Black Gold (feat. Van Dyke Parks)

I had seen the captain drinking
I don't know what he was thinking
When he took that stinking cargo out
Without a doubt, he went too far
But he will take us out to sea

80-thousand metric tons of crude
A crew of 21 were pounding through the ocean
Just ajar her screws in motion
All the stars rotating in their canopy

Black gold, rolling in the hold
Back and forth in time for every swell
Black gold, time would now unfold
The heavens fixed upon our last farewell
To this black gold

Then she hit the water
With a shudder, it had got her
And she went down, heard to utter
Was the captain in his cups, "What's up?"
Says, "In my gut, I know we all are doomed"

She broke up a hemorrhage of oil
Gushed a rage, a broil from the soiled foil of her hull
And she was pulled beneath the waves
Into her grave down in the gloom

Black gold, my heart is still in pain
My mandolin will tell her how I feel
Black gold, bounding on the main
An agony of ebony and steel
All this black gold

"I'm the way, the resurrection, Christ"
I'd say on Him reflecting
I'm not sure He'd feel secure
With what we're doing here, for sure
Or want to lead us clear out of this dark

Down the deepest trenches
Man is stewing in his stenches
Their cadavers hold palaver
And the gravity of their endeavors
Cleverly convert them into shark

Black gold, nature's upper hand
With ladies in Mercedes on the strand
Black gold, Hades' high command
The tar upon her car and in the sand
All this black gold