Almanac Singers

The Coast Of High Barbary

Almanac Singers


There were two lofty ships from Old England came,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we.
One was the Prince of Luther and the other Prince of Wales,
Cruisin' down along the coast of High Barbary.

"Aloft there, aloft," our jolly boatswain cried...
"Look ahead, look astern, look the weather, look a lee."...

"There's naught upon the stern, there is naught upon the lee...
But there's a lofty ship to windward, she's sailing fast and free."...

"Oh hail her, oh hail her," our gallant captain cried...
"Are you a man of war or privateer or merchant ship?" said he...

"I am not a man of war or privateer," said he...
"But I'm a salt sea pirate a-lookin' for my fee."...

For broadside, for broadside a long time we lay...
Until the Prince of Luther shot the pirate's mast away...

For quarter, for quarter those pirates then did cry...
But the answer that we gave them, we sunk them in their sea...