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Mrs. Edward Gallagher (Catherine ) recorded at Chebucto Head Lighthouse, Halifax, Nova Scotia,1943

lyrics

[Note: Lyrics appear as they are sung by the informant or as found in Helen’s
accompanying notes. Unclear or unidentified lyrics are marked by ___ . ]
1 Henry Martyn - Mrs. Edward Gallagher [4:03]
AC: 2239 - MF NO: 289.100 & 102
Recorded: Chebucto Head, 1943. See: TSNS p. 86.

There were three brothers in fair London town,
In fair London town lived three,
And they cast lots for to see which of them
Would go robbing all on the salt sea; salt sea, salt sea,
And they cast lots for to see which of them
Would go robbing all on the salt sea.
The lot it fell to Henry Martyn
The youngest of the three,
That he should go robbing all on the salt sea
To maintain his two brothers and he; and he, and he,
That he should go robbing all on the salt sea
To maintain his two brothers and he.
He had not sailed many cold winter’s nights
Many cold winter’s nights sailed he,
‘Til he spied a fair lofty ship coming in,
A-bearing down under his lee; his lee, his lee,
‘Til he spied a fair lofty ship coming in,
A-bearing down under his lee.
"Who’s there? Who’s there?" cried Henry Martyn,
"Who’s there? Who’s there?" cried he,
"Tis a rich merchant ship for fair London bound",
"Will you please for to let me pass by; pass by, pass by?"
"Tis a rich merchant ship for fair London bound,
Will you please for to let me pass by?"
"Pass by? Pass by?" said Henry Martyn,
"Such a thing could never be,
Since I been sent roving upon the salt sea,
To maintain my two brothers and me; and me, and me,
Since I been sent roving upon the salt sea,
To maintain my two brothers and me."

"Pull down your main topsail or square your foreyard,
And bring your ship under my lee,
And I will take from you your rich flowing gold,
And your mariners sink in the sea; the sea, the sea,
And I will take from you your rich flowing gold,
And your mariners sink in the sea."
"I’ll not pull down my main topsail or square my fore yard,
Or bring my ship under your lee,

But I will fight you for my rich flowing gold,
And my mariners safe on the sea ...
Then broadside to broadside those two ships did fight,
For the space of two hours or three,
‘Till Henry Martyn he gave him his death wound,
And his mariners sank in the sea; the sea, the sea,
‘Till Henry Martyn he gave him his death wound,
And his mariners sank in the sea.
Bad news, bad news for old England,
Bad news as there could be,
A rich merchant ship has been robbed of her gold,
And her mariners sank in the sea; the sea, the sea ...

credits

from The Helen Creighton Folklore Society Presents: Songs of the Sea, released May 24, 2023

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Helen Creighton Folklore Society Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Honoring folklorist Helen Creighton (1899-1989), who collected and published traditional music and lore of Maritime Canada. The mandate of the Helen Creighton Folklore Society is to encourage and promote work that reflects the diverse folk culture of the Maritimes as exemplified by the work begun by Dr. Creighton. For more information visit our website at: www.helencreighton.org. ... more

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