Nina Simone - Pirate Jenny lyrics

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 it's 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
Tonight, nobodys 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 it's 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 at the dock
You can hear a foghorn miles away
And in that quiet of death
I'll say, "Right now 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