The Virginia Company

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of early colonial ambition, driven by a potent mix of religious fervor, greed, and the promise of prosperity. The opening lines establish a clear historical marker: "In 1607 we sailed the open sea." This voyage was fueled by a trifecta of motivations: "glory, God and gold," all under the banner of "the Virginia Company." The narrator and his companions are presented as hopeful adventurers, believing the "new world is like heaven" where they "all be rich and free." This initial optimism is directly attributed to information received, "Or so we have been told by the Virginia Company." The core tension lies between the idealized vision of the new world and the underlying economic imperative. The repetition of "glory, God and gold" emphasizes the materialistic drive, even when juxtaposed with spiritual aims. The lyrics then shift to a more fantastical depiction of the land's bounty: "diamonds like debris," "silver rivers flow," and "gold you pick right off a tree." This hyperbolic imagery suggests the settlers were sold an unrealistic dream, a narrative designed to encourage investment and colonization. The most striking element is the contrast between the grand promises and the practical, almost transactional, outcome. The narrator imagines personal gain, envisioning "a nugget for my Winnie / And another one for me." However, this personal wealth is immediately qualified by the acknowledgment that "all the rest'll go / To the Virginia Company." This reveals the true purpose of the venture: not just personal enrichment, but profit for the sponsoring entity, highlighting the exploitative nature of the enterprise. This song effectively captures the naive excitement and underlying economic exploitation of early colonial ventures. The simple, almost childlike, language used to describe immense wealth contrasts sharply with the implied reality of the settlers' situation. The repeated mention of "the Virginia Company" serves as a constant reminder of the external force dictating their hopes and the ultimate destination of any discovered riches, making the dream of freedom and riches feel ultimately hollow.