Beyond the Plank: Unpacking League of Legends’ Gangplank BGM & Iconic English Callouts That Define Pirate Swagger
Ever dive into a Bilgewater ARAM or a solo queue top lane as Gangplank, pop Barrel Roll, and feel that gritty, foot-stomping, sea-sprayed rhythm kick in? It’s not just a jingle—it’s his sonic calling card, and its English roots (and hidden Bilgewater lore) are what make it one of Riot Games’ most beloved, recognizable champion themes.
From Bilgewater Tavern Brawls to Global Playlists: The Core BGM
First off: Let’s clarify the fan-favorite "default" Gangplank BGM you hear in champion select, his home map Bilgewater, and certain in-game moments. It’s officially titled "Bilgewater Gangplank" or just "Gangplank Theme" in Riot’s official soundtrack databases, but that misses the vibe. Composed by Riot’s in-house maestro Christian "Praeco" Linke (who also helmed hits like "Get Jinxed" and "RISE"), it draws directly from 18th-century English sea shanties—Bilgewater’s entire lore is built on that gritty, post-colonial pirate port aesthetic, after all.
The track leans hard into shanty staples: a ragged, low-pitched fiddle sawing a repetitive, catchy melody; a wooden bass drum thudding like boots slamming a tavern plank floor; and even faint, uncredited "tavern chorus" ad-libs (think slurred "yo-ho-ho"s and clinking tankard fills) that Linke layered in to feel authentically Bilgewater. While there’s no full, official English lyrical version of the playable champion select/map theme, Praeco released a stripped-down, fully vocalized demo called "Bilgewater Theme (Tavern Shanty Version)" in 2015 to promote the first Bilgewater: Burning Tides event—and that’s where the real English pirate poetry lives.
The Hidden Lyrical Gems of the Burning Tides Demo
The Tavern Shanty Version is a 2-minute, rough-around-the-edges bop, sung by Linke himself in a gravelly, plank-chewing pirate drawl. Its lyrics are pure Gangplank backstory, tying into his fall from Bilgewater’s tyrannical "Saltwater Scourge" to a broken, vengeful (but still cocky) ex-captain after Miss Fortune blew up his flagship, the Dreadway. Here’s a taste of the core verses and chorus:
"Oh, we sailed the Serpentine Strait
With a hold full of gold and a crew full of hate
For the Scourge who ruled with an iron hook’s weight
'Til Fortune burned the Dreadway straight!"Yo-ho-ho and a barrel of rum!
Yo-ho-ho, let the cannons come!
We’ll drink, we’ll fight, we’ll steal, we’ll plunder
'Til Bilgewater bows to the one-eyed wonder!"
The "one-eyed wonder" is, of course, Gangplank (his lore explains he lost his eye to a rival pirate as a teen), and the Serpentine Strait is Bilgewater’s most dangerous shipping lane—perfect for setting his roguish scene.
Why This English Sea Shanty BGM Works So Well
Riot could’ve gone with generic orchestral pirate music, but tying Gangplank’s theme specifically to English shanties hits different for three big reasons:
- Lore immersion: Bilgewater is a melting pot of port cultures, but shanties are the universal "working song" of 18th-century sailors—and English-language shanties (from "What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor?" to "Rolling Home") are the most globally recognized.
- Character identity: Gangplank is not a fancy, Disney-style pirate—he’s a brutal, greedy, self-made thug with a penchant for plank executions and rum-fueled rages. The ragged, unpolished English shanty vibe mirrors that perfectly.
- Player hype: There’s something primal about hearing that fiddle and drum combo right before a teamfight. It makes you want to yell "FIRE IN THE HOLE!" at the top of your lungs, pop three barrels, and delete the enemy ADC—and that’s exactly what Riot wanted.
Bonus: Where to Find More Gangplank English BGM
If you can’t get enough of that salty English pirate sound, check out these deep cuts:
- Riot’s 2023 Worlds Anthem Remix: Gangplank Edition (adds shanty layers to "GODS" by NewJeans)
- Fan-made full lyrical covers of the playable theme on YouTube and Spotify (search "Gangplank English shanty full version")
- The Burning Tides event’s cinematic soundtrack, which uses the Tavern Shanty Version as a leitmotif throughout
In short, Gangplank’s English sea shanty BGM isn’t just background noise—it’s a key part of what makes him one of League of Legends’ most iconic champions. Next time you pick him, crank up the volume, grab a virtual tankard of rum, and let that plank-stomping rhythm carry you to victory. Yo-ho-ho!
