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



They had not been sailing but a long winter's night

And a part of a short winter's day

When he espied a stout lofty ship

Lofty ship, lofty ship

Come bibbing down on him straight way



"Hello, hello", 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, the 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 all 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 them 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 drowned

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