Henry Martin

(album: HMS Donovan - 1971)

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

The lot it fell first to Henry Martin
The younger of all the three
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

He had not been sailing but a long winters night
And part of a short winters day aye
When he a-spied a stout lofty ship
lofty ship lofty ship lofty ship aye
Come a bibben down on him straight away
Come a bibben down on him straight away

Hello Hello cried Henry Martin
What makes you sail so nigh-aye?
Im 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?
Wont will you please for to let me pass by?

Oh nay Oh Nay 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

come lower your top sail and slacken your mizen
and bring your ship under our lead aye
or will we give to you a full cannon ball
cannon ball cannon ball cannon ball aye
and all your merry men drown in the sea
all your merry men drown in the sea

We wont lower our top sail nor slacken our mizen
Nor bring our ship under your lead
and you wont give us your full cannon ball
cannon ball cannon ball cannon ball aye
nor all our merry men drown in the sea
all our merry men drown in the sea

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

sad news sad news to old England came
sad news to fair London town aye
theres been a rich vessel and shes cast away
cast away cast away cast away aye
and all her merry men drowned in the sea
all her merry men drowed in the sea
all her merry men drowned in the sea
all her merry men drowned in the sea