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   Pirate Jenny
  (1928) Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill
   
  You people 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'.

Then one night there's a scream in the night
And you'll wonder who could that have been
And you see me kinda grinnin' while I'm scrubbin'
And you say, "What's she got to grin?"
I'll tell you.

There's a ship
The Black Freighter
with a skull on its masthead
will be coming in

You gentlemen can say, "Hey gal, finish them floors!
Get upstairs! What's wrong with you! Earn your keep here!
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, honey
Nobody
Nobody!

Then one night there's a scream in the night
And you say, "Who's that kicking up a row?"
And ya see me kinda starin' out the winda
And you say, "What's she got to stare at now?"
I'll tell ya.

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?"
Yes.
That's what you say.
"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 stepping out in the morning
Looking nice with a ribbon in my hair

And the ship
The Black Freighter
runs a flag up its masthead
and a cheer rings the air

By noontime the dock
is a-swarmin' with men
comin' out from the ghostly freighter
They move 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 by the dock
You can hear a foghorn miles away
And in that quiet of death
I'll say, "Right now.
Right now!"

Then they'll 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
 
   
  Recording live session 1964 Mar. 21, New York, Carnegie Hall -- First recording session with Philips (LP In Concert)
    LP 1964 In Concert Philips (US) PHM 200-135, (E) 652-053 [6:36]
    LP 1969 Best Of Philips [6:39]
    CD 1990 In Concert+I Put A Spell On You Mercury 846543-2 [6:36]
    CD 1990 Best Of Philips 822 846-2 [6:39]
    CD 1991 Moon of Alabama Jazz Door JD1214 [0:40]
    CD 1993 Jazz Master 17 Verve 518 198-2 [0:36]
   
  Recording live session 1985, USA
    CD 0000 Do What You Gotta Do Music Options MO 3031 [4:53]
    CD 0000 My Baby Just Cares For Me Flash F 2136-2 [4:53]
    CD 1987 Live & Kickin, vol. 1 Esperance 8454 [0:55]
    LP 1987 Live & Kickin [0:55]
    CD 1991 Nina Simone (Rockstar) Rockstar RCK 129 [4:53]
    CD 1993 Private Collection Pilz PILZ448241-2
    CD 1993 My Baby Cat Dog 'n' roll DNR 015 [4:53]
    CD 1995 Live! LaserLight 12 615
 
Lyrics provided for academic research purposes only. Commercial use is prohibited.
Comments to Mauro Boscarol