Al Pirata Joan Torrellas

"Al Pirata Joan Torrellas" is a song written by Catalonian musician and composer Carles Casanovas i Rigall, of the habanera band Port Bo. It was originally released on their 1990 album *De l'Empordà a l'Havana*. The lyrics provide a romanticized portrait of pirate life, telling of the titular Joan Torrellas, a fearless and merciless pirate who sails the seas in search of plunder, leaving "a trail of blood and fire" in his wake, but also sings songs and dreams of freedom. He also seeks to return to the island of S'Espalmador to dig up his buried treasure.

The Longest Johns released their version in collaboration with El Pony Pisador as track 5 on on the EP The Longest Pony.

## Factoids

Habanera (literally "of Havana") is a style of music originating in early 19th century Cuba as a variant of the Spanish and Latin American contradanza (itself a descendant of the English country dance). After spreading to Europe, it enjoyed such great popularity in Spain that by the late 19th century it was widely associated with that country in particular, and remains popular there today, despite being largely relegated to history in its original home of Cuba.

A defining feature of habanera music is its rhythmic structure: it uses a 2/4 time signature and incorporates the African-derived *tresillo* and *cinquillo* patterns, giving it a distinctive, syncopated sound.

## Lyrics

Lyrics sourced from azlyrics.com and verified against the official recording. Translation very kindly provided by YouTube user *sayrins*.

**Original**

Per nau, un vaixell de vint canons

Per llar, els confins blaus de la mar

Per llei, el vent de tramuntana

Vent que engalana

El bergantí, en la foscor

Busca una nau per enfonsar

Busca un vaixell per abordar

Mentre el pirata navega

Deixa al darrere

Estela de sang i de foc

Flama de mort

Canta el pirata a coberta

Canta somnis de llibertat

Des de l'Illa de Formentera

Al nord-est de Mallorca

I del cel de Menorca

Fins a l'Empordà

Solca el mar a tota vela

Fins a l'illa d'Espelmador

On fa més de cent trenta llunes

Entre les roques

Va enterrar el cofre d'or

Diuen que no sap el que ės la por

Diuen que l'han vist jugar amb la mort

Diuen que la sang l'enamora

I no perdona cap enemic

Carregat de rom i blat

Canta el pirata a coberta

Canta somnis de llibertat

Des de l'Illa de Formentera

Al nord-est de Mallorca

I del cel de Menorca

Fins a l'Empordà

Solca el mar a tota vela

Fins a l'illa d'Espelmador

On fa més de cent trenta llunes

Entre les roques

Va enterrar el cofre d'or

El seu tresor

**English Translation**

For vessel, a twenty-gun ship

For home, the blue confines of the sea

For law, the North Wind

Wind that adorns

The brigantine in the dark

Looking for a ship to sink

Looking for a ship to board

As the pirate sails

He leaves behind him

A trail of blood and fire

Flame of death

The pirate sings on deck

Sings dreams of freedom

From Formentera island

To the north-east of Mallorca

And from the skies of Menorca

To the Empordà

Sail the sea at full sail

To the island of S'Espalmador

Where more than a hundred and thirty moons ago

Among the rocks

He buried his chest of gold

They say he knows no fear

They say they have seen him play with death

They say that blood makes him fall in love

And that he does not forgive any enemy

Laden with rum and wheat

The pirate sings on deck

Sings dreams of freedom

From Formentera island

To the north-east of Mallorca

And from the skies of Menorca

To the Empordà

Sail the sea at full sail

To the island of S'Espalmador

Where more than a hundred and thirty moons ago

Among the rocks

He buried his chest of gold

His treasure

## Recordings

#### Stream/Purchase

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#### YouTube Videos

* YouTube Album Animation

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contradanza#History
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contradanza#Rhythm