[Verse 1] I woke to tar on my hands And a gull scream in the dark Old map tucked in my vest And a key made from a shark The deck boards bite my boots When the breakers slap the hull Captain says, “Keep your eyes front” On this run, the sea is cruel [Pre-Chorus] Raise it up, boys Count the ropes Hold your breath We’re chasing hope [Chorus] Hoist the black flag high We ride, we ride Hoist the black flag high Tonight, tonight Gold in the hold, and a storm in our bones Hoist the black flag high We’re not going home [Verse 2] Sourdough crust, hard cheese And a bruise on every knuckle Dice rolled on a barrel top While the lanterns start to buckle I saw the harbor fading Like a dream in brine and smoke Then the captain laughed so loud That the whole damn crew just woke [Pre-Chorus] Raise it up, boys Hear the chains Salt and steel Run through our veins [Chorus] Hoist the black flag high We ride, we ride Hoist the black flag high Tonight, tonight Gold in the hold, and a storm in our bones Hoist the black flag high We’re not going home [Bridge] Let the thunder write our names On the cliff and on the tide If the sea wants all our stories It can choke on what we hide [Final Chorus] Hoist the black flag high We ride, we ride Hoist the black flag high Tonight, tonight Gold in the hold, and a storm in our bones Hoist the black flag high We’re not going home Hoist the black flag high We ride, we ride Hoist the black flag high Tonight, tonight Salt on our lips and the moon in our eyes Hoist the black flag high Till the last wave dies
