Mulata de Córdoba

Lyrics

[Intro] [Spanish Guitar Intro: delicate fingerpicking, dark cello swells] [Verse 1] In the prison of San Juan de Ulúa Shadows stretch across the stone Cold sea spray upon the iron Where Soledad sits all alone They call her witch, they call her healer For the potions in her hand The beauty that could tame the ocean And freeze the hearts across the land [Pre-Chorus] The inquisitor comes walking With a candle and a smile "Sign your name unto the dark, girl, Or suffer for a little while" She only smiles, she takes a charcoal Blackened from the flickering light And on the damp cell wall she draws A wooden ship into the night [Chorus] Oh, Mulata de Córdoba, where did you go? Sailing on a wave of smoke, into the unknown With a line of black charcoal and a puff of sea spray She stepped into the wooden hull and vanished far away [Verse 2] The guard comes running down the hallway Key turning in the rusted lock He sees the drawing on the plaster The galleon sitting at the dock She turns her head and softly whispers "Is there anything this ship lacks?" He stammers, "Only needs a wind, girl, To blow the canvas at its back" [Pre-Chorus] She laughs a gentle tone of magic The charcoal drops upon the floor A sudden gust from nowhere rushing Sweeps through the heavy iron door The sails unfurl, the rigging rattles The ocean roars inside the stone And as he blinks, the cell is empty Soledad is gone, gone, gone [Chorus] Oh, Mulata de Córdoba, where did you go? Sailing on a wave of smoke, into the unknown With a line of black charcoal and a puff of sea spray She stepped into the wooden hull and vanished far away [Bridge] [Tempo pick up: dramatic acoustic guitar, swelling strings, building rhythm] No chains can hold a shadow No cell can lock the air The sea belongs to no man's law And neither does her hair! [Guitar Solo: fast rhythmic flamenco strumming, dramatic bass] [Chorus] Oh, Mulata de Córdoba, where did you go? Sailing on a wave of smoke, into the unknown With a line of black charcoal and a puff of sea spray She stepped into the wooden hull and vanished far away [Outro] [Soft fingerpicking, ocean waves sound] Still the cell stands empty in the Veracruz tides... And on the wall, a stormy sea... Where a silent ghost ship rides. [Fade out]