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“The Zong” is a historical eyewitness ballad documenting the 1781 massacre aboard the British slave ship Zong, where more than 130 enslaved Africans were deliberately thrown overboard so their deaths could be claimed as an insurance loss. The song does not dramatize violence for effect; instead, it focuses on the systems, paperwork, and legal language that allowed mass murder to be treated as a routine business decision.

Written from a restrained, observational perspective, the lyrics emphasize ledgers, tallies, insurance claims, and court rulings rather than emotional commentary. This approach mirrors the real historical record, where the atrocity was not initially tried as murder, but as a civil dispute over lost “cargo.” The repetition of phrases like “the books stay clean” underscores how bureaucracy can erase humanity without ever raising its voice.

Musically, the arrangement is intentionally slow and patient, allowing the narrative to unfold without urgency or release. Rooted in Appalachian Americana and jam-band sensibilities, the song maintains a steady, grounded pulse—reflecting inevitability rather than drama. There are no triumphant resolutions or emotional crescendos; the weight of the story is carried through restraint.

“The Zong” serves as a cornerstone piece within History Tells the Tales, reinforcing the project’s mission to preserve uncomfortable truths through song. It is a reminder that history’s most brutal moments are often executed not by monsters, but by ordinary people following orders, signing documents, and closing books—while the sea keeps the evidence.