The ninth track on Written in Salt, this song is a Longest Johns Original written by Josh Bowker.
Factoids[]
In the Sep 2022 full band livestream, they revealed that Andy's part was left out of the original album release of the song by accident; however, as Andy took over Josh's lead part, the four parts they perform now are the same ones included on the original recording.
John Paul Jones was a storied naval commander whose career began in Scotland in 1760 when he served as apprentice aboard the merchant ship Friendship at age 13. By 1768 he was master of a ship; however, his luck changed two years later when he was arrested in connection with the death of a sailor he'd had flogged for attempted mutiny — not an unusual punishment for such a charge, but the man was from an influential local family. He was released on bail and left the country, taking command of a merchant ship bound for Tobago, but this lasted only 18 months until he killed another mutinous crew member with a sword. He claimed self-defense, but unwilling to face trial, fled to the American colonies.
In 1775, he joined the newly founded Continental Navy in the American Revolution, and commanded various ships during the war. He saw significant successes, including capturing the British warship HMS Drake, which served as an inspiration for the permanent establishment of the United States Navy after the revolution. However, he also faced challenges of insubordination, and in turn had his own clashes with authority, leaving him for various stretches without a command.
During one such stretch in 1787, he left the United States to serve Empress Catherine II of Russia in the Russo-Turkish War, though he did intend to remain an American citizen and officer. He served as rear admiral in a flotilla in the Black Sea, helping to successfully drive Ottoman forces from the area, but political intrigue and perhaps his own misconduct led to him leaving the country in a cloud of scandal in 1789. He retired to Paris, where he died of intestinal disease in 1792.
His service in the American Revolution earned him a commemorative gold medal from the US Continental Congress and the title "chevalier" from King Louis XVI of France, and he has sometimes been referred to as "Father of the American Navy". The British, by contrast, usually denigrated him as a pirate, although historically speaking, he was not, in fact, a pirate.
Lyrics[]
These lyrics are based on the version performed by the Longest Johns on their album, Written in Salt.
Set feet, row! Set feet, row!
[Continues throughout]
{Chorus}
John Paul Jones is a pirate
No loyalty does he possess
Keep it up, we'll catch the pirate
And sink him along with the rest
Ho!
Born the son of a Scot, he was
Born the son of a Scot
But cut a man down in his prime, he did
So away to Virginia he got
Oh!
{Chorus}
Raised the flag of the Yanks, he did
Raised the flag of the Yanks
They hailed him as a hero, they did
And hoisted him up through the ranks
Oh!
{Chorus}
Sailed at the head of the French, he did
Sailed at the head of the French
But they swindled him out of his cash, they did
So away from them all he did wrench
Oh!
{Chorus}
Now he's kicking up storms in the Black Sea, he is
Kicking up storms in the Black Sea
Fighting the Turks for the Russian Queen
'Cause she pays him much more than the Yankee
Oh!
{Chorus}
John Paul Jones is a pirate
He may be just a chancer at best
Keep it up we'll catch the pirate
And sink him along with the rest
Ho!
Recordings[]
Streaming/Purchase[]
YouTube Videos[]
Full Band Streams[]
- Fancy Dress Social Media Live Stream Tour (31 Oct 2020)
- We Built This Stream(y) on Shant and Folk (11 Nov 2020)
- Nice Stream Sundae (Wednesday) (1 Sep 2021)
- Stream America (15 Mar 2022)
- Heinz Baked Stream (14 Sep 2022)
- Streamies (26 Jun 2024)