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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.

Battle in the bay of mantanzas.jpg

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, Dutch Anthem, 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

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