The Ghost with a

long Black Beard

Lyrics, Theme, Style: Tim Hendricks

© Blackbeard World 2025

Abaft the city’s shadowed walls, a lass did walk alone,
Her eyes like stormy oceans, heart cold as a stone.
A young lad wandered aimless, with dreams he could not name,
Two broken souls just driftin’—till the night they met in rain.

They talked o’ pain and sorrow, the world so dark and cruel,
She wept of love forsaken, he cursed life’s wretched rule.
But in the flicker of a lantern, hope began to spark,
Two voices in the silence, two candles in the dark.

Then came a whisper, the clink of a glass,
A shadow loomed heavy, like sails full of wrath.
A ghost with a long black beard sat near,
“Tell me yer dreams, don’t tremble with fear.”

"The sea owes naught but the brave still dare,
No treasure be found with nary a care."
"Choose yer course, though the winds may sneer,
And never quit, no matter the fear.”

He spoke of chartin’ courses on maps drawn with scars,
Of failing ‘neath the moonlight, still reachin’ for the stars.
“Live lean,” he said, “and plant yer seed,
Not in the drink, but in yer deed.”

“Read the words o’ wiser men,
Listen well, then try again.
The gold comes late, the toil comes first,
And them who want the most must thirst.”

They turned to ask another, their hearts all fired and keen,
But the ghost was gone, no sign where he'd been.
They asked the barkeep, he just gave a leer,
“No man like that’s walked in here…”

Yet still they toiled and still they tried,
Through every storm and every tide.
With every fall, they rose once more,
Their dream became a ship ashore.

Ten years sailed and fortunes made,
A home, a crew, a love well laid.
Back to that tavern, they came to cheer,
And toast the ghost with the long black beard.

“Here’s to the nights we nearly sank,
To ghostly captains we’ve to thank.
To hearts that never did retreat,
To love that made the voyage sweet.”

“Batten down, my darlin’, stay the course,
With Jolly Roger as our force.
For in that booth where hope appeared—
We met the ghost with a long black beard.”

If ye be lost, adrift, alone,

Let the bearded ghost guide ye home.

To Blackbeard World, keep sailin’ true,

A better life awaits for you.