Lankum - The New York Trader (Official Visualiser)

Our 4th album “False Lankum“ is out now on Rough Trade Records. Listen/order here: Directed by Lankum and Cian Lawless Motion Design: Micheal Speed and Jono Canning #lankum #falselankum To the New York Trader I did belong She was fit for sea both stout and strong Well manned, well rigged, well fit for sea Bound for New York in Amerikay On the 4th of March we did set sail All on a sweet and a pleasant gale With hearts undaunted we set for sea Bound for New York in Amerikay Our cruel captain as we did find Left half of our provisions behind Our cruel captain, you’ll understand Meant to starve us all before we reached the land As our captain in his cabin lay A voice came to him and this did say “Prepare yourself and ship’s company, For tomorrow night you must lie with me“ Our captain woke in a terrible fright It being the first part of the night Loud for his bosun he did call To him related the secrets all “Bosun“ says he, “it does grieve my heart To think I have acted the villain’s part To take what was not my lawful due For to starve the passengers and the ship’s crew” “There’s one thing more I have to tell When I in Waterford town did dwell I killed my master, a merchant there All for the sake of his lady fair I killed my wife and children three All for that cursed jealousy And on my servant I lay the blame And he was hanged in grief and shame“ “Oh captain, captain, if that be so Pray let none of the ship’s crew know But keep that secret all in your breast And pray the Lord may grant you rest“ The very next morning a storm did rise Which to our seamen did much surprise The seas came over both fore and aft Till scarce one man on deck was left And then the bosun he did declare The captain was a murderer This so enraged the whole ship’s crew They overboard our captain threw All of a sudden a calm was there Our good little ship onwards did steer The winds abated and calmed the seas And we sailed on for Amerikay And when we reached that New York shore Our good little ship for to repair The people wondered much to see Such a poor distressed and shipwreck crew were we So sailors all where’er you be A warning pray you take by me As you love your life won’t yous take good care And never go sailing with a murderer