[Intro – slow blues guitar, haunted organ]
[Captain – gravelly drawl]
Three nights since the guns went quiet.
Three nights beneath a blood-red sky.
No navy lanterns.
No crown sails.
But something’s following our wake, boys…
And it ain’t flying colors.
[Organ rises]
[Verse 1]
The compass shakes inside its glass,
Though north ain’t moved at all.
Lanterns die without a wind,
Cold whispers cross the hull.
Black water coils around the keel,
Red lightning scars the night.
Something watches from below,
Beyond our sight.
Still we sail.
Still the black flag flies.
[Pre-Chorus]
[Captain]
Keep that bastard flying!
[Crew]
BLACK FLAG HIGH!
[Captain]
Something knows our name tonight.
[Crew]
THEN LET IT FUCKING TRY!
[Chorus – gang vocals, heavy organ]
THE DEVIL KNOWS OUR FLAG!
HE’S SEEN THE BLACK WE FLY!
WE STOLE OUR SOULS FROM DEATH ITSELF
AND SPAT INTO THE SKY!
THE DEVIL KNOWS OUR FLAG!
HE KNOWS WHERE WE HAVE BEEN!
WE SAILED BEYOND THE MORTAL SEA—
AND CAME BACK OUT AGAIN!
[Heavy riff – organ answers guitar]
[Verse 2]
A voice rolled underneath the deck
Like chains across a grave:
“You stole what never belonged to men
Beyond the mortal wave.”
The whole damn crew went silent.
The captain poured his rum.
“If Hell has business with this ship…
Tell the bastard come.”
The moon burned bloody red.
Words bled across the sails:
RETURN WHAT YOU STOLE.
[Captain]
No.
[Organ strike]
[Pre-Chorus]
[Captain]
Who owns this ship?
[Crew]
NO GOD! NO KING!
[Captain]
Who owns our souls?
[Crew]
NOT A DAMN THING!
[Captain]
And if the Devil wants his due?
[Crew]
LET HIM COME!
[Chorus – gang shanty]
THE DEVIL KNOWS OUR FLAG!
HE’S WATCHING FROM BELOW!
WHATEVER FOLLOWED FROM THE VEIL
NOW KNOWS WHICH WAY WE GO!
THE DEVIL KNOWS OUR FLAG!
LET EVERY DEMON SEE!
WE CHEATED DEATH AND STOLE OUR LIVES—
NOW TAKE THEM FROM THE SEA!
[Breakdown – roaring organ, crushing dubstep]
[Captain – spoken]
I’ve watched kings beg.
I’ve stared into the Collector’s hollow eyes
and sailed home anyway.
So whatever’s listening down there…
You want what we stole?
COME GET IT.
[Massive bass drop]
[Crew – rhythmic]
BLACK!
[Drop]
FLAG!
[Organ]
NEVER!
[Drop]
KNEELS!
BLOOD!
AND!
STEEL!
[Bridge – dark sea-shanty chant]
Ohhhhhh…
Let the black tide rise…
Dead men sailed where angels drown,
Stole their souls and turned around.
Hell remembers who we are—
[Crew – roaring]
THEN HELL CAN FOLLOW FROM AFAR!
[Final Chorus – full band, massive organ]
THE DEVIL KNOWS OUR FLAG!
LET ALL THE DARKNESS SEE!
NO CROWN ABOVE!
NO HELL BELOW!
WILL EVER OWN THIS SEA!
THE DEVIL KNOWS OUR FLAG!
[Crew]
BLACK FLAG HIGH!
[Captain – gravelly]
Keep sailing, boys.
If the Devil wants us…
He knows the flag.
[Outro – organ fading]
[Crew – distant]
BLACK FLAG HIGH…
BLACK FLAG HIGH…