High Barbaree
Traditional:
courtesy of www.SailorSongs.com
There was a gallant English ship, a-sailing on the sea
Blow high, blow low, and so say we
And her Captain he was searching
For a pirate enemy, cruising down along the coast
Of the High Barbaree.
Look ahead, look astern, Look a-weather and a-lee
Blow high, blow low, and so say we
Aloft there at the masthead Just see what you can see
Cruising down along the coast Of the High Barbaree
There's nought upon the stern
There's nought upon the lee
Blow high, blow low, and so say we
But there's a lofty ship to windward
And she's sailing fast and free
Cruising down along the coast Of the High Barbaree
O hail her! O hail her Our gallant Captain cried,
Blow high, blow low, and so say we
Are you a man-o-war Or a privateer?" said he
Cruising down along the coast Of the High Barbaree
O I am not a man-o-war Nor privateer," said he
Blow high, blow low, and so say we
But I'm a salt-sea pirate
Whose a-looking for his fee
Cruising down along the coast Of the High Barbaree
O 'twas broadside to broadside, A long time lay we,
Blow high, blow low, and so say we
Until we shot her masts away
And blew them in the sea
Cruising down along the coast Of the High Barbaree
The author of this website has put a lot of time and effort into gathering the greatest collection of sea shanties for the world to enjoy - There are songs that have been to sung to a job of work at sea for many, many years and collecting them has been a great endeavour. - Roger Chartier has made the effort out of his own interest and the requests that he has gotten to do this work from fellow musicians who wanted a good source of sea shanties to draw on and learn from. He has been told that for this effort he is a remarkable man.
