A Professional Pirate

A Professional Pirate is a song sung by Long John Silver and his pirate henchmen in Muppet Treasure Island. It is sung when they try to convince Jim Hawkins to join their crew but fail.

Lyrics
Long John: Pirates, ol' Jim?

(whispering) If that's what you're thinking, you're dead wrong.

When I was just a lad looking for my true vocation,

My father said "Now son, this choice deserves deliberation.

Though you could be a doctor or perhaps a financier.

My boy why not consider a more challenging career?!"

Pirates: Hey ho ho!

You'll cruise to foreign shores!

And you'll keep your mind and body sound by working out of doors!

Long John: True friendship and adventure are what we can't live without.

Pirates, Long John: And when you're a professional pirate...

Bad Polly: That's what the job's about!

Long John: Upstage lads!

This is my only number!

Now take Sir Francis Drake, the Spanish all despise him, but to the British he's a hero and they idolize him. It's how you look at buccaneers that makes them bad or good, and I see us as members of a noble brotherhood.

Pirates: Hey ho ho!

We're honorable men, and before we lose our tempers we will always count to ten!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Long John: On occasion there may be someone you have to execute!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Pirates, Long John: But when you're a professional pirate...

Morgan: You don't have to wear a suit!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">(looks around) What?

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Mad Monty: I could have been a surgeon, I like taking things apart!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Bad Polly: I could have been a lawyer, but I just had too much heart.

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Morgan: I could have been in politics, 'cause I've always been a big spender.

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Black Eyed Pea: And me...I could have been a contender.

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Long John: Some say that pirates steal and should be feared and hated.

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">I say we're victims of bad press it's all exaggerated.

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">We'd never stab you in the back, we'd never lie or cheat, we're just about the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">(Long John's speech)

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">All: Hey ho ho!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">It's one for all for one!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">And we'll share and share alike with you and love you like a son!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">We're gentlemen of fortune and that's what we're proud to be!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">And when you're a professional pirate...

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Long John: You'll be honest brave and free!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">The soul of decency!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">You'll be loyal and fair and on the square, and most importantly...

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">All: When you're a professional pirate!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">You're always in the best of company!

Captain Gutt's version
<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Captain Gutt: Pirates, ol' Red?

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">If that's what you're thinking, you're dead wrong.

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">When I was just a lad looking for my true vocation,

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">My father said "Now son, this choice deserves deliberation.

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Though you could be a doctor or perhaps a financier.

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">My colt why not consider a more challenging career?!"

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Pirates: Hey ho ho!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">You'll cruise to foreign shores!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">And you'll keep your mind and body sound by working out of doors!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Captain Gutt: True friendship and adventure are what we can't live without.

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Pirates, Captain Gutt: And when you're a professional pirate...

Squint: That's what the job's about!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Captain Gutt: Upstage Squint!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">This is my only number!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Now take Sir Francis Drake, the Spanish all despise him, but to the British he's a hero and they idolize him. It's how you look at buccaneers that makes them bad or good, and I see us as members of a noble brotherhood.

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Pirates: Hey ho ho!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">We're honorable men and women, and before we lose our tempers we will always count to ten!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Captain Gutt: On occasion there may be someone you have to execute!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Pirates, Captain Gutt: But when you're a professional pirate...

Flynn: You don't have to wear a suit!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">(looks around) What?

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Gupta: I could have been a surgeon, I like taking things apart!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Raz: I could have been a lawyer, but I just had too much heart.

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Flynn: I could have been in politics, 'cause I've always been a big spender.

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Silas: And me...I could have been a contender.

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Captain Gutt: Some say that pirates steal and should be feared and hated.

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">I say we're victims of bad press it's all exaggerated.

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">We'd never stab you in the back, we'd never lie or cheat, we're just about the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">(Long John's speech)

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">All: Hey ho ho!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">It's one for all for one!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">And we'll share and share alike with you and love you like a son!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">We're gentlemen of fortune and that's what we're proud to be!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">And when you're a professional pirate...

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Captain Gutt: You'll be honest brave and free!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">The soul of decency!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">You'll be loyal and fair and on the square, and most importantly...

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">All: When you're a professional pirate!

<p style="font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">You're always in the best of company!