"Maggie's Ship" is a Longest Johns original, written by Dave Robinson and released as track 12 on Voyage. It is the only Dave-penned song on the album, and the first released after his departure from the band. The lyrics tell the fictional story of a tyrannical (but oddly attractive) ship's captain and the hellship she runs. Stylistically, the song features a rockabilly-influenced sound; JD mentions in the Voyage companion book that Dave's main instruction for the arrangement was that he wanted bass player Anto (a big rockabilly fan) to "have as much fun as possible" with it.
Factoids[]
Dave has mentioned that he took inspiration from the Bob Dylan song "Maggie's Farm", specifically as performed by Mountain Heart.
The voice of Maggie in the song is provided by Margaret Fowlie, a former coworker of both Anto and Robbie.
Anto's album credit for "Italian yelling" refers to this song: near the end, he can be heard yelling in the background. He confirmed to a fan on Instagram that he said, "Non ci voglio andare a lavorare con Maggie! Non ci vadoooo!", which he translated as, "I don't wanna go to work with Maggie! I don't wanna goooooo!"
Lyrics[]
As performed on the album.
There's a wicked captain by the name of Maggie Grey
The strongest arm and coldest heart from here to Boston bay
She flashes you a smile, buys you a drink and maybe more
You'll wake up in the morning half a mile away from shore
I don't wanna work another day on Maggie's ship
I don't wanna work another day on Maggie's ship
She's stingy with the coinage but she's generous with the whip
No, I don't wanna work another day on Maggie's god damn ship
Now, Maggie she's a tyrant, cutting bite and meaner bark
She learnt to break men's spirits before you had learnt to walk
She'll shoot the wings right off a fly from 50 yards away
She'll shoot you just for fun, or if you dare to disobey
I don't wanna work another day on Maggie's ship
I don't wanna work another day on Maggie's ship
If she gives me ten more lashes, then I might give her the slip
No, I don't wanna work another day on Maggie's god damn ship
Her crew's the coarsest bunch of cads she dragged from out the depths
She raids the brig of any sorry ships she intercepts
Her brother is the bosun, her fat daddy is the cook
Her mother's doing time for all the Spanish gold she took
I don't wanna work another day on Maggie's ship
I don't wanna work another day on Maggie's ship
She might not run you through but she'll sure poke you with the tip
No, I don't wanna work another day on Maggie's god damn ship
She'll push you to your limit 'til you can take no more
She'll bend and break your spirit; you're begging on the floor
She'll make you cry for mother, she'll make you long for shore
She'll treat you like no other, god damn, I think I love her
Maggie's ship, Maggie's ship, Maggie's ship (repeat)
(I don't wanna work)