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The Prince Of Poyais

from Tall Tales by Ringlefinch

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about

In the early 1820s, Gregor MacGregor pulled off the biggest con in history. On his arrival in London back from a striking military career in Central America, he raised the equivalent of millions of pounds in investment in a small country on the Atlantic coast called Poyais. Poyais was fertile, MacGregor said, rich in natural resources and precious metals. Moreover, the inhabitants were so friendly that they not only wanted British colonists to come and live with them, but their king had appointed McGregor as “Cazique” of the country - a kind of prince. With plots of land bought, money raised and ships chartered, some 250 people set sail for their new home with everything they owned and with hopes high. It was only when they arrived weeks later that they learned the truth. Poyais didn’t exist, and the land they’d come to settle was barren and unliveable. Fully two thirds of the colonists perished.

lyrics

Gregor Macgregor returned to London town
Ten years in the Americas, Loch Lomond skin tanned golden brown
A soldier and adventurer, I heard him often say
As he lulled our ears with tales of sweet Poyais

Now Poyais was a country on the verge of breaking good
With rivers full of gold, fertile fields and exotic wood
And they’d made the Scot their Prince, he told us there that day,
As he asked us to hie hither to Poyais

Up and away! New land, new life! Poyais!
They’ll think of us, they’ll say “Luck, she loves the brave!”
Heart high, head low! Hold true, hold fast!
I know we’ve got some leagues to go, but he will lead the way -
The Prince of Poyais!

The day that we set sail, my folks all came to see
Two strong ships all packed with goods, four hundred heroes, and me -
A humble shoesmith late of Fife, and soon enough to be
The Royal Cobbler to a whole country…

I know, I know, I know, I know, oh hubris is the king of sins
I know, I know, I know, I know, can’t trust the sea, can’t trust the winds
We’ll claim our fortunes bold, though the storms may huff and puff -
Just a shame our Prince couldn’t make it to the docks today somehow to see us off

Up and away! New land, new life! Poyais!
They’ll think of us, they’ll say “Luck, she loves the brave!”
Heart high, head low! Hold true, hold fast!
I know we’ve got some leagues to go, but he showed us the way -
The Prince of Poyais!

The call came down “Land ho!”, and we ran to the side
Champing hard to see, hearts hammering, as one man cried
“But where are all the fields and trees?” - for it was plain as day
There was naught but bog and bugs in all Poyais

We had no choice but to settle and stay, our passage was paid one way
No gold, to our dismay, and at first we thought there was some mistake
But the months starved by, fever set in and we started to die
And we came to see Macgregor’s lie…

Death and decay! We’ll rot here in Poyais!
They’ll think of us, they’ll say “Those fools deserve their graves”
Hands high, hearts low, the end is nigh I know
The Devil take Gregor Macgregor and his greed -
Devil take Poyais!

[Lyrics © Andy Logan]

credits

from Tall Tales, released June 25, 2021
Song: Logan & Entwistle
Music: Ringlefinch

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Ringlefinch London, UK

A core part of the scene built around boutique label Folkroom Records, London-based alternative folk seven-piece Ringlefinch have been described as "Like Bellowhead before them... just one appearance on ‘Later With’ away from becoming nationwide favourites".

They release debut album 'Tall Tales' on Folkroom Records on 25th June 2021. ... more

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