There three brothers in merry Scotland In merry Scotland were three And they did cast lots which of them go go, should go And turn robber all on the sea
The lot it first upon Henry Martin The youngest of all the That he should turn all on the salt sea Salt sea, the sea For to maintain his two and he
They had not been sailing but a long winter's And a part of a winter's day When he espied a lofty ship Lofty ship, lofty Come down on him straight way
"Hello, hello", cried Martin What you sail so nigh? I'm a rich ship bound for fair London Town London Town, London Would you for to let me pass by?
"Oh no, oh no", cried Martin thing it never could be For I turned robber all on the salt sea sea, the salt sea. For to maintain my two and me
Come lower your tops'l and brail up mizz'n And bring your ship my lee Or I give you a full cannon ball Cannon ball, cannon And all dear bodies drown in the salt sea
Oh no, we won't lower our topsail Nor bring our ship under lee And you shan't take from us our rich goods Merchant goods, merchant Nor our bold guns to the sea
Then broadside and broadside and at it went For two hours or three Till Henry Martin gave to them 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 and she's cast away away, cast away And all of her men drowned