The Lofty Tall Ship Songtext
von Waterson:Carthy

As we were gone sailing five cold frosty nights,
Five cold frosty nights and four days,
Before we did spy there a lofty tall ship,
She come bearing down on us, brave boys.

"Oh where are you going, you lofty tall ship?
What makes you to venture so nigh?
For I have turned robbing all on the salt sea
To maintain my two brothers and I."


"Then heave on your courses and let go your main sheets
And bring yourself under my lee.
And I will take from you your rich merchant′s goods, merchant's goods,
And I′ll point your bow guns to the sea."

"No, not heave up my courses nor let go my main sheets
Nor let her come under your lee.
Nor you will take from me my rich merchant's goods, merchant's goods,
Nor you′ll point my bow guns to the sea."

Now broadside and broadside these vessels they went,
They were fighting four hours or more.
Till Henry Martin gave to her a broadside
And she sank and she never rose more.


Sad news, Henry Martin, sad news I′ve to tell,
Sad news it is going around.
Of a lofty tall ship and she's cast away
And the whole of her merry men drowned.