Strong Is the King of the Sea

[Verse 1]
They came on a fog-slick morning
Black hair tied in twisting cords
Salt on their boots like armor
Dice in their pockets
Charm in their words
Cards on the barrel in Doolin
Laugh loud
Drink up
Then flee
O’Learys carving their legend
On every wave and quay
[Chorus]
Strong is the King of the Sea
That’s the toast of the O’Leary
Raise your glass
Sing it after me
Strong is the King of the Sea (hey!)
No gold
No law
No decree
Holds a rope to the wild and the free
We bend no knee to a crown or a creed
Strong is the King of the Sea
[Verse 2]
They’d wink at the landlord’s daughter
Dance her straight out of her shoes
Leave her breathless in the heather
Soft hair tangled
Grass-stained blues
Ring on the priest’s lost finger
Purse from a captain’s coat
Anything shining or secret
Found its way to their boat
[Chorus]
Strong is the King of the Sea
That’s the toast of the O’Leary
Raise your glass
Sing it after me
Strong is the King of the Sea (oh, sing!)
No judge
No chain
No key
Can lock what was born to be
We bend no knee to a crown or a creed
Strong is the King of the Sea
[Bridge]
Red wax seals in the water
Letters from lords gone dark
Every royal order
Drowned beneath their bark
“Come take us if you’re able”
They’d laugh from the harbor wall
“The King may sit at his table
But we answer the waves that call” (hey!)
[Chorus]
Strong is the King of the Sea
That’s the toast of the O’Leary
Raise your glass
Sing it after me
Strong is the King of the Sea
No throne
No flag
No plea
Ever owned our thievery
We bend no knee to a crown or a creed
Strong is the King of the Sea
[Outro]
O’Leary blood in the breakers
Black hair whipped by the gale
Strong is the King of the Sea
Remember the Irish Sea tale

Rousing Celtic punk-folk with male vocals, bodhrán-driven groove, rowdy fiddle and tin whistle lines; verses punchy and story-heavy, chorus explodes with gang vocals and stomps; electric guitar crunch sneaks in on the last chorus for an anthemic lift, big pub-chant outro, strong