If Columbus Sang the Blues
Harrell 1988

Intro

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Cristabol Colon is who, we think of when we think of 1492

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Because that story's often told, it's really gotten rather old

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But what if he, used MTV, to tell his tale to you and me?

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What if Columbus sang the blues?

(Begin 12 bar blues in E)

I've got to find somebody, to underwrite some ships to sail

And I'll need men and provisions, We could be gone for quite a spell

King John of Portugal won't do it; I'll look around to see who will

Most of the people think I'm crazy, And that I'll not be seen again

But I've just got to find a sponsor, looking for money is a pain

Then I met Ferdinand and Isabella, They were the King and Queen of Spain

The earth is round, round, round, And I know there's a better way

That can be found, found, found, To speed up Indian spice trade

I'll just sail to the west; and come around the other way

They said- Chris we'll give you money, For ships and food and men,

And one tenth of precious metals you bring back from foreign lands

So we set sail, in the Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria

Eighty eight men journeyed terrified, for thirty three days out at sea

Then we saw earth on the horizon, Oh how our feet loved touching sand

We landed on the island and had a ceremony there

I knew that I had found the answer (I thought that we were near Japan)

When we got home we were big heroes, Even though we'd lost one ship

We got seventeen more vessels, and we made another trip

And we just claimed, more land in the name of Spain

We set up colonies and forts there, we knew that we'd be back again

Columbus as a sailor, was the pride of all of Spain

But they appointed him as governor, and politics was not his game

His policies were so unpopular, they sent him home once bound in chains

He sailed twice more for Asia, though royalty was less enthused

He wasn't bringing back much treasure, and politics he did confuse

He died without a route to Asia, that's why Columbus sang the blues!