Henry Martin- Jackman (NL) 1930 Karpeles A w/music
[Maud Karpeles published three versions of this ballad, all titled Henry Martin, in Folk Songs 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.
R. Matteson 2013]
A. Henry Martin - Sung by Mr. Jos. C. Jackman at Grole, Hermitage Bay, 3rd July 1930
There were three brothers in merry Scotland,
In merry Scotland did dwell,
And they had to cast lots for to see which would go, which would go
A bold robber all on the salt sea.
The nigh-est lot fell on young Henry Martin,
He being the youngest of the three;
He had to go robbing all on the salt sea, salt sea,
To maintain his two brothers and he.
He had not been sailing but a cold winter's night
Nor the part of a cold winter's day,
Before they had spied some tar-locking ship
Came a-bearing down on them so nigh.
Come rattle your main yard's, cried Henry Martin,
And heave your ship under me,
For I will toss over your ball-flowing, ball-flowing boat
And your bodies I'll send to the sea.