From Ballads and Songs of Southern Michigan by Emelyn Elizabeth Gardner.

THE CABIN BOY

1. Come all you noble bold commanders who the raging ocean use,
By my fate I pray take warning your poor sailors don't abuse;
Richard Peva was my servant, and a spritely lad was he;
His parents did a prentice bind him for to cross the raging sea.
'Twas on a voyage to Carolina and as we was returning home,
Cruelly this boy I murdered; such a thing was never known.
'Twas some offense he gave unto me made my bloody heart to rage;
Then straightway to the mast I tied him; there I kept him many day.

2. With his arms and legs extended and him no succor did I give,
Saying, "If any of my men relieve him, not one moment shall they live."
When three days I thus had kept him, he with hunger loud did cry,
"O for Christ sake now relieve me, or with hunger I shall die."
Eighteen bitter stripes I gave him, which made the purple gore to run;
There was none that dare to save him, such a thing was never known;
When seven days I thus had kept him, he now with languish did begin;
Begging for a little water, I some urine gave to him.

3. He, poor soul, refused to drink it which I prepared when I had done;
I made him drink the purple gore which from his wounded limbs did run;
O the cries he sent unto me would have pierced a Christian's heart;
Oftentimes he cried, "Dear master, did you know the cruel smart
That your tender son doth suffer, sure your tender heart would break!
My bitter grief no tongue can utter, O Lord, relieve me from this fate!
O that I had but one small morsel that the dogs would this despise!
Pray God send me down some water from the blessed lofty skies."

4. When nine days I thus had kept him, unto him I then did go;
He cried, "O dear and loving master, one good favor to me show;
Do not keep me here to perish; kill me, send me to my grave,
Or one bit of bread afford me." His excrements I then him gave.
His excrements which he avoided, fording him the same to eat,
And because he did refuse it, eighteen stripes I gave him straight.
With that the distressed creature for a Savior loud did cry;
In this wretched situation this poor creature now did die.

5. Oftentimes my men upbraid me, I like fury cursed and swore,
Saying, "I'll have you hung for pirates if I live to get on shore."
Sailors, learning my intention, a little unto me did say,
But they had me apprehended when we did return from sea.
I thought my money would have cleared me, hearing the boy's friends were poor,
But O the cries of his dear mother would have grieved your heart full sore!
He resolved to persecute me; she no gold nor bribe would take.
Captain James for cruel murder now the gibbets is his fate.

6. How now can a glance of pity be cast on this my crime?
It doth appear to every creature such a blot on you mankind;
Often do I cry for mercy when no mercy do afford
To a poor innocent creature, yet some mercy show me, Lord.
I do lay upon thy mercy, for my death approaches nigh.
Captain James for cruel murder now upon the gibbet dies.