[Vocal: Male alt (25 y/o), soft, ballad-like. Starts tender, storytelling, then grows emotional and soaring. Backing vocals in group chant style for sea shanty feel.]
[Instrumental: Acoustic guitar, fiddle, accordion, bodhrán (drum), with occasional orchestral swells (strings, brass) to give that “Pirates of the Caribbean” cinematic feel. Rhythm rocking like the waves.]
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[Intro — fiddle playing a sea shanty phrase, accordion joins, gentle acoustic strums]
[alt, calm, storytelling tone]
He was a boy upon the deck, afraid to face the tide,
With trembling hands he gripped the ropes, his fear too big to hide.
The sea it roared, the mast it swayed, the storm would never rest,
But still he dreamed of captain’s coat, with courage in his chest.
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[Chorus — full band swells, shanty-like rhythm, group backing vocals “hey-hey”]
Raise the sails, though the night is long,
Sing the waves our cabin boy’s song.
Fear the water, but dream the crown,
One day he’ll stand when the sun goes down.
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[Verse 2 — fiddle + bodhrán, softer, bittersweet]
The crew they laughed, they called him weak, a landlocked child of shame,
But in his eyes a fire burned, a hunger none could tame.
He faced the sea with shaking knees, yet held his head up high,
For every sailor knows the truth: the brave are those who try.
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[Chorus — stronger, voices layered like a tavern chorus]
Raise the sails, though the night is long,
Sing the waves our cabin boy’s song.
Fear the water, but dream the crown,
One day he’ll stand when the sun goes down.
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[Bridge — stripped back, only accordion + whispered alt]
[alt whisper]
The ocean calls, the deep unknown,
The boy must sail his ship alone.
[alt rising]
And though he fears the waters wide,
The dream of captain won’t subside!
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[Final Chorus — orchestral swell, fiddle soaring, group chant backing]
Raise the sails, though the night is long,
Sing the waves our cabin boy’s song.
Fear the water, but dream the crown,
One day he’ll stand when the sun goes down.
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[Outro — fiddle reprises the shanty theme, fading into sound of waves and gulls]
[alt, soft, almost lullaby]
He was a boy upon the deck, afraid to face the tide…
But even cowards turn to kings, with courage on their side.
TwistedTwins