High Barbaree (American version)

by Traditional

For works with similar titles, see High Barbaree.

Look ahead, look astern, look the weather and the lee,
Blow high! Blow low! and so sailed we.
I see a wreck to windward and a lofty ship to lee,
A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.

“Then hail her!” our captain he called all aside,
Blow high ! Blow low ! and so sailed we.
“O are you a pirate or a man o'war?” he cried,
A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.

O are you a pirate or man o'war? cried we
Blow high! Blow low! and so sailed we.
O no! I'm not a pirate, but a man o'war, cried he,
A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.

Then back up your topsails and heave your vessel to;
Blow high! Blow low! and so sailed we.
For we have got some letters to be carried home by you.
A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.

We'll back up our topsails and heave our vessel to;
Blow high! Blow low! and so sailed we.
But only in some harbour and along the side of you.
A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.

For broadside, for broadside, they fought all on the main;
Blow high! Blow low! and so sailed we.
Until at last the frigate shot the pirate's mast away.
A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.

For Corpses! For quarters! the saucy pirate cried.
Blow high! Blow low! and so sailed we.
The quarters that we showed them was to sink them in the tide.
A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.

With cutlass, and with gun, O we fought them hours three;
Blow high! Blow low! and so sailed we.
The ship it was their coffin, and their grave it was the sea.
A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.

But O! It was a cruel sight, and grieved us full sore,
Blow high! Blow low! and so sailed we.
To see them all a-drowning as they tried to swim for shore.
A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.

References

• The Coasts of High Barbary
• High Barbary
• The Coasts of High Barbary