by Chana M.
Member since:
June 6, 2008

Pirate Jenny

May 02, 2009 04:28 PM EDT (Updated: June 07, 2009 07:11 PM EDT)
views: 151 | rating: 10/10 (19 votes) | comments: 21

A bit of fun for me. I hope you like it. If anyone wants to try it please ping me or leave the link in your comment so I can find the results.

To be the pirate
the pirate Jenny
to know they are coming for me
taking me from my mundane life
this life of toil
cleaning, cooking, waiting upon those not my equal
how did I get to this place
I have no memory of that event
only that I am different
I am the pirate Jenny

I wait
and my waiting grows shorter over time
months, weeks and then days
the time is nigh
I start to smile, a sly smile
they heap curses on me
in their eyes I am low
they shall soon learn
I am the pirate Jenny

The ship enters the harbour
they regret the curses they have heaped on me
they cringe because of the disregard they had for me
they beg me for mercy
I can only show the mercy shown me
my men I dispatch with the ease they used
the ease they used to torment me in days gone by
when all is done I take to the sea
I am the pirate Jenny

© JACM 6 June 2009

I have loved this song from The Threepenny Opera since I was a child. Not unusual in my household. It goes along with the other strong female characters such as Mrs. Peel that I looked up to as a child. Here is the original Pirate Jenny in English and the original by Lotte Lenya in German.

  

Pirate Jenny by Kurt Weill, performed by Ariela Morgenstern, Inara Morgenster, piano, and Rob Reich, accordeon on 12/15/06 as a part of the Old First Concert Series in San Francisco.

 

Lotte Lenya singing Seeräuber Jenny (Pirate Jenny) in the original 1931 film Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera).
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Comments: 21

Renee S. May 2, 2009, 4:32pm EDT
I liked the 1st video. She has a lovely, strong voice.
Jennifer Lee May 2, 2009, 4:36pm EDT
Chana~ I am laughing out loud because I initially thought this was about me. Once I realized our names were just a coincidence, I enjoyed the poem. Poetry about powerful women is all over gather today. I have to admit, I don't have an ear for opera, but I think I did hear her say "b****." Thank you for posting to our group.
Peter Joseph Swanson May 2, 2009, 4:40pm EDT
I loved that show - I saw it live on stage and it was a marvelous time !!!

(seen some movies of it, too)
Svetlana Goryacheva May 2, 2009, 4:41pm EDT
I really loved it, dear Chanochka... how about posting this to "Music Everywhere"?

Shalom veahava - S.
Mugg Muggles, "The Man With the Jive" May 2, 2009, 4:52pm EDT
I tried to listen to the first one, but it was a pale shadow compared to Lotte. I've still got a VHS tape of that old Black and White film.
I did enjoy the Raul Julia revival.
Please don't make me walk the plank.
Chana M. May 2, 2009, 5:07pm EDT
I actually first heard it sung by (I think it was) Judy Collins. Suprising huh? Jennifer, I also have a connection with the name.
Jennifer Lee May 2, 2009, 6:03pm EDT
Chana~ Your work is so remarkable and I'm so glad you're back. I can't feature the piece you helped me to write because that would be a conflict of interest, but I can feature this one. In honor of a beautiful name and a true poet-you!
Desiree T. May 2, 2009, 6:34pm EDT
Very nice,
Kathryn E. May 2, 2009, 6:45pm EDT
I loved the 3PO as a child, we had the original. Unfortunately, the sound on my YouTube is not working right now. It does that from time to time.

I will check back later.

Featured in the Triple Name Club.
libramoon C. May 2, 2009, 7:21pm EDT
Pirate Jenny reminds me of Lessa in the Pern books. Do you know them?
sharon SugarMomma is a wise woman, May 2, 2009, 8:10pm EDT
I love the Pern books Libra, I read them long ago.

Chana I loved your poetry but the sound on the youtube video was awful, I couldn't understand a word of the English and didn't even try the German.
Angela A. May 2, 2009, 8:45pm EDT
Pretty awesome poem and video!
Thanks for posting to my group, Anythingwriting
JOHN BECK May 2, 2009, 10:13pm EDT
I listened to and watched both. The difference in interpretation is interesting, but both got their point across: "Alles!"
Aniko     May 2, 2009, 11:39pm EDT
The quintessential "I'll show them one day!" fantasy. :-)
debra g. May 3, 2009, 1:07am EDT
I enjoyed this.Have a great gather day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for posting to sparealine.gather.com
Erin O'Riordan May 3, 2009, 1:14am EDT
I love a good pirate song. Thanks for sharing.
☆ Scott ☆ A. ☆ May 3, 2009, 1:55am EDT
I enjoyed this as well
Chris Albrigo May 3, 2009, 2:25am EDT
:O) I like this very much.
I think my favorite thing about this, is that you can really tell that you had alot of fun with this, just as you said.

I certainly had fun reading it. :O)
Mustafa Demiri May 3, 2009, 6:15pm EDT
Wunderbar! I enjoyed it immensely. I am partial to the "Seerauber Jenny" video.
Marie C. May 3, 2009, 7:49pm EDT
Never heard this before. Nice!
Mugg Muggles, "The Man With the Jive" May 4, 2009, 6:50pm EDT
I actually first heard it sung by (I think it was) Judy Collins. Suprising huh?
Chana (I'm just sitting here watching the wheel go round & round.), May 2, 2009, 5:07pm EDT
Not really. That's the first time I heard it too.

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