You people can watch while Im scrubbing these floors And Im scrubbin the floors while youre gawking Maybe once ya tip me and it makes ya feel swell In this crummy southern town In this crummy old hotel But youll never guess to who youre talkin. No. you couldnt ever guess to who youre talkin.
Then one night theres a scream in the night And youll wonder who could that have been And you see me kinda grinnin while Im scrubbin And you say, whats she got to grin? Ill tell you.
Theres a ship The black freighter With a skull on its masthead Will be coming in
You gentlemen can say, hey gal, finish them floors! Get upstairs! whats wrong with you! earn your keep here! You toss me your tips And look out to the ships But Im counting your heads As Im making the beds Cuz nobody's gonna sleep here tonight! Nobody's gonna sleep here, honey Nobody!
Then one night theres a scream in the night And you say, whos that kicking up a row? And ya see me kinda starin out the winda And you say, whats she got to stare at now? Ill tell ya.
Theres 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. Thats 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 its 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 theyre chainin up people And theyre 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 by the dock You can hear a foghorn miles away And in that quiet of death Ill say, right now. Right now!
Then theyll pile up the bodies And Ill say, Thatll learn ya!
And the ship The black freighter Disappears out to sea And On It Is Me