Henry Martin

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

The lot it fell first upon Henry Martin
The youngest of all of the three
That he should turn robber all on the salt sea, the salt sea, the salt sea
To maintain his two brothers and he

They had not been sailing but a long winters night
And part of a short winters day
When he espied a stout lofty ship, lofty ship, lofty ship
Come a bibbin down on him straight way

Hello, hello cried Henry Martin
What makes you sail so nigh?
I'm a rich merchant vessel bound for fair London town, London town, London town
Won't you please for to let me pass by

Oh no, oh no cried Henry Martin
This thing it never could be
For I have turned robber all on the salt sea, the salt sea, the salt sea
For to maintain me two brothers and me

Come lower your topsail and brail up your mizzen
And bring your ship under my lee
Or I shall give to you a full cannon ball, cannon ball, cannon ball
And your dear bodies drown in the salt sea

Oh no, we won't lower our lofty top sail
Or bring our ship under your lee
For you shan't take from us our rich merchant goods, merchant goods, merchant goods
Nor point our bold guns to the sea

So 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

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.

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