From the Extreme Self-Indulgency Department...

[rainsometimes]

Okay...*embarrassed look*...so, about half a year back I got this idea for writing new lyrics based on the Thriller Bark storyline to an old favourite song from the '80s. (I thought this kind of thing was called a filk, but looking up Wikipedia now it appears I was mistaken about that.) Possibly unwisely, I posted it to one_piece - it was actually my very first post there - where it had a total response of zero. ;) So I figured, well, either people don't go for this kind of thing in general, or they don't know or care for the original song - or, to be fair, maybe my lyrics were just too stupid. ^_^ (Could even be that some may not have thought it appropriate to use a political song with a very strong anti-apartheid message in this fashion.) In any case, fair enough.

And there the matter should probably have rested. But...erg. I really like the original song, and watching recent anime episodes I got the old idea back in my head and I kinda went, "I don't know, I still think the chorus fits Thriller Bark so well...hum...maybe I should post it again".

Then I valiantly tried to suppress this urge until I eventually succumbed. As is my wont.

It is entirely okay to ignore this if you, say, don't care for this kind of thing, don't know or like the song, or think the lyrics are awful. ^_^ It's also fine to tell me any of those things, of course.

Spoilers for Thriller Bark up to and including chapter 476.

Mel. "Gimme Hope, Jo'anna" by Eddy Grant
Link to song on Youtube
Link to original song lyrics



Give Us Hope Now, Strawhats!

As sung by Lola and the Roller Pirates, around chapter 475 or so

Gecko Moria he rules this island,
This giant ship called Thriller Bark,
He steals shadows out of everyone he meets,
Turning lives and dreams so very dark.
Dr Hogback takes them dead ol' bodies,
Stitch 'em up till they're good as new,
Then Moria will put his shadows in,
All to make himself the perfect crew.
(Chorus:)
Give us hope now, Strawhats! Give us hope now, Strawhats!
Give us hope now, Strawhats, 'fore the morning come!
Give us hope now, Strawhats! Give us hope now, Strawhats!
Hope before the morning come!

Now a man that don't have no shadow,
Can't live like a free man should.
For the sunlight will make him burn up at once,
And then he will be gone for good.
All this time we've been skulking an' hiding,
Laying plans, keeping out of sight,
But the years passed, and we've begun to fear
We never will escape this night.
(Chorus)

Now we hear these astounding rumours,
That the Princess and the lion-man,
Dr Hogback and the legendary samourai
All fell to this amazing clan.
But ol' Moria he ain't no slacker,
His new warrior is mighty strong,
Make us tremble in our boots just to think of it,
And we pray that we won't be wrong.
So! (Chorus)

It's time for us to stop just hiding,
It's time we should step up at last,
To take what we know and act on it,
Make a break with our furtive past.
We'll give your captain a hundred shadows,
Even if he says he thinks it's dumb,
For finally the tide may turn, and we
Don't want to wait 'till the morning come.
(Chorus)

Comments

[serrende.livejournal.com]

But you really rewrote the WHOLE THING, wow.

Well, I had to! Just two verses wouldn't be enough to give a feeling for what's happened in the arc. But since the original tune does have pretty long verses it did take me some time, I am now vaguely remembering. ^_^

"Give me Yop, me mama..." (boggles)...well, what that's what advertisers do, I guess.'

Now I'm having this image of this song getting sung in random taverns, wherever Lola's crew happens to dock... spreading down the grand line... :D

Too cool! (raises tankard) And since it's such a catchy tune, it would spread, too!
(That is, assuming those guys didn't get eaten by the unnamed huuuuge danger glimpsed in chapter 490...)