by Victoria Bitter
by Victoria Bitter
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I don't know if this counts as a filk, but as my final exam in Folk
Music class, I had to compose one of the following in accordance with
the styles we had learned: A - spiritual. B - sea chantey. C -
ballad. I was deciding which of these to do with my three hour exam
slot, when I was suddenly struck with a mental snapshot so powerful
that I nearly broke down in tears right there in the classroom. It's
entirely Rugged Rose's fault because of her "Ashes" story, but I had
an incredibly vivid image of Matthews preparing Wellard's body for
burial at sea. I don't know whether to curse you for the emotional
angst or thank you for the resulting A+, but I thought the least I
could do was share the results.
***
He'd twenty-five years in the navy
Ten more than the boy was alive
But the saltwater leaked
Down the rugged tan cheek
As he whispered a simple goodbye
He'd fought over maggots and hardtack
Seen the flesh whipped from backs bloody red
But there was something too brutal
Too heartless and futile
About burying the not yet lived dead
They'd promised him glory in Plymouth
If he'd sign on with His Majesty's men
And the oaths that were made
Were so quickly betrayed
And never much thought of again
Now he closes the eyes of the children
Who've answered to duty's demands
They've signed and they've sworn
And it's too late to warn
That Neptune has blood on his hands
So he tailors the hammock to coffin
With a pair of round shot at the feet
The bloom has gone cold
At just fifteen years old
And on the horizon he sees the black fleet
She's manned well with His Majesty's sailors
And the French and the Spanish sail too
For the dark raven masts
Don't consider the pasts
Of the sailors they ravage and woo
He knows one day he'll sail with the black fleet
With the friends who have suffered and died
And those he has carried
Has prayed for and buried
Once again will all sail by his side
But for now he will tailor a hammock
To commit one more child to the deep
And a bit of a tear
Is all he will fear
For King George holds the part that could weep
King George stole the part that could weep
