There were three brothers in merry In merry Scotland there three And they did cast lots which of should go go, should go And turn robber all on the sea
The lot it fell upon Henry Martin The youngest of all the That he should turn robber all on the sea sea, the salt sea For to his two brothers and he
They had not been sailing but a winter's night And a part of a short day he espied a stout lofty ship Lofty ship, ship Come down on him straight way
"Hello, hello", cried Henry What you sail so nigh? I'm a rich merchant ship for fair London Town London Town, Town you please for to let me pass by?
"Oh no, oh no", Henry Martin This it never could be For I turned robber all on the salt sea sea, the salt sea. For to my two brothers and me
Come lower your tops'l and brail up your And bring ship under my lee Or I will you a full cannon ball Cannon ball, ball And all your dear bodies drown in the sea
Oh no, we won't lower our lofty Nor bring our ship under lee And you shan't take from us our merchant goods goods, merchant goods Nor point our bold to the sea
Then broadside and broadside and at it went For fully two or three Till Henry Martin to them deathshot The deathshot, the And straight to the bottom she
Bad news, bad news to old England Bad news to London Town There's been a rich vessel and she's away away, cast away And all of her merry men