Henry Martin- Bishop (NL) 1930 Karpeles B
[Maud Karpeles published three versions of this ballad, all titled Henry Martin, from Newfoundland. Karpeles first collecting trip to Newfoundland began on Sept. 9, 1929 and ended Oct. 29, 1929. She came back the next summer in 1930. The first two lines of stanza two could be:
The nigh-est lot fell on young Henry Martin,
He being the youngest of the three;
The second line is missing and the first line is usually the second- just not remembered by the informant.
R. Matteson 2013]
B. Henry Martin- sung by Mr. Patrick Bishop at Point la Hare, St. Mary's, 29th July 1930
There were three brothers, three brothers in London,
In fair London town they did dwell.
They had to cast lots to see which of them
Would stand pirate all on the salt sea.
The youngest, the youngest of those brothers three,
. . . . . . .
He had to stand pirate all on the salt sea,
For to maintain his two brothers and he.
They built them a boat and a bonny boat,
And a bonny fine boat she may be;
Her topsail was oak and her keel it was bark
And her two sides were lindd with steel.
They were not long sailing all on the sea,
At the length of a long winter's night,
And the part of a short winter's day,
When a large lofty stout ship,
A large lofty ship come rolling down on the salt sea.
What ship, what ship cries Henry Martin,
What ship, what ship it may be?
I'm a rich merchant ship to England I'm bound,
And I pray you to let me go free.
Such things, such things, cries Henry Martin,
Such things that never shall be,
For your rich merchant's goods I will take on my board
And your men I'll sink in the sea.
For broadside, for broadside those two
For the space of two hours or three,
Till Henry Martin gave her a broadside
And down to the bottom sank she.
Bad news, bad news, cries Henry Martin,
Bad news I have got unto thee,
Your rich merchant's goods I'm told they're all lost,
And your men are all sunk in the sea.