Henry Martin

There were three brothers in merry Scotland<br />

In merry Scotland there were three<br />

And they did cast lots which of them should go<br />

Should go, should go<br />

And turn robber all on the salt sea<br />

<br />

The lot it fell first upon Henry Martin<br />

The youngest of all the three<br />

That he should turn robber all on the salt sea<br />

Salt sea, the salt sea<br />

For to maintain his two brothers and he<br />

<br />

They had not been sailing but a long winter's night<br />

And a part of a short winter's day<br />

When he espied a stout lofty ship<br />

Lofty ship, lofty ship<br />

Come bibbing down on him straight way<br />

<br />

"Hello, hello", cried Henry Martin<br />

What makes you sail so nigh?<br />

I'm a rich merchant ship bound for fair London Town<br />

London Town, London Town<br />

Would you please for to let me pass by?<br />

<br />

"Oh no, oh no", cried Henry Martin<br />

This thing it never could be<br />

For I have turned robber all on the salt sea<br />

Salt sea, the salt sea.<br />

For to maintain my two brothers and me<br />

<br />

Come lower your tops'l and brail up your mizz'n<br />

And bring your ship under my lee<br />

Or I will give you a full cannon ball<br />

Cannon ball, cannon ball<br />

And all your dear bodies drown in the salt sea<br />

<br />

Oh no, we won't lower our lofty topsail<br />

Nor bring our ship under your lee<br />

And you shan't take from us our rich merchant goods<br />

Merchant goods, merchant goods<br />

Nor point our bold guns to the sea<br />

<br />

Then broadside and broadside and at it they went<br />

For fully two hours or three<br />

Till Henry Martin gave to them deathshot<br />

The deathshot, the deathshot<br />

And straight to the bottom went she<br />

<br />

Bad news, bad news to old England came<br />

Bad news to fair London Town<br />

There's been a rich vessel and she's cast away<br />

Cast away, cast away<br />

And all of her merry men drowned