Henry Martin

[Verse 1]

There were three brothers in merry Scotland

In merry Scotland there were three

And they did cast lots which of them should go

Should go, should go

And turn robber all on the salt sea

[Verse 2]

The lot, it fell first upon Henry Martin

The youngest of all the three

That he should turn robber all on the salt sea

Salt sea, the salt sea

For to maintain his two brothers and he

[Verse 3]

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

And a part of a short winter's day

When he espied a stout lofty ship, lofty ship, lofty ship

Come a-bibbin' down on him straight way

[Verse 4]

"Hello! Hello!" cried Henry Martin

"What makes you sail so nigh?

I'm a rich merchant ship bound for fair London Town

London Town, London Town

Would you please for to let me pass by?"

[Verse 5]

"Oh no! Oh no!" cried Henry Martin

"This thing, it never could be

For I have turned robber all on the salt sea

Salt sea, the salt sea

For to maintain my two brothers and me"

[Verse 6]

Come lower your tops'l and brail up your mizzen

Bring your ship under my lee

Or I will give to you a full cannonball

Cannonball, cannonball

And all your dear bodies drown in the salt sea

[Verse 7]

Oh no! We won't lower our lofty topsail

Nor bring our ship under your lee

And you shan't take from us our rich merchant goods

Merchant goods, merchant goods

Nor point our bold guns to the sea

[Verse 8]

Then broadside and broadside and at it they went

For fully two hours or three

Till Henry Martin gave to them the death shot

The death shot, the death shot

And straight to the bottom went she

[Verse 9]

Bad news, bad news to old England came

Bad news to fair London Town

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

Cast away, cast away

And all of her merry men drowned