late.
The imagery of the lyrics paints a picture of a dangerous and treacherous world where the stakes are high and trust is hard to come by. The reference to the Bible and the Black Spot being a symbol of death adds a layer of symbolism to the song. The pirate world is one where justice is swift and often harsh, and the singer is facing the possibility of being on the wrong side of that justice. The final line, "tie him up in the rope for the neck we're departing to the end of the pier," reinforces the idea of imminent danger and the singer's fear of meeting a cruel fate.
Overall, "Tip the Black Spot" is a song about survival and the constant threat that comes with living in a dangerous world where trust is hard to come by, and betrayal can mean the difference between life and death.
Line by Line Meaning
People will tell you that I'm slime,
Others will tell you negative things about me, but how much do they really know about who I am?
but what do they know?
I am questioning how much others know about me and whether or not their opinions matter.
Saying that it is time,
People are saying that it's time for me to leave or that my time is up.
time for me to go.
Others feel that I need to leave, but I am not ready to go yet.
Saying I'm a marked man,
I am being labelled as someone who is in trouble or has been targeted.
that I've been chosen.
It seems like others have singled me out for some kind of punishment or retribution.
A man who called me ugly names
Someone has insulted me and called me derogatory names.
but never spoken.
This person has never actually spoken these insults to me directly.
But I'm holding on,
Despite everything, I am still clinging to whatever power and control I have left.
with both hands
I am holding on tightly with everything I've got.
As I navigate
I am trying to make my way through a difficult situation.
these shifty lads
There are people around me who are not trustworthy and may have ulterior motives.
And I'm watching out
I am being vigilant and paying close attention to my surroundings.
with both eyes
I am keeping a keen eye on everything around me.
My friends come and go
I have people in my life who I thought were friends, but they are quick to leave when things get tough.
in disguise
These so-called friends are hiding their true intentions or loyalties.
I wont go down
I am determined to survive and not give up.
I wont go down
Even when things get tough, I refuse to give in or give up.
'til they tip the Black Spot
I will keep fighting and holding on until a certain event or outcome happens.
'til they tip the Black Spot
I am waiting for a specific event or outcome to occur, and I won't stop fighting until it does.
'til they tip the Black Spot
The outcome I am waiting for is the tipping of a Black Spot, which holds great significance to me.
'til they tip the Black Spot
This outcome will determine whether or not I can continue to hold on and survive.
The message is as clear
The meaning behind the Black Spot is unmistakable and easy to understand.
as it is simple
The meaning is straightforward and straightforward to comprehend.
A Black Spot on a page
The Black Spot is a symbol on a piece of paper.
ripped from the Bible
This symbol has been taken from a significant religious text.
And time is running out
There is a sense of urgency and a diminishing amount of time to act.
that much I do know
I am aware that there is a limited amount of time left to achieve my goal.
The Black Spot never lies
This symbol is a truthful and trustworthy indication of what is to come.
as far as I know
As far as I understand, this symbol has been a reliable indicator in the past.
And so I'm holding on,
Given the significance and gravity of the situation, I am continuing to hold on tightly.
there must be some mistake
I am hoping that there is some error or misinterpretation that can be corrected.
And I'm praying that,
I am hoping that a higher power or force can intervene and change the outcome.
that it's not too late
I am worried that there may not be enough time left to make a difference.
And I'm rattled by
I am feeling uneasy and anxious about.
the cries of mutiny
There are people around me who are rebelling or resisting my authority or leadership.
And I watch them throw
I am a passive observer, watching from the sidelines.
my ashes to the sea
I am being metaphorically cast aside and thrown into the ocean.
I guess I'll go
Given the situation and the outcome, there is no other choice but to leave.
I guess I'll go
There is a sense of resignation and acceptance in this statement.
I'll go
This final line represents a final decision and an end to the struggle.
When they tip the Black Spot
This final outcome represents the decisive moment that will determine the final course of action.
Contributed by Caleb T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.