High Barbaree - Burl Ives

Burl Ives — High Barbaree

Look ahead, look astern, look the weather and the lee,

Blow high !

Blow low !

and so sailed we.

I see a wreck to windward and a lofty ship to lee,

A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.

O are you a pirate or a man o’war?

cried we

Blow high !

Blow low !

and so sailed we.

O no !

I’m not a pirate, but a man o’war, cried he,

A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.

Then back up your topsails and heave your vessel to;

Blow high !

Blow low !

and so sailed we.

For we have got some letters to be carried home by you.

A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.

We’ll back up our topsails and heave our vessel to;

Blow high !

Blow low !

and so sailed we.

But only in some harbour and along the side of you.

A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.

For broadside, for broadside, they fought all on the main;

Blow high !

Blow low !

and so sailed we.

Until at last the frigate shot the pirate’s mast away.

A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.

For quarters !

For quarters !

the saucy pirate cried.

Blow high !

Blow low !

and so sailed we.

The quarters that we showed them was to sink them in the tide.

A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.

With cutlass, and with gun, O we fought them hours three;

Blow high !

Blow low !

and so sailed we.

The ship it was their coffin, and their grave it was the sea.

A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.

But O !

It was a cruel sight, and grieved us full sore,

Blow high !

Blow low !

and so sailed we.

To see them all a-drowning as they tried to swim to shore.

A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.