A pirate, a pirate!
I'd like to be a pirate!
A black-bearded pirate, with a pistol at my side!
With a crew to take my orders
And scour the ocean's borders,
I'd tramp along the quarterdeck, my ship upon the tide!
A pirate, a pirate!
I want to be a pirate
A-sailing off to Tartary, to India, and Spain!
I'd show them I was master,
As we scudded fast and faster,
We pirates bold, a-search for gold, across the Spanish Main!
A pirate, a pirate!
I'd like to be a pirate,
A scarlet scarf about my neck, a cutlass at my wrist!
With my boots of shining leather
Creaking when they rubbed together,
And a foeman lank, to walk the plank, whenever I'd insist!
A pirate, a pirate!
I want to be a pirate!
To sail the seas for treasure, and to keep it in our hold!
To fear no foe nor nation—
What a splendid occupation
To be a doughty pirate in the daring days of old!
A pirate, a pirate!
But if I were a pirate,
I couldn't have a pair of skates, a football, or a sled!
So, when I think it over,
Though I'd like to be a rover,
I'd rather live in our house, and be myself, instead!