Other-waters

Yeah, you’ve been a cruel mistress to me
We knew it sweet like molasses and cornbread
Till the slavers made a mess out of my head
Press ganged to the loyalist cays baby
And a quartermaster simply hates me

I took a Guinea ship across the water
To singe the beard on the King of Spain’s daughter
She sent me searching for the fountain of youth baby

So was it Ponce de Leon who wrote these lyrics, searching for the fountain of youth and ending up in Florida. Uhm, no it was Wiliam Topley, formerly known from The Blessing.

And her overseer simply hates me

Chorus: And there’s a wide Sargasso Sea between you and me
And the spanish moss hangs heavy in the oak tree
I’ve been a slave to you
You’ve been a cruel mistress to me
(Lord, you’ve been a cruel mistress to me)
Still I work your fields and spanish chains called misery

You left a debt piling high in Savannah
And made a midnight flight to Havana
I’m still working in Florida fruit fields
And the overseer simply hates me

(Repeat chorus)

So be free, so be free

(Repeat chorus)

So be free, so be free, so be free,
so be free

You’ve been a cruel mistress to me
Lord, you know you’ve been a cruel
mistress to me …

‘Wide Sargasso Sea’ written by William Topley