Henry Martin

[Verse 1]

There were three brothers in merry Scotland

In merry Scotland there were three, aye

And they did cast lots which of them should go

Should go, should go, should go, aye

And to turn robber along the salt sea

To turn pirate along the salt sea

[Verse 2]

The lot it fell first to Henry Martin

The younger of all the three, aye

That he should turn robber along the salt sea

Salt sea, salt sea, salty sea, aye

For to maintain his two brothers and he

To maintain his two brothers and he

[Verse 3]

He had not been sailing but a long winter's night

And part of a short winter's day, aye

When he espied a stout lofty ship

Lofty ship, lofty ship, lofty ship, aye

Come a-bibbin' down on him straight away

Come a-bibbin' down on him straight away

[Verse 4]

"Hullo, hullo", cried Henry Martin

"What makes you sail so nigh?", aye

"I'm a rich merchant ship bound for fair London town

London town, London town, London town, aye

And will you not please for to let me pass by?

Won't will you please for to let me pass by?"

[Verse 5]

"O nae, o nae", cried Henry Martin

"This thing, it never can be, aye

For I have turned pirate along the salt sea

Salt sea, salt sea, salty sea, aye

For to maintain my two brothers and me

To maintain my two brothers and me"

[Verse 6]

"Come lower your topsail and slacken your mizzen

And bring your ship under our lee, aye

Or will we give to you a full cannonball

Cannonball, cannonball, cannonball, aye

And all your merry men drown in the sea

All your merry men drown in the sea"

[Verse 7]

"We won't lower our topsail nor slacken our mizzen

Nor bring our ship under your lee

And you won't give us your full cannonball

Cannonball, cannonball, cannonball aye

Nor all our merry men drown in the sea

All our merry men drown in the sea"

[Verse 8]

Then up him and at him and at him he went

For fully two hours or three, aye

'Til Henry Martin gave to them the death shot

The death shot, aye

And all the merry men drowned in the sea

All the merry men drowned in the sea

[Verse 9]

Sad news, sad news to old England came

Sad news to fair London town, aye

There's been a rich vessel, and she's cast away

Cast away, cast away, cast away, aye

And all her merry men drowned in the sea

All her merry men drowned in the sea

All her merry men drowned in the sea

All her merry men drowned in the sea