You people can watch while I’m scrubbing these floors
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And I’m scrubbin’ the floors while you’re gawking
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Maybe once ya tip me and it makes ya feel swell
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In this crummy Southern town
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In this crummy old hotel
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But you’ll never guess to who you’re talkin’
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No, you couldn’t ever guess to who you’re talkin’
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Then one night there’s a scream in the night
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And you’ll wonder who could that have been
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And you see me kinda grinnin’ while I’m scrubbin’
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And you say, “What’s she got to grin?”
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I’ll tell you
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There’s a ship
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The Black Freighter
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With a skull on its masthead
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Will be coming in
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You gentlefucks can say: “Hey gal, finish them floors!
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Get upstairs! What’s wrong with you! Earn your keep here!”
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You toss me your tips
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And look out to the ships
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But I’m counting your heads
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As I’m making the beds
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Cuz there’s nobody gonna sleep here
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Tonight, nobodys gonna sleep here, honey
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Nobody
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Nobody!
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Then one night there’s a scream in the night
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And you say: “Who’s that kicking up a row?”
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And ya see me kinda starin’ out the winda
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And you say: “What’s she got to stare at now?”
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I’ll tell ya
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There’s a ship
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The Black Freighter
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Turns around in the harbor
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Shootin’ guns from her bow
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Now, you gentlefucks can wipe off that smile off your face
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Cause every building in town is a flat one
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This whole frickin’ place will be down to the ground
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Only this cheap hotel standing up safe and sound
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And you yell: “Why do they spare that one?”
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Yes, that’s what you say: “Why do they spare that one?”
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All the night through, through the noise and to-do
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You wonder who is that person that lives up there?
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And you see me stepping out in the morning
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Looking nice with a ribbon in my hair
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And the ship
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The Black Freighter
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Runs a flag up its masthead
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And a cheer rings the air
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By noontime the dock
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Is a-swarmin’ with men
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Comin’ out from the ghostly freighter
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They move in the shadows
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Where no one can see
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And they’re chainin’ up people
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And they’re bringin’ em to me
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Askin’ me
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“Kill them NOW, or LATER?”
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Askin’ ME!
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“Kill them now, or later?”
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Noon by the clock
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And so still at the dock
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You can hear a foghorn miles away
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And in that quiet of death
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I’ll say, “Right now
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Right now!”
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Then they pile up the bodies
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And I’ll say
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“That’ll learn ya!”
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And the ship
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The Black Freighter
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Disappears out to sea
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And on it is me
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