2008 · From the album Empress Live!

Pirate Jenny

by Nina Simone

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04:52 Runtime
Jazz Genre

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03 · Lyrics

"Pirate Jenny"

You gentlemen can watch while I'm scrubbing these floors

And I'm scrubbin' the floors while you're gawking

Maybe once ya tip me and it makes ya feel swell

In this crummy Southern town

In this crummy old hotel

But you'll never guess to who you're talkin'.

No. You couldn't ever guess to who you're talkin'.

Suddenly one night there's a yell in the night

And you'll wonder who could that have been

And then you see me kinda grinnin' while I'm scrubbin'

And you say, "What the hell she's got to grin?"

I'll tell you.

There's a ship

The Black Freighter

With a skull on it's masthead

Will be coming in

You gentlemen can say, "Hey gal, finish them floors!

What the hell's wrong with you! Earn your keep here!

And you toss me your tips

And look out to the ships

But I'm counting your heads

As I'm making the beds

Cuz there's nobody gonna sleep here,

There's nobody gonna sleep here.

Suddenly one night there's a yell in the night

And you say, "Who's that kicking up a row?"

And then ya see me kinda starin' out the winda

And you say, "What the hell she's got to stare at now?"

There's a ship

The Black Freighter

Turns around in the harbor

Shootin' guns from her bow

Now

You gentlemen can wipe off that smile off your face

Cause every building in town is a flat one

This whole frickin' place will be down to the ground

Only this cheap hotel standing up safe and sound

And you yell, "Why do they spare that one?"

And you yell "Why do they spare that one?"

All the night through, through the noise and to-do

You wonder who is that person that lives up there?

And you see me kinda stepping out in the morning

Looking nice with gold in my hair

And the ship

The Black Freighter

Runs a skull up it's masthead

And a cheer rings the air

By noontime the dock

Is a-swarmin' with men

Comin' out of the ghostly freighter

They're moving in the shadows

Where no one can see

And they're chainin' up people

And they're bringin' em to me

Askin' me,

"Kill them now, or later?"

Askin' me!

"Kill them now, or later?"

Noon by the clock

And so still at the dock

You can hear a foghorn miles away

And in that quiet of death

I'll say, "Right now.

Then they pile up the bodies

And I'll say,

"That'll learn ya!"

And the ship

The Black Freighter

Disappears out to sea

And

On

It

Is

Me

Lyrics via Google. Copyright belongs to rights holders.

04 · FAQ

Frequently asked

When was "Pirate Jenny" released?
"Pirate Jenny" by Nina Simone was released on October 24, 2008 on the album "Empress Live!".
What genre is "Pirate Jenny"?
"Pirate Jenny" by Nina Simone falls within the jazz, vocal jazz, soul jazz genres.
What album is "Pirate Jenny" on?
"Pirate Jenny" appears on the album "Empress Live!" by Nina Simone.
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