| Sometimes I Feel Like Fletcher Christian
By The Mekons |
Taken from the page:
Sometimes I feel like Fletcher Christian
Staring out across the sea
Torn apart by duties shackles
The twisted tongues of loyalty
Well I sucked hard on every pleasure
Till my head began to spin
He'll choose between the whip and feather
And that is where his crimes begin
Sometimes I feel like Fletcher Christian
In paradise with the tables turned
Yes and I can fell the tatooists needle
I can feel my neck and ankles burn
These south sea isles are cold and barren
but this civil war's been good for me
We took drugs and tore our uniforms
Gave up our captain to the sea
Sometimes I feel like Fletcher Christian
Twisting off the serpents head
For the mutiny I'll shoot the big one
Hot and hungry, far from home
Through the sun and sea my skin is peeling
But it don't make these picutres fade
Those shapes and symbols, I know their meaning
The shameless riches of another world
If I return they're sure to hang me
So I guess I'll have to stay
And if I should croak out in the darkness
No-one will know I got away
Here are the lyrics to the only song I know about the Mutiny on the Bounty. It is not traditional. This
was written and performed by the Mekons on their 1988 CD "So Good it Hurts" on TwinTone
Records; in the UK I believe the label that released this cd is SIN. The Mekons are an English band
that have been putting out albums for many years ranging from punk rock to country music. This cd
is a mix of folk and rock. On the case, there is a cartoon drawing of a seaman with a mug of drink
trying to make a choice between the serpents head and the whip & feather. -- see song. Below this I
have included some other interesting (to me, at least) information from the cd booklet.
Liner Notes from the CD
There are two clippings in the liner notes to the cd regarding the Bounty. They are:
The Bounty left Tahiti for good in 1789. On board 9 mutineers, six male Tahitian "servants", 19
native women and one child. (Tahitians beleived they had just been visiting the Bounty for one night,
one mile out to sea one woman jumps overboard.) 9 miles further at Morea, six "ancient" women put
ashore. 4 months, 3,000 miles later find Pitcairn Island, ideal - no natural harbour and uncharted.
Matthew Quintail secretly burns Bounty. Fletcher Christian spends days alone in a remote cave. 4
years later "servants" revolt when Mutineer takes Tahitian's wife for his own. John Mills' head cut
off, William Brown's head is crushed. Smith got musket bullet in throat, saved by offering money.
Edward Young hidden by woman. Christian disappears. Matthew Quintail and McCoy flee to bush.
McCoy makes still. Inflamed by his liquor he jumps from top of Island. Quintail killed later by Young
and Smith. Young dies of asthma. Smith and women kill "servants". Smith reverts to name of John
Adams. Profoundly religious his Govt. of island stern and puritanical. Joy and frivolity wholly lacking.
Hymns sung morning and evening. Dancing allowed one day a year, on King's birthday.
"The Fate of the Mutineers" - Children's Encyclopedia Britannica 1960. Collins Concise
Encyclopedia 1977.
Purpose of Bounty's voyage to procure Breadfruit plants from Tahiti. To be planted in West Indies
as cheap food for slaves. Bligh's second voyage a success but slaves won't touch the fruit 'til
generation later. However Ackee 'n' Saltfish v. popular W. Indian dish. Akee brought over by Bligh.
Ackee (BLIGHIA SAPIDA) when unripe contains high concentration of poisonous substance called
hypoglycine. It must be plucked for consumption at the stage when the fruit pods split open
(hypoglycine content then v. low).
Traditional Jamaican Cookery by Norma Benghat, Penguin 1985.