Paradigm from California

Golden Vanity

1024 gif (about 35k)

Golden Vanity

. . . an allegory of rape . . .


. . . . . . . . an archtype of capitalist relations . . .


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and a metaphor for us all . . .

AN OLD ONE

There was a lofty ship,
And she put out to sea.
The name of this ship was The Golden Vanity.
As she sailed upon the lo o o ow, and lonesome lo o w,
As she sailed upon the lonesome sea.

Well they had not been out but two weeks or three,
'Till she was overtaken by a Turkish Reveille.
As she sailed upon the lo o o ow, and lonesome lo o ow,
As she sailed upon the lonesome sea.

Then up spake our little cabin boy,
Sayin' what will you give me if I will them destroy,
If I'll sink 'em in the lo o o ow, and lonesome lo o ow,
If I sink 'em in the lonesome sea.

The man that them destroys,
Our Captain then replied,
Five thousand pounds and my daughter for his bride,
If he sinks 'em in the lo o o ow, and lonesome lo o ow,
If he sinks 'em in the lonesome sea.

Well the boy smote his breast,
And down jumped he.
He swum 'till he come to that Turkish Reveille.
As she sailed upon the lo o o ow, and lonesome lo o ow,
As she sailed upon the lonesome sea.

He had a little tool that was made for the use,
He bored nine holes in her hull all at once.
And he sunk her in the lo o o ow, and lonesome lo o ow,
And he sunk 'er in the lonesome sea.

Then he swung back to his ship,
He beat upon the side,
Cried Captain pick me up for I'm wearied with the tide,
And I'm sinkin' in the lo o o ow, and lonesome lo o ow,
I am sinkin' in the lonesome sea.

No I will not pick you up,
The Captain then replied.
I'll shoot you, I'll drown you, I'll sink you in the tide.
I will sink you in the lo o o ow, and lonesome lo o ow,
I will sink you in the lonesome sea.

If it was not for the lo o o o ve,
That I bear for your men,
I would do unto you as I did unto them,
I would sink you in the lo o o ow, and lonesome lo o ow,
I would sink you in the lonesome sea.

Then the boy bowed his head,
And down sunk he.
Farewell, farewell, to The Golden Vanity.
As she sailed upon the lo o o ow, and lonesome lo o ow,
As she sailed upon the lonesome sea.

'And they sunk him.'



---- Pete Seeger, 1975.

alive in our own time,
biblical times

Companion file: Backbone

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