In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
There's a pirate, known to fame
Black Macocco was the Pirate's name
In his day, the tops was he
Round the Caribbean or Caribbean Sea
When he sites a clipper ship
Mack would board her and begin to clip
First he'd grab, the ladies fair
Especially those with jewels
Those with jewels to spare!
Especially those with jewels
Those with jewels to spare
Especially those with jewels
Especially those with jewels
Those with jewels to spare!
With his ladies and his loot
Next Macocco from the ship would scoot
Then he'd set the ship afire...what a pretty funeral
Funeral pyre!
Mack the Black, what a pretty funeral
Mack the Black, marvelous funeral pyre!
Though the years this black Macocco
Lead his pirate reign
His claim to fame was as black as his name
All around the Spanish Maine
When he'd a make his daily rounds
Gals would trail him like a pack of hounds
Ev'ry night he'd have a date Ladies go to pieces
Over pieces of eight.
Hey!
Sleep my baby, baby sleep
Time for babe to be in slumber deep
If you wake or cry or laugh
Mack the Black will whack ya
And he'll whack ya in half!
Mack the black will really whack
Mack the black will whack ya!
Mack the black would really have to
Whack ya in half!
Mack the Black will really whack ya,
Mack the Black will whack ya!
Mack the black will whack ya
And he'll whack ya!
Aaaaaah! Mack was ruthless
Mack was feared
Perhaps it's better that he disappeared
Yet I know, that he was bad
I could fall in love with,
Fall in love with the lad!
Evening star, if you see Mack
Stop his wanderings and guide him back
I'll be waiting, patiently
By the Caribbean or Caribbean Sea.
Is that the Caribbean Sea?
And if I met this famous pirate
Met him face to face
You think I'd run and hide my head
And scream around the place
Why no I'd just sashay around
Displaying all my charms
And soon I'd have him walk the plank
Right into my arms
That's what I think of Mack the Black Macocco!
Black Macocco was the Pirate's name
In his day, the tops was he
Round the Caribbean or Caribbean Sea
When he sites a clipper ship
Mack would board her and begin to clip
First he'd grab, the ladies fair
Especially those with jewels
Those with jewels to spare!
Especially those with jewels
Those with jewels to spare
Especially those with jewels
Especially those with jewels
Those with jewels to spare!
With his ladies and his loot
Next Macocco from the ship would scoot
Then he'd set the ship afire...what a pretty funeral
Funeral pyre!
Mack the Black, what a pretty funeral
Mack the Black, marvelous funeral pyre!
Though the years this black Macocco
Lead his pirate reign
His claim to fame was as black as his name
All around the Spanish Maine
When he'd a make his daily rounds
Gals would trail him like a pack of hounds
Ev'ry night he'd have a date Ladies go to pieces
Over pieces of eight.
Hey!
Sleep my baby, baby sleep
Time for babe to be in slumber deep
If you wake or cry or laugh
Mack the Black will whack ya
And he'll whack ya in half!
Mack the black will really whack
Mack the black will whack ya!
Mack the black would really have to
Whack ya in half!
Mack the Black will really whack ya,
Mack the Black will whack ya!
Mack the black will whack ya
And he'll whack ya!
Aaaaaah! Mack was ruthless
Mack was feared
Perhaps it's better that he disappeared
Yet I know, that he was bad
I could fall in love with,
Fall in love with the lad!
Evening star, if you see Mack
Stop his wanderings and guide him back
I'll be waiting, patiently
By the Caribbean or Caribbean Sea.
Is that the Caribbean Sea?
And if I met this famous pirate
Met him face to face
You think I'd run and hide my head
And scream around the place
Why no I'd just sashay around
Displaying all my charms
And soon I'd have him walk the plank
Right into my arms
That's what I think of Mack the Black Macocco!
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Mack the Black Lyrics as written by Cole Porter
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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