Based on the escape to freedom of Robert Smalls, a Charleston harbor slave, by commandeering a Confederate ship, under cover of darkness, to the Union blockade line disguised as the captain.
The daring escape of Robert Smalls inspired this song that was an attempt to get to the emotions involved.
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Smalls )
Traitor’s Moon
Words and Music by Joan Kennedy and Ron Tintner ©2018
All alone on the stolen deck
I hide my hair behind my neck
I pace around like I belong
I hum the captain’s favorite Dixie song
I wear the captain’s coat and hat
The way he stands, I stand like that
My arms are folded just like him
Please don’t shine your light upon my skin
CHORUS:
Traitor’s Moon so round and white
Traitor’s Moon don’t shine too bright
Stay behind the clouds tonight
It all depends on you, Traitor’s Moon
I flash the signals of the port
I clear the checkpoints, fort by fort
No telling what tonight may bring
And all I stand to lose is everything
My wife and babies sit inside
The hull we’ve lined with dynamite
We laid those charges thick and well
If we’re caught we’ll blow it all to hell
CHORUS
BRIDGE:
Seven miles to the blockade line
Seven miles before the daylight shines
Seven miles from shore to sea
Seven miles from slavery
We’ll hoist up high a small white sheet
Surrendering our one-boat fleet
And when this run is through
I’ll trade these rags for cloth of Yankee blue
CHORUS