Well, I learned the trade from Piggy Knowles
Sing Sing Tommy Shay, boys
God used me as a hammer, boys
To beat his weary drum today

Hoist that rag!
Hoist that rag!
Hoist that rag!

Sun is up, the world is flat
Damn good address for a rat
The smell of blood, the drone of flies
You know what to do if the baby cries

Hoist that rag!
Hoist that rag!

Hoist that rag!
Hoist that rag!

Hoist that rag!
Hoist that rag!

Hoist that rag!

Well, we stick our fingers in the ground
Heave and turn the world around
Smoke is blacking out the sun
At night I pray and clean my gun

The cracked bell rings and the ghost bird sings
And the gods go begging here
So just open fire when you hit the shore
All is fair in love and war

Hoist that rag!
Hoist that rag!
Hoist that rag!
Hoist that rag!
Hoist that rag!
Hoist that rag!
Hoist that rag!
Hoist that rag!


Lyrics submitted by deliriumtrigger

Hoist That Rag Lyrics as written by Thomas Alan Waits Kathleen Brennan

Lyrics © JALMA MUSIC

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Hoist That Rag song meanings
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  • +4
    General Comment

    The first verse: Piggy Knowles (correctly Piggy Noles) and Tommy Shay were members of New Yorks 'Hook Gang'. The Hook Gang were at times a street gang, and for a while, river pirates. Sing Sing, of course, is a New York prison.

    This verse doesn't really share the same apocalyptic hysteria that the 2nd and 3rd possess, and I think it's a bit much to read a big tale about Iraq out of that, although I'd certainly agree with the final verses final line being D-Day inspired, or something similar.

    Zoltan Pandemoniumon September 30, 2007   Link

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