AmEAm
There were three brothers in merry Scotland,
DmCE
In merry Scotland there were three,
Am
And they did cast lots which of them should go,
DmCE
should go, should go,
AmCGAm
And turn robber all on the salt sea.
AmEAm
The lot it fell first upon Henry Martin,
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The youngest of all the three;
Am
That he should turn robber all on the salt sea,
DmCE
Salt sea, the salt sea.
AmCGAm
For to maintain his two brothers and he.
AmEAm
They had not been sailing but a long winter's night
DmCE
And a part of a short winter's day,
Am
When he espied a stout lofty ship,
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lofty ship, lofty ship,
AmCGAm
Come abibbing down on him straight way.
AmEAm
Hullo! Hullo! cried Henry Martin,
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What makes you sail so nigh?
Am
I'm a rich merchant ship bound for fair London Town,
DmCE
London Town, London Town
AmCGAm
Would you please for to let me pass by?
AmEAm
Oh no! Oh no! cried Henry Martin,
DmCE
This thing it never could be,
Am
For I have turned robber all on the salt sea
DmCE
Salt sea, the salt sea.
AmCGAm
For to maintain my two brothers and me.
AmEAm
Come lower your tops'l and brail up your mizz'n
DmCE
And bring your ship under my lee,
Am
Or I will give to you a full cannon ball,
DmCE
cannon ball, cannon ball,
AmCGAm
And all your dear bodies drown in the salt sea.
AmEAm
Oh no! we won't lower our lofty topsail
DmCE
Nor bring our ship under your lee,
Am
And you shan't take from us our rich merchant goods,
DmCE
merchant goods, merchant goods
AmCGAm
Nor point our bold guns to the sea.
AmEAm
Then broadside and broadside and at it they went
DmCE
For fully two hours or three,
Am
Till Henry Martin gave to them the deathshot,
DmCE
the deathshot, the deathshot,
AmCGAm
And straight to the bottom went she.
AmEAm
Bad news, bad news, to old England came,
DmCE
Bad news to fair London Town,
Am
There's been a rich vessel and she's cast away,
DmCE
cast away, cast away,
AmCGAm
And all of her merry men drown'd.