The Salcombe Seaman’s Flaunt to the Proud Pirate
A lofty ship from Salcombe came,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
She had golden trucks42 that shone like flame,
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.
“Masthead, masthead,” the captains hail,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
“Look out and round, d’ye see a sail?”
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.
“There’s a ship that looms like Beachy Head,”
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
“Her banner aloft it blows out red,”
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.
“Oh, ship ahoy, where do you steer?”
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
“Are you man-of-war, or privateer?”
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.
“I am neither one of the two,” said she,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
“I’m a pirate, looking for my fee,”
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.
“I’m a jolly pirate, out for gold:”
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
“I will rummage through your after hold,”
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.
The grumbling guns they flashed and roared,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
Till the pirate’s masts went overboard,
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.
They fired shots till the pirate’s deck,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
Was blood and spars and broken wreck,
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.
“O do not haul the red flag down,”
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
“O keep all fast until we drown,”
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.
They called for cans of wine, and drank,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
They sang their songs until she sank,
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.
Now let us brew good cans of flip,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
And drink a bowl to the Salcombe ship,
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.
And drink a bowl to the lad of fame,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
Who put the pirate ship to shame,
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.
From A Sailor’s Garland.
Notes
42 trucks: mast-head caps.