There were brothers in merry Scotland In merry there were three And they did cast which of them should go go, should go And turn robber all on the sea
The lot it fell first upon Martin The youngest of all the That he should turn all on the salt sea sea, the salt sea For to maintain his two and he
They had not been sailing but a winter's night And a part of a winter's day he espied a stout lofty ship Lofty ship, lofty Come bibbing on him straight way
"Hello, hello", cried Henry What makes you so nigh? I'm a rich merchant bound for fair London Town London Town, Town Would you for to let me pass by?
"Oh no, oh no", cried Martin This thing it could be For I have turned all on the salt sea Salt sea, the sea. For to my two brothers and me
Come your tops'l and brail up your mizz'n And your ship under my lee Or I will give you a cannon ball ball, cannon ball And all dear bodies drown in the salt sea
Oh no, we won't lower our topsail Nor bring our under your lee And you shan't take us our rich merchant goods Merchant goods, merchant Nor point our guns to the sea
Then and broadside and at it they went For two hours or three Till Henry Martin gave to them The deathshot, the And straight to the went she
Bad news, bad news to old England Bad news to fair London been a rich vessel and she's cast away Cast away, cast And all of her men drowned