BATTLE IN THE BAY OF MATANZAS - LYRICS
"A song about historic figure Piet Hein capturing the Spanish treasure fleet. Without this hero the Dutch wouldn’t exist. He captured the Spanish treasure fleet without casualties on both sides. His accomplishment helped funding the Dutch in the 80 years’ war. Directly contributing to the Dutch winning their freedom and independence. The plunder’s highest estimate was around 100 billion dollar today. Contrary to popular belief, he never owned any slaves and despised the slavery of Native Americans in Mexican silver mines.”
I see the ships, gathering around
And my allies, nowhere to be found
The sea and wind, howling at the sky
To the lands I say my final goodbyes
Here at sea, impossible to hide
They can't flee, can't sail against the tide
And the sea beggars they are on our side
Against Spain’s tyrants they will fight
Haven't they fought as lions
Fought into spains defiance
One by one they will fall
Climb as cats into the wall
He has won, great are his deeds
He has won, won the silverfleet
Bring us the women and wine
Tell us the tale of Pete Hein
Eighty years, a bloodletting war
But it is time, for the lion to roar
And we must steal, their silver storage
To avenge the fallen prince of orange
We must take, the ships near the lands
For the dutchmen, to stand any chance
Now it is time for the lion to show it’s claws
Pete Hein took the ships without any loss
Haven't they fought as lions
Fought into spains defiance
One by one they will fall
Climb as cats into the wall
He has won, great are his deeds
He has won, won the silverfleet
Bring us the women and wine
Tell us the tale of Pete Hein
Now they are praising me because I gained riches
without the least danger but earlier…
When I was risking my life in full combat, they didn't even know about my existence
No dead meat for the seas as Pete Hein spared them all! Took no, prisoners!
Pete gave them food supplies as they fled to their Settlements! Without the silverfleet!
Pete Hein won the silverfleet
The defeated crew was released as former Spanish prisoner Pete Hein gave directions in fluent Spanish to their settlements in Havana
They marched on and on
Without the Spanish treasure fleet
A major victory for the Dutchmen as they sang their anthem…
Wilhelmus van Nassouwe
Ben ick van Duytschen Bloedt
Den Vaderland ghetrouwe
Blijf ick tot inden doet
Een Prince van Orangien
Ben ick vry onverveert
Den Coninck van Hispangien
Heb ick altijt gheeert
(Wilhelmus, Nederlands volkslied, 1568)
They captured, the fleet of silver
Bringing riches, to the Dutchmen
Against the tyrants, they endure
Funding the 80 years’ war
Founding father, prince of orange
Fought for our freedom of religion
A vision of freedom of thought
And with the silver, it could be bought
Deeds that would echo through centuries
A former Spanish prisoner
Welcomed among the people of Leiden
Hailed as a hero amidst the crowd
Between waves and foam
Far away from our home
Battle in the bay of…Bay of Matanzas
Through the storms, across the oceans, souls are awaiting victory
His name is small, his deeds are great, he has won the silverfleet
Across the oceans and the sky, where our people die
Battle in the bay of... Bay of Matanzas
Through storms, across the sea, lies my… destiny!
Battle in the bay of… Bay of Matanzas
Battle in the bay of… Bay of Matanzas
Through storms, across the sea, lies my… destiny!
Pete Hein returned, with the ships of silver
Where the Dutch, only dreamt to pilfer
Certainly changed, what the Dutchmen would fear
Now the war's ending was finally near
June 17th, he continued his work
Out at sea, his face with a final smirk
Hein won but was shot, but it was worth the trip
Doing what he loved and died on his ship
Haven't they fought as lions
Fought into spains defiance
One by one they will fall
Climb as cats into the wall
He has won, great are his deeds
He has won, won the silverfleet
Bring us the women and wine
Tell us the tale of Pete Hein