Henry Martin
This is one of Child's collection of ballads, about a family whose youngest son was apparently pretty good at pirating.
Am G F Am
There were three brothers in merry Scotland
F G Am
In merry Scotland there were three
Am
And they did cast lots which of them should go,
G Am
Should go, should go
C G Am
And turn robber all on the salt sea.Am G F Am
The lot if fell upon Henry Martin
F G Am
The youngest of all the three
Am
That he should turn robber all on the salt sea,
G Am
The salt sea, the salt sea,
C G Am
For to maintain his two brothers and he.Am G F Am
He’d not been sailing but a long winter’s night
F G Am
And part of a short winter’s day
Am
When he espied a stout lofty ship,
G Am
Lofty ship, lofty ship
C G Am
Come a-bibing down on him straight way.Am G F Am
“Hullo! Hullo!” cried Henry Martin
F G Am
“What makes ye sail sae nigh?”
Am
“I’m a rich merchant ship bound for fair London town,
G Am
London town, London town
C G Am
Will ye please for to let me pass by?”Am G F Am
“Oh no! Oh no!” cried Henry Martin
F G Am
“That thing well it never can be
Am
For I have turned robber all on the salt sea,
G Am
The salt sea, the salt sea,
C G Am
For to maintain my two brothers and me!”Am G F Am
“So lower your topsail & bow down your mizzen,
F G Am
Bow yourselves under my lee,
Am
Or I shall give to you a fast flowing ball,
G Am
Flowing ball, flowing ball,
C G Am
And throw your dear bodies in the salt sea.”Am G F Am
Then broadside and broadside and at it they went
F G Am
For fully two hours or three
Am
Till Henry Martin give to her the death shot,
G Am
The death shot, the death shot
C G Am
Heavily listing to starboard went she.Am G F Am
The rich merchant vessel was wounded full sore
F G Am
Straight to the bottom went she,
Am
And Henry Martin sailed away on the sea,
G Am
The salt sea, the salt sea
C G Am
For to maintain his two brothers and he.Am G F Am
Sad news, sad news to old England came
F G Am
Sad news to old London town
Am
There’s been a rich vessel and she’s cast away,
G Am
Cast away, cast away,
C G Am
And all of her merry men drowned.Return to Songs of the Sea
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