Talk like a Pirate Day

(Google Image) 

By The Good Pirate Diane

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.

We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot.

Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot.

Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.

We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack.

Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Maraud and embezzle and even highjack.

Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.

We kindle and char and in flame and ignite.

Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

We burn up the city, we're really a fright.

Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

We're rascals and scoundrels, we're villians and knaves.

Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

We're devils and black sheep, we're really bad eggs.

Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads,

Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads,

Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.

(Google Image) 

If you visit Disney World, and you go in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, you will be greeted with this song from mechanical Pirates.  There has been a surge of popularity about Pirates with the release of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies with Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow.  Not the real ones who have been hijacking ships and holding prisoners captive.   One of my husband's favorite movies was The Goonies.  A story of a group of kids who embark on a treasure hunt to save the family from eviction from their home.  They end up finding One-eyed Willie's fortune, and save the day.  After 27 years since its release, it is still a favorite movie for kids of all ages.   With Halloween approaching soon, one popular costume still remains the pirate suit.  When my husband’s grandson celebrated his first birthday, he had a costume party at a local park.  Since my husband was in a wheelchair, his options were limited, so I chose the pirate costume.  He had a hat, eye patches and stuffed parrot sitting on his shoulder, and of course he went around saying Arrrrrrrrghh all day.

(Google Image) 

Today is Talk like a Pirate Day.  It was conceived in 2002 by Mark Summers and John Baur, and made famous by Dave Barry's newspaper column.  There is even an official website dedicated to pirate speech located here: http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html

Some of hints include:

• Ahoy! - "Hello!"
• Avast! - Stop and give attention. It can be used in a sense of surprise, "Whoa! Get a load of that!" which today makes it more of a "Check it out" or "No way!" or "Get off!"
• Aye! - "Why yes, I agree most heartily with everything you just said or did."
• Aye aye! - "I'll get right on that sir, as soon as my break is over."
• Grog – An alcoholic drink, usually rum diluted with water
• Smartly – Do something quickly.

(Google Image) 

There is even a list of pickup lines...that probably don't work:

10 . Avast, me proud beauty! Wanna know why my Roger is so Jolly?

9. Have ya ever met a man with a real yardarm?

8. Come on up and see me urchins.

7. Yes, that is a hornpipe in my pocket and I am happy to see you.

6. I'd love to drop anchor in your lagoon.

5. Pardon me, but would ya mind if I fired me cannon through your porthole?

4. How'd you like to scrape the barnacles off of me rudder?

3. Ya know, darlin’, I’m 97 percent chum free.

2. Well blow me down?

1. Prepare to be boarded.

So....today on talk like a pirate day...study up on your lingo and have a blast!

(Google Image) 

Jo