The Sea Remembers Stede Bonnet

Lyrics *STEDE BONNET* The Gentleman Pirate *[INTRO — LOW STRINGS / CREAKING TIMBERS / DISTANT BELL]* They said he had a fortune. A house. A wife. A life of comfort. So naturally… He bought a ship. *And became a pirate.* --- *[VERSE I — THE GENTLEMAN]* Born to a life where the silver was bright, A gentleman's table, a gentleman's life, Land in his name and a respectable name, Then something inside him caught fire with the flame. He had no need for the cutlass or sea, No hunger for plunder, no need to be free, Yet somewhere behind that respectable door, A madness was whispering— *"Give me some more."* So he bought him a sloop and he called her **Revenge**, And sailed from his comfort straight over the edge. --- *[PRE-CHORUS — BUILDING]* No pirate by birth, No outlaw by trade, Just a gentleman tired Of the life he had made. --- *[CHORUS — HUGE / GANG VOCALS]* *RAISE THE BLACK FOR THE GENTLEMAN!* *THE LORD WHO THREW HIS TITLE TO THE SEA!* *HE LEFT HIS FINE HOUSE FOR A PIRATE'S DECK,* *AND BOUGHT HIMSELF A LIFE OF INFAMY!* *STEDE BONNET!* *THE GENTLEMAN PIRATE!* *WITH GOLD IN HIS POCKET AND FIRE IN HIS BRAIN!* *HE LEFT THE SHORE FOR THE BLACK FLAG'S CALL—* *AND THE SEA WOULD REMEMBER HIS NAME!* --- *[VERSE II — THE REVENGE]* The *Revenge* sailed out beneath Carolina skies, With gentlemen's manners and murderers' eyes, But Bonnet soon learned what the sea would demand— A captain needs more than a ship bought on land. His crew knew the ocean, they knew how to fight, While Bonnet was learning the pirate's life, So the gentleman captain found himself strange— A man out of place in the world he had changed. Then fate brought a pirate whose name struck fear— A man with a black beard the Devil might hear. *Blackbeard.* --- *[VERSE III — THE DEVIL AND THE GENTLEMAN]* Edward Teach saw the weakness at once, The gentleman captain was playing at once, So Bonnet surrendered command of his ship, While Blackbeard took *Revenge* on another dark trip. The gentleman sailed with the Devil awhile, Learning the ways of the pirate's vile style, But somewhere beneath all the madness and shame, Bonnet still carried his gentleman's name. He reclaimed his ship. He reclaimed his crew. And sailed once again— *As a pirate would do.* --- *[CHORUS — HEAVIER]* *RAISE THE BLACK FOR THE GENTLEMAN!* *THE LORD WHO THREW HIS TITLE TO THE SEA!* *HE LEFT HIS FINE HOUSE FOR A PIRATE'S DECK,* *AND BOUGHT HIMSELF A LIFE OF INFAMY!* *STEDE BONNET!* *THE GENTLEMAN PIRATE!* *WITH GOLD IN HIS POCKET AND FIRE IN HIS BRAIN!* *HE LEFT THE SHORE FOR THE BLACK FLAG'S CALL—* *AND THE SEA WOULD REMEMBER HIS NAME!* --- *[VERSE IV — THE FALL]* But the sea has no mercy for foolish pride, And the law kept hunting the pirate tide, The gentleman outlaw was finally caught, And dragged from the freedom that he had sought. In Charleston they gave him a chance to repent, To answer for crimes and the life he had spent, But the road he had chosen had carried him far— From a gentleman's table to a pirate's yard. The gallows were waiting. The crowd gathered near. And Stede Bonnet faced death Without hiding his fear. --- *[BRIDGE — QUIET / DARK]* What drove a wealthy man To abandon the shore? Was it madness? Was it boredom? Was it something more? Perhaps every cage Doesn't have iron bars. Perhaps some men leave comfort To discover who they are. --- *[FINAL CHORUS — MASSIVE / CHOIR + GANG VOCALS]* *RAISE THE BLACK FOR THE GENTLEMAN!* *THE LORD WHO THREW HIS TITLE TO THE SEA!* *HE LEFT HIS FINE HOUSE FOR A PIRATE'S DECK,* *AND BOUGHT HIMSELF A LIFE OF INFAMY!* *STEDE BONNET!* *THE GENTLEMAN PIRATE!* *THE LORD WHO BECAME AN OUTLAW AT SEA!* *HE LOST HIS LIFE TO THE BLACK FLAG'S CALL—* *BUT HE LEFT A STRANGER LEGACY!* --- *[OUTRO — LOW DRUM / CREAKING SHIP]* He wasn't born a pirate. He wasn't raised by the sea. He simply looked at the life he had… And chose another. *The gentleman became the pirate.* *The pirate became a legend.* And somewhere beneath the waves… *The Sea Remembers.*