Pitcairn Island
Having lived on Pacific Islands for 7 years of my life, I'm a real sucker for a good island story. One of my favorites is The Bounty Trilogy by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall. "The Mutiny on the Bounty" has been made into a movie several times, but the final story of the trilogy, "Pitcairn's Island" is my favorite of the three. It tells the story of the mutineers who sailed to a deserted island to start new lives. The song "Pitcairn Island" is based on their story and is written for 4-part choir with piano accompaniment.
Lyrics:
From the bounty of my life
Came a moment of decision;
One split second to decide
My life’s direction.
My heart leapt forward
And by the time my mind caught up
There was an ocean in between
My present and my past,
And the words I heard me say
And the things I saw me do
Meant I never could go back.
All my strength of self-control,
Each wise decision that I did make,
They won’t matter anymore on that godforsaken shore
All that matters is that one mistake.
Guide my ship to Pitcairn Island,
Let me dwell upon that silent shore.
Burn my ship behind me
So my conscience cannot find me
And let me begin once more.
Guide my ship to Pitcairn Island,
Far from the errors of my foolish past.
And that distant stone
I’ll make my newfound home,
Knowing it will be my last.
No distractions now, nothing but the truth,
And a lifetime to recall the passions of my youth.
No apology, just my guilty stain.
Part of me is killed, so I
Will be stuck until I die
With the monster that remains.
Guide my ship to Pitcairn Island,
Let me dwell upon that silent shore.
Burn my ship behind me
So my conscience cannot find me
And let me begin once more.
Guide my ship to Pitcairn Island,
Far from the errors of my foolish past.
And that distant stone
I’ll make my newfound home,
Knowing it will be my last.
Guide my ship to Pitcairn Island.
© 2006, Daniel C. Meyer