The History of China - The Sea Shanty of Zheng He

Episode Date: June 22, 2021

There once was a fleet that put to sea All in name of the Imperial Ming With phoenix sterns, & dragon prows Oh go, my baochuan, go! Soon may the Treasure Fleet moor To bring ceramics & silk galore One day, when the trading is done They’ll take our spice & go Commanded by an admiral So tall he seem unnatural His voice rang out like temple bell To get those treasures stowed Soon may the Treasure Fleet moor To bring ceramics & silk galore One day, when the trading is done They’ll take our spice & go They sailed the southern seas so vast They’d catch the wind with all nine masts Astrologers would watch the skies From Champa to Guangzhou Soon may the Treasure Fleet moor To bring ceramics & silk galore One day, when the trading is done They’ll take our spice & go But on wave-crest a Pirate Lord He spied the fleet and greedily roared “Make ready all your cannon shot, We’ll take all their cargo!” Soon may the Treasure Fleet moor To bring ceramics & silk galore One day, when the trading is done They’ll take our spice & go Through flame and smoke they battled on Til in a flash a month was gone The Pirate Lord would taste defeat His ships sunk deep below Soon may the Treasure Fleet moor To bring ceramics & silk galore One day, when the trading is done They’ll take our spice & go At last they came to Indian shores In search of spice and jewels and more The deal was struck, with solemn vow To pay all that was owed Soon may the Treasure Fleet moor To bring ceramics & silk galore One day, when the trading is done They’ll take our spice & go But homeward bound the skies grew dim The winds did howl, their fate seemed grim The sailors prayed, “Help us, Tianfei!” The masts began to glow Soon may the Treasure Fleet moor To bring ceramics & silk galore One day, when the trading is done They’ll take our spice & go The Goddess heard their earnest pleas She stilled the waves & calmed the breeze The sailors gave their sober thanks She’s spared them from their woe Soon may the Treasure Fleet moor To bring ceramics & silk galore One day, when the trading is done They’ll take our spice & go Soon may the Treasure Fleet moor To bring ceramics & silk galore One day, when the trading is done They’ll take our spice & go Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You're listening to an Airwave Media Podcast. The Civil War and Reconstruction was a pivotal era in American history. When a war was fought to save the Union and to free the slaves. And when the work to rebuild the nation after that war was over turned into a struggle to guarantee liberty and justice for all Americans. I'm Tracy. And I'm Rich. And we want to invite you to join us as we take an in-depth look at this pivotal era in American history. Look for The Civil War

and Reconstruction wherever you find your podcasts. All in name of the Imperial main With phoenix stems and dragon prows Oh go my bough, go on, go Soon may the treasure fleet more To bring ceramics and silk galore One day when the trading is done They'll take our spice and go Commanded by an admiral So tall he seemed unnatural His voice rang out like a temple bell

To get those treasures stored Soon may the treasure fleet more To bring ceramics and silk galore One day when the trading is done They'll take our spice and go Da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da They sailed the southern seas so vast They'd catch the wind with all nine masts Astrologers would watch the skies From Champa to Guangzhou

Ha! Soon may the Turkish fleet board To bring Sir Axe and Silk galore One day when the trading is done They'll take our spice and go But on Wavecrest a pirate lord He spied the fleet and greedily roared Make ready all your cannon shot,

we'll take all their cargo. Soon may the treasure fleet moor to bring Sir Ice and Silk galore. One day when the trading is done, they'll take our spice and go. Da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da

da da da da da da da da da da da. Through flame and smoke they battled on, till in a flash a month Da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da Through flame and smoke they battled on Till in a flash a month was gone The pirate lord would taste defeat To ship some deep below Soon may the treasure fleet moor

To bring Sir Axe and Silk galore One day when the trade is done They'll take our spice and go At last they came to Indian shores In search of spice and jewels and more they came to indian shores in search of spice and jewels and more a deal was struck the solemn vow to pay all that was owed but homeward bound the skies grew dim the winds did howl, the fates seemed grim, the sailors prayed, help us, Tien-Fei, the masts began to glow. Soon may the treasure fleet moor, to bring Sir Ice and Silk alore, one day when the trade is done, they'll take our spice and go.

The goddess heard their earnest pleas, she stilled the waves and calmed the seas, the gave their silver thanks She spared them from their woe Soon may the treasure fleet more To bring Sir Anise and the silk galore One day when the trading is done They'll take our spice and go Soon may the treasure fleet more To bring Sir Anise and the silk galore One day when the trading is done

They'll take our spice and go