Blood and Brine

[Verse 1]
We left from Plymouth in the gray of dawn
Tar on our fingers
Sunday best long gone
Salt on the biscuit
Rust in the pail
Names carved crooked in the ribs of the sail
[Chorus]
Heave
Boys
Heave
On the line
We trade our years for blood and brine
Storm may take us
Tide may bind
Sing for the ones left far behind
(heave, boys, heave)
Sing for the ones left far behind
[Verse 2]
Old Jack’s knuckles like a knotted rope
Eyes like lanterns burning low on hope
He kissed a locket
Whispered through his teeth
"Hold fast
Brothers
There’s a grave beneath"
[Chorus]
Heave
Boys
Heave
On the line
We trade our years for blood and brine
Storm may take us
Tide may bind
Sing for the ones left far behind
(heave, boys, heave)
Sing for the ones left far behind
[Bridge]
Three days lashed to a broken mast
Prayed each wave would be the last
Shared one oath with the howling sky
"One man falls
We all reply"
[Chorus]
Heave
Boys
Heave
On the line
We trade our years for blood and brine
Storm may take us
Tide may bind
Sing for the ones left far behind
(heave, boys, heave)
Sing for the ones left far behind

folk, Raw a cappella male shanty, 1800s naval tavern vibe. Lead vocal rough and chesty, gang responses on choruses, heavy boot-stomp and palm-slap as the only percussion. Verses stay tight and narrative, choruses explode with call-and-response and stacked harmonies. Roomy, smoky reverb, like a low wooden ceiling catching every shout., a cappella, rhythmic, raw, ballad, male vocals, shanty