A Soul for a Hand

(Verse 1)
Call: I traded my boots for a bottle of "Blue,"
Response: To drink with a ghost and his skeletal crew!
We sat in the galley of a ship made of glass,
Watching the years and the centuries pass!
He shuffled the cards and he dealt me a hand,
Of treasures no mortal could find on the land!
(Verse 2)
Call: His grin was a cavern, his eyes were but holes,
Response: He played for my shadow and three other souls!
He wagered a chest full of Spanish doubloons,
And the silver that drips from the half-eaten moons!
I laid down my aces, I reached for the prize,
With a hunger that flared in my salt-crusted eyes!
(Verse 3)
Call: But then came the sun with a crack and a glare,
Response: And I woke in the bilge with a louse in my hair!
The gold was all copper, the rum was just brine,
And the ghost was a mop-head I’d mistaken for fine!
My pockets were empty, my shadow was gone,
I’d lost to a spirit before the first dawn!
(Verse 4)
Call: "Where's all my riches? Where's all my loot?"
Response: "I've nothing but lint in the toe of my boot!"
The Captain just laughed as he kicked at my side,
"You've gambled your wits on the turn of the tide!"
So back to the scrubbing and back to the toil,
While my shadow is frying in spectral oil!
(Outro)
Call: Deal me in!
Response: I’m ready for more!
I’ll win back my soul from the ocean floor!

Traditional maritime sea shanty, baritone male vocal lead with chorus backing, rhythmic rowing tempo, acoustic folk, 18t