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High Barbaree (English version)

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For works with similar titles, see High Barbaree.
High Barbaree (English version)
Traditional
478934High Barbaree (English version)Traditional

There was a gallant English ship
A-sailing on the sea,
Blow high, blow low,
and so say we;
And her Captain he was searching
For a pirate enemy,
Cruising down along the coast
Of the High Barbaree.

"Look ahead, look astern,
Look a-weather and a-lee,"
Blow high, blow low,
and so say we;
"Aloft there at the masthead
Just see what you can see,"
Cruising down along the coast
Of the High Barbaree.

"There's nought upon the stern,
There's nought upon the lee,"
Blow high, blow low, and so say we;
"But there's a lofty ship to windward
And she's sailing fast and free,"
Cruising down along the coast
Of the High Barbaree.

"O hail her! O hail her!"
Our gallant Captain cried,
Blow high, blow low,
and so say we;
"Are you a man-o-war
Or a privateer?" said he,
Cruising down along the coast
Of the High Barbaree.

"O I am not a man-o-war
Nor privateer," said he;
Blow high, blow low,
and so say we;
"But I'm a salt-sea pirate
Whose a-looking for his fee,"
Cruising down along the coast
Of the High Barbaree.

"O if you're a jolly pirate'
Then I'd have you come this way",
Blow high, blow low,
and so say we;
"Bring out your coat of guns boys,
And we'll show this pirates' play."
Cruising down along the coast
Of the High Barbaree.

O 'twas broadside to broadside
A long time lay we,
Blow high, blow low,
and so say we;
Until we shot her masts away
And blew them in the sea,
Cruising down along the coast
Of the High Barbaree.

"O quarter, O quarter",
That was the pirates' plea,
("O quarter, O quarter",
The pirate captain cried'
Alternative)

Blow high, blow low,
and so say we;
But the quarter that we gave them,
Was to sink them in the sea.
Cruising down along the coast
Of the High Barbaree.

References

[edit]

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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