The Charm: Lyrics and the Story Behind the Song

This was the second song I wrote after I started songwriting again as an adult. I entered a phase in which I wrote many songs about the ocean and ocean-related topics. This song was extremely challenging to write. I had a story that I wanted to tell, and I wanted it to rhyme. But I did not want to have to change my tale in any way for the sake of the rhyme. I also wanted to have a motif that I carried all the way through the song—the charm.

I wrote the song several years ago, but when I think back on that time, I can remember several things that influenced me to write it, such as what I was doing at that point in my life and what music I was listening to.

I was homeschooling my two children. During that time, we were learning about pirates. We made homemade crackers in our little kitchen. We stained small wooden boxes to look like treasure chests. My husband took a long wooden pole and sliced it into disks, and my boys and I painted the disks with silver and gold paint. This was our pirate booty to put in the treasure chests. We also read everything we could find at the library about pirates!

We also were very aware of the phases of the moon and would celebrate the full moons. The moon is something I honor by including it in almost every song I write. In this song, the moon goes through all of its phases many times before the lovers are finally reunited.

I also remember listening to Mary Chapin Carpenter’s CD called Stones in the Road. On that CD is a song called “The End of My Pirate Days.” And I was also listening to Diane Zeigler’s CD, These are the Roots. On that CD is a song called “The Legend of Enoch Arden.” In that song, Zeigler recalls a childhood memory and retells Tennyson’s poem of the same name.

My oldest son and I were big fans of Tennyson, and in earlier years, we had studied his poetry and acted out a lengthy interpretation of “The Lady of Shalott.” This wonderful poem has also been interpreted in song by Loreena McKennitt on her CD, The Visit.

Song Lyrics

Just off the coast of this rocky shore.
Deep down under these crashing waves.
Buried beneath this soft, white sand.
Lies a locket from a pocket—
A story steeped in lore.

There was a girl. There was a boy.
There was a full, round moon.
There was a ship. There was a trip.
He would come home soon.
A parting kiss. A long embrace.
And, just in case. A good luck charm.
Arm in arm. And then apart.
She gave him—her heart.

Chorus
Once there were pirates on the rolling sea.
Thunder and lightning were a mystery.
Fleets of trade ships sailed into history.
Can you sift through the wreckage
to find treasure in me?

There was a storm. The masts were torn.
The ship was lost—one afternoon.
At this she wept. But he was swept—
Gently to a small lagoon.
A castaway. A distant land.
And in his hand. A good luck charm.
Safe from harm. He watched alone.
For a ship to bring him home.

Chorus
Once there were pirates on the rolling sea.
Thunder and lightning were a mystery.
Fleets of trade ships sailed into history.
Can you sift through the wreckage
to find treasure in me?

There was a man—too old to stand.
There was a waning moon.
There came a ship. Another trip.
He would be home soon.
He saw her face. A state of grace.
And in this very space.
Arm in arm. They gave the charm—
A final resting place.

Chorus
Once there were pirates on the rolling sea.
Thunder and lightning were a mystery.
Fleets of trade ships sailed into history.
Can you sift through the wreckage
to find treasure in me?

Song Credits

Holly Hanson: vocals, acoustic guitar
Erinn Brown: background vocals
Steve Hayes: baritone ukulele
David Eure: violin
Sven Larson: upright bass
Zeke Martin: percussion

Written by Holly Hanson. © 2011 Wild Braid Music (BMI). All rights reserved.

The Charm appears on the album Strawberry Moon by Neptune's Car.