Sticks And Stones
Ye Banished Privateers Lyrics

I used to be a beggar man, living on the streets, beggin' all the better men, to help me get a meal.
I used to struggle to make ends meet, often going without food or shelter, and had to rely on the kindness of others who were more well off.

But here's the thing with better men, they're best at being mean.
Unfortunately, those who are better off often lack empathy and kindness, and instead choose to be cruel and hurtful towards those less fortunate.

So I got fed with sticks and stones, that broke my bones.
As a result, instead of receiving help or kindness, I was met with physical violence and abuse that left lasting damage on my body and spirit.

So I became a wicker man, to learn an honest trade, asking all the better men to buy what I had made.
In an effort to escape the cruelty of those better off, I tried to learn a trade and sell my own goods and services, hoping they would buy from me instead of hurting me.

But here's the thing with better men, they're good at being cheap So I got payed in kicks and spits, and sticks and stones that broke my bones.
Unfortunately, those better off are also skilled at exploiting and underpaying those less fortunate, which left me once again facing physical and emotional harm.

Sick of the receiving end, I donned the headsman's hood, Rum drunk and with sword in hand, some justice serve I would.
Frustrated and tired of constantly being on the receiving end of abuse, I took the law into my own hands and sought vigilante justice, using violence and intimidation as my means.

But here's the thing with better men they never lie quite still, So I got served with rotten eggs, and kicks and spits, and sticks and stones, that broke my bones.
However, those better off never easily give up their power, and instead fought back with more violence and abuse, leaving me broken and defeated once again.

Then I become a mariner, in the navy I enrolled, I learned from ranking better men, to do as I'd been told.
In a final attempt to improve my situation and earn some stability, I enlisted in the military, where I learned how to follow orders and behave more like those better off than myself.

But here's the thing with better men, it's hard to make them pleased, So all I got was chains and rope And rotten eggs, and kicks and spits, and sticks and stones, that broke my bones.
Unfortunately, even with my new training and behavior, it was difficult to please those better off, and I was once again met with violence and abuse that left me physically and emotionally harmed.

I begged, I worked, I fought so hard To keep my consience clean But there is always better men Who will treat you mean
No matter how hard I tried, how much I begged or worked or fought, there would always be those better off who would seek to harm and exploit me simply because they could.

However hard you try my friend Youll always fall out short And all you get is broken hopes, and chains and ropes And rotten eggs and kicks and spits, and sticks and stones, that brake your bones!
No matter how much effort or energy I put into trying to better myself and escape the abuse, I would always come up short and be met with more harm and trauma, leaving me with little hope or strength to continue.

So now I am a buccaneer that sail the seven seas, preying on them better men for riches I can seize.
In a final act of rebellion and revenge, I became a pirate and sought to take from those better off than myself, using the skills and knowledge I had gained from my previous experiences.

And if they think they're better still, I bring them to their knees, Then I give them a taste of the old keel and plank, and chains and rope and rotten eggs, and kicks and spits, and sticks and stones, that brake their bones!
Facing those better off on the high seas, I sought to show them the error of their ways and make them suffer the same fate and trauma they had inflicted on me, using violence and revenge as my tools.