Death and the Maiden

The Maiden weighed anchor at her last port of call Jenny ran down the docks, late for the Ball Her father yelled, Jenny, be back by midnight For the Maiden, she sails in the morning's half-light She didn't turn back, just waved her hand Already hearing the drums of the band They were washing the streets with whiskey and wine When she reached the Ball, the clock struck nine She wore a mask made from black-feathered doves A crimson dress and long black gloves She kicked off her shoes and danced on her toes With her hair blowing wherever night winds chose She saw an angel, a devil, a cat, and a clown A bird with no wings and a king with no crown Dancers flowed like water on the square Then parted like waves and a man stood there He wore a plain black mask like a second skin It covered his face from forehead to chin She could taste in the wind the salt of the sea And his eyes were as blue and his manner as free He said, Jenny, as always, you're lovely my dear As for me, I've aged another sad year With a plead in his voice and a need in his stance Jenny Mackay, honor me with a dance She didn't know how he knew her name But something inside her lit like a flame And it seemed that this moment was destined to be So she danced with him there, on the square, by the sea She was drunk, drunk, drunk by the moon Had they danced for hours or just that one tune? She could have danced, danced, danced all night But the Maiden must sail in the morning's half-light He said, Jenny Mackay, does it bring you joy? To dance with the man you tried to destroy Then he took off his mask, and she took in a breath It was Captain Leroux of the ship known as Death The clock struck 12, he stood stone still He said, One fateful night off the coast of Brazil The pirate ship Maiden came looking for me Captain Mackay and his daughter Jenny I'd danced with you once at this Bal Masque I never knew then you were Jenny Mackay You burned half my ship, took the lives of my crew And there on my deck tried to take my life too The cannons blazed, and the waves grew higher There was blood in the sky, and the sea was on fire Never again will such a night be As when Death and the Maiden danced in the sea A shot from my pistol bloodied your dress You fell in my arms with a lady's finesse Then ran your cold steel from my forehead to chin And said to me softly - I'll see you again She touched her hand to the scar on his face For a second it faded leaving no trace She kissed him one time like her lips were a brand Then slipped from his grasp like water through sand Now the Maiden she sails with ghosts on her decks She'll sail forever, this world or the next Searching for Death below and above But one night a year Jenny dances her love