Blackwaterslide Lyrics - Live At The 12 Bar - Bert Jansch

There were three brothers in merry Scotland 

In merry Scotland there were three 

And they did cast lots which of them should go 

Should go, should go 

And turn robber all on the salt sea 

The lot it fell first upon Henry Martin 

The youngest of all the three 

That he should turn robber all on the salt sea 

Salt sea, the salt sea 

For to maintain his two brothers and he 

They had not been sailing but a long winter's night 

And a part of a short winter's day 

When he espied a stout lofty ship 

Lofty ship, lofty ship 

Come bibbing down on him straight way 

"Hello, hello", cried Henry Martin 

What makes you sail so nigh? 

I'm a rich merchant ship bound for fair London Town 

London Town, London Town 

Would you please for to let me pass by? 

"Oh no, oh no", cried Henry Martin 

This thing it never could be 

For I have turned robber all on the salt sea 

Salt sea, the salt sea. 

For to maintain my two brothers and me 

Come lower your tops'l and brail up your mizz'n 

And bring your ship under my lee 

Or I will give you a full cannon ball 

Cannon ball, cannon ball 

And all your dear bodies drown in the salt sea 

Oh no, we won't lower our lofty topsail 

Nor bring our ship under your lee 

And you shan't take from us our rich merchant goods 

Merchant goods, merchant goods 

Nor point our bold guns to the sea 

Then broadside and broadside and at it they went 

For fully two hours or three 

Till Henry Martin gave to them deathshot 

The deathshot, the deathshot 

And straight to the bottom went she 

Bad news, bad news to old England came 

Bad news to fair London Town 

There's been a rich vessel and she's cast away 

Cast away, cast away 

And all of her merry men drowned