Fingers Crossed is one of those songs hailed by the likes of Classic Rock when they noted that Hunter has gotten stronger in the latter third of his career. The stranger in a strange land here is the colorful historical tale of being pressed-ganged into naval service as in the 1750s by "nefarious rogues." The tear-jerking chorus is balance by the dramatic "Hang me high" climatic refrain. The title track was not inspired by a specific book but woke up with the opening line "I was pressed into service through no fault of my own" and the song emerged. It is historically accurate that sailors could return to England and they would either knight you or hang you as a pirate; for example, consider the life of one of the most remarkable and notable figures of the Elizabethan era such as Sir Walter Raleigh.
The singer is a pawn in the song but he is not about to complain and has his fingers crossed for good luck. He is a pirate or privateer, from the land of the lost. As a fighter on the South China Seas he is about to be hung so fire away as he had his fingers crossed. Hunter has so many historical allusions running through his songs and here is a consistent theme of being an outsider but in this setting as an outlaw pirate about to be hung.
Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
Sir Walter Raleigh was an English statesman, soldier, writer and explorer. One of the most notable figures of the Elizabethan era
Fingers Crossed
(Ian Hunter)
I was pressed into service through no fault of my own
I was dragged from the gutter by nefarious rogues
I don't like to dwell upon what happened to me
From the land of the living to the land of the lost
Just a pawn in the system, (woh-oh) got my fingers crossed
I've seen skulls, I've seen crossbones
As near as I can see you
I felt the cold cloak of terror, the fog 'n' grog got us through
Pirate or privateer
I am both am I not, in a land unforgiving from the land of the lost
With my fate in the balance, (woh-oh) and my fingers crossed
Well..
Hang me high, hang me high, boys
hang me high, hang me high, boys
Hang me high, hang me high, boys
hang me high, hang me high, boys
I have danced with the elements on the South China seas
I've seen gold, I've seen silver, the fruits of our victories
Guilty or innocent, I ask this because, on the steps of the scaffold am I now to be lost
So I make my confession, (woh-oh) with my fingers crossed
Hang me high, hang me high, boys
hang me high, hang me high, boys
Hang me high, hang me high, boys,
hang me high, hang me high, boys
Fire away, fire away, boys
fire away, fire away, boys
Fire away, fire away, boys
fire away, fire away
So I make my confession, (oh-oh) with my fingers crossed
Ian Hunter and The Rant Band CD: "Fingers Crossed"
Sleeve and track listing
Proper Records PRPCD137
Review
Ian's 2016 album Fingers Crossed shows that he's as sharp an observer and incisive commentator as ever. The run of form that started with 2001's Rant shows no sign of abating, with this album being up there with his very best.
Ian hasn't been this good since the 70's, with killer album after killer album. No, I'm not an "I praise everything" type of reviewer - this is the honest truth. At 77 years of age (oh, yes!) Ian shows no sign of slowing down.
Dandy is the standout track, his homage to David Bowie who passed away back in January 2016. See how many Bowie tracks he manages to weave into the lyrics! Clever, very clever.
Mid-tempo rockers such as White House, Bow Street Runners and Stranded In Reality sit alongside slower, more thoughtful songs such as Morpheus and the title track Fingers Crossed.
Ian has always had his feet planted firmly in reality, as on You Can't Live In The Past he notes "You can never go back, those days are gone". On the closing track, the rockabilly Long Time he offers advice to younger wannabes "Be careful what you wish for" as he notes "Take a chance on destiny, you'll never know what you find".
Sheers class. And as essential as ever.
| Fingers Crossed | 5:11 | Originally released on Fingers Crossed. |