Tyme Flyes When You'Re Havin' Rum

No future was there in London for a poor man's son like me
So I left my home, and I went to seek my fortune on the sea
I signed aboard a merchant ship bound for the West Indies
And six weeks out, we tapped into the winds of piracy

There were sails on the horizon, and we tried to make a run
And when we saw that black flag, then our runnin' it was done
And when those pirates boarded us, they told us one-by-one
"You can die or join our crew, me boys, time flies when you're havin' rum"

Time flies when you're havin' rum, me boys
Time flies when you're havin' rum
When you're sailin' under the black flag, and you're firin' all your guns
When you take a Spanish treasure ship, you divide by the rule of thumb
The voyage will be over soon enough
Time flies when you're havin' rum

With a pistol to my forehead, then my choice was all too clear
I took leave of that merchant ship and became a buccaneer
And though they spared my life, I think that if the truth be told
I'd joined them for the promise of adventure, rum, and gold

The quartermaster handed me a cutlass and a gun
And as I signed their articles, the captain told me, "Son
Us gentlemen of fortune live life fast and on the run
So step right up and take your share, time flies when you're havin' rum!"

Time flies when you're havin' rum, me boys
Time flies when you're havin' rum
When you're sailin' under the black flag, and you're firin' all your guns
When you take a Spanish treasure ship, you divide by the rule of thumb
The voyage will be over soon enough
Time flies when you're havin' rum

For two long years, I sailed with them around the Spanish Main
And we captured ships from Portugal, from England, France and Spain
And we took what we could, and we gave none back, for that's the pirate's code
And the wake we left in the Caribbean Sea ran red with blood

Now the admiralty in London sent a fleet to hunt us down
And a traitor in Port Royal told them where we could be found
They surrounded us, and I saw the captain shouted, "Let 'em come!
The fight will be over soon enough, time flies when you're havin' rum!"

Time flies when you're havin' rum, me boys
Time flies when you're havin' rum
When you're sailin' under the black flag, and you're firin' all your guns
When you take a Spanish treasure ship, you divide by the rule of thumb
The voyage will be over soon enough
Time flies when you're havin' rum

We ran the red flag up, and then we readied all our guns
No quarter would we give and in return expected none
We got off one good broadside, but outnumbered ten to one
They took out half our crew, and then our piratin' was done

They took us back to London town under key and lock
And the hangman's noose was swingin' at the execution dock
The captain turned and said to me, "We had fine sailin', Son
The voyage, it was over all too soon, time flies when you're havin' rum!"

Time flies when you're havin' rum, me boys
Time flies when you're havin' rum
When you're sailin' under the black flag, and you're firin' all your guns
When you take a Spanish treasure ship, you divide by the rule of thumb
The voyage will be over soon enough
Time flies when you're havin' rum

Now as you've listened to this tale, by now, I'm sure you have surmised
That I slipped the hangman's cable and escaped him with my life
But how I got away? Well, that's another story, Son
My voyages they aren't over yet, time flies when you're havin' rum!

Time flies when you're havin' rum, me boys
Time flies when you're havin' rum
When you're sailin' under the black flag, and you're firin' all your guns
When you take a Spanish treasure ship, you divide by the rule of thumb
The voyage will be over soon enough
Time flies when you're havin' rum

Time flies when you're havin' rum, me boys
Time flies when you're havin' rum
When you're sailin' under the black flag, and you're firin' all your guns
When you take a Spanish treasure ship, you divide by the rule of thumb
The voyage will be over soon enough
Time flies when you're havin' rum