We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Henry Martin

from Folk Songs by Nelson Poblete

/

about

Traditional from Scotland

lyrics

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 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.

He had not been sailing but a long winter's night
And a part of a short winter's day,
Before he espied a stout lofty ship,
lofty ship, lofty ship,
Come abibbing down on him straight way.

Hullo! Hullo! 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?

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, salt sea.
For to maintain my two brothers and me.

Come lower your tops'l and brail up your mizz'n
And bring your ship under my lee,
Or I will give 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 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.

Then broadside and broadside and at it they went
For fully two hours or three,
Till Henry Martin gave to her the deathshot,
the deathshot, the deathshot,
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 drown'd.

credits

from Folk Songs, released April 16, 2015

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Nelson Poblete image

Nelson Poblete France

Nelson Poblete, an author, composer, and performer, has cultural roots in Chilean, Catalan, and British backgrounds. He spent much of his career in Barcelona, winning awards at festivals. He lived in Manchester, playing Irish music in pubs, and performed across Europe. He now resides in Brittany, France. ... more

contact / help

Contact Nelson Poblete

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Nelson Poblete, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Saxophonist Isaiah Collier chats about his new LP and the influence of Pharoah Sanders.
listen now