Tales of the Great Rum Runners

RUM RUNNERS

Here is a taste of the great rum runners
Ships that sailed the velvet harbor
Crews that broke the jugs and poured your blood
Like flowing rum upon the sand

Sinking down, down, down
Upon the sand, upon the sea
Upon the hills of liquid green
They rise to fall, they rise again
Their dreams tattered sails in the wind

Here is a wail of a lone flute playing
Those not hanged, by time were slain
Here is a cup of blood and tears
Here is the wail of a hundred years

Going down, down, down
Upon the sand, upon the sea
Upon the hills of liquid green
They rise to fall, they rise again
Their dreams tattered sails in the wind

Overnight they turned to water
No blood rang when they went to slaughter
Tears were few, though sighs were heavy
Bones were stacked in the main library

Turning down, down, down
Till their dreams are touching ground
Rising up like gentle rain
They turn to rise and fall again

Running round and changing faces
Marking time and keeping paces
Ducking down awhile to die
Their faces melt to barren sky

After all the trial and fury
They spared the judge and hanged the jury
No one asked the reason why
Sentence passed they turned to die

Turning down, down, down
Till their dreams are touching ground
Rising up like gentle rain
They turn to rise and fall again
Their dreams tattered sails in the wind

Here is fire and bloody slaughter
Written on the leaves of water
Here is a ship with all hands singing
Here is a dock with dark men swinging

Down, down, down
Upon the sand, upon the sea
Upon the hills of liquid green
They rise to fall, they rise again
Their dreams tattered sails in the wind

~ Robert Hunter