Lyrics to
The Pirate Of Penance

This version of The Pirate Of Penance was released by Joni Mitchell in 1968.

Our Joni Mitchell Songs profile has The Pirate Of Penance lyrics from 1968 and most if not all of the lyrics by Joni Mitchell that we have here at Decade Lyrics.

Here's more interesting things in songs and lyrics tied to Joni Mitchell or about the 1960s in general.

The pirate anchored on a Wednesday
And why he came to port I wonder
To see a lady so my friends say
She dances for the sailors
In a smoky cabaret bar underground
Down in a cellar in a harbor town
I know he told her love was treasure
And they would reap the fullest bounty
He only comes to port for pleasure
So when the winds of morning
Blew the curtains in she woke and found he’d gone
I saw his sails unfurling Thursday dawn
The pirate he will sink you with a kiss
He’ll steal your heart and sail away

Saturday early we met in the cove near the forest

He’ll leave you drowning in the flotsam Of a broken promise in the bay

(Dancing we wakened the dawn and the birds into chorus)

He came again to see her
Yes I think they told me it was Saturday

(Ask Penance Crane she was out in her garden she saw us)

I was at sea then
I didn’t see them
I don’t believe what you are saying
It isn’t true I hardly knew him
Is this some game that you are playing
Go ask the dancer she’s the one who saw him last
The one who drew him here
He hasn’t come to me since spring last year
There was a time when he would
Bring me silks and sandalwood and Persian lace

(Then came another “goodbye” and another “Please don’t go”)

And he would hold me close
And tell my sailing stories by the fireplace

(All night I dance and all day I keep watch with my sorrow)

I was at sea I tell you I was
Nowhere near the mentioned murder place

(Searching for sails that don’t come
And I guess but I don’t know)

Go ask the dancer
She knows the answer

I don’t know

She knows the answer

I don’t know

She knows the answer

I don’t know

---

Joni Mitchell has released many songs over the years besides The Pirate Of Penance. Joni Mitchell released songs from 1968 to 2007 spanning across albums like Song To A Seagull, Clouds, Ladies Of The Canyon, Blue, For The Roses, Court And Spark, The Hissing Of Summer Lawns, Hejira, Don Juan's Reckless Daughter, Mingus, Wild Things Run Fast, Dog Eat Dog, Chalk Mark In A Rainstorm, Night Ride Home, Turbulent Indigo, Taming The Tiger, Both Sides Now, and Shine. Decade Lyrics has over lyrics & songs by Joni Mitchell.

If you're a fan of lyrics from 1960s songs looking for more songs from 1968 or the 1960s overall, you've come to the right place!

More Songs & Lyrics by Joni Mitchell

Visit our Joni Mitchell profile for more Joni Mitchell songs, lyrics & info!

)