"Hoist the Colors" is a song from the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise, originally appearing in the 2007 installment Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. The title phrase literally refers to raising the flag of a ship, but in the films it is used as a call to arms for members of the Brethren Court, a confederation of pirates. The lyrics tell of the binding of the sea goddess Calypso in human form by the first Pirate King and Brethren Court of pirates. [1]
The Longest Johns released their cover of the song on YouTube on 26 July 2023, and it was later included on Caught in the Net Vol 1, released 18 October 2024.
Factoids[]
The song was inspired by an urban legend about the nursery rhyme "Sing a Song of Sixpence" originating as a coded message used by Blackbeard and his associates to recruit crew members for their voyages.[2]
The eerie drone effect in the background of the song is a recording of Andy holding a single long note using overtone singing, plus a low bass note from JD, looped to play continuously through the whole song.
Lyrics[]
As provided in the YouTube video description.
The King and his men stole the Queen from her bed
And bound her in her bones
The seas be ours, and by the powers
Where we will, we'll roam
{Chorus}
Yo ho, all hands
Hoist the colours high
Heave ho, thieves and beggars
Never shall we die
Yo ho, haul together
Hoist the colours high
Heave ho, thieves and beggars
Never shall we die
Some men have died and some are alive
And others sail on the sea
With the keys to the cage and the devil to pay
We lay to Fiddler's Green
{Chorus}
The bell has been raised from its watery grave
Do you hear its sepulchral tone?
We're a call to all, pay heed to the squall
And turn your sail toward home
{Chorus}
Yo ho, all hands
Hoist the colours high
Heave ho, thieves and beggars
Never shall we die