The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #148329   Message #3443784
Posted By: Mick Pearce (MCP)
28-Nov-12 - 01:18 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Captain Mark [Captain Markee?]
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Captain Mark
Bronson prints this with Child 250 Henry Martin (167 is the Andrew Barton group) and prints 8 verses with the tune. Do your notes above mean that you don't have these 8 Alan? If you do and are looking for other versions, there are plenty to choose from.

Mick




CAPTAIN MARKEE

There was three brothers in Merry Scotland,
There was three brothers all three,
And they did cast lots whose lot it should be
To turn robber all on the salt sea.

The lot it fell to Captain Markee,
The youngest of all the three,
To turn a scotch robber all on the salt sea
To maintain his two brothers and he.

They roved, they roved all one winter's night,
Till daylight did appear ("repair"),
They spied a rich merchant ship sailing far off,
And at length she began to come near

"O it's where are you bound," says Captain Markee,
"O where are you sailing so high?"
"We're bound for Old England," the ship's crew replied,
"If you will let us pass by."

"O no, O no," says Captain Markee,
"O no that never can be,
For all your rich merchants goods we'll take away
And your sailors all drownded shall be."

Bad news, bad news," the ship's crew replied,
"Bad news and a sorrowful sound,
For all the rich merchants goods you'll take away
And forty-two merry men drowned."

They roved, they roved this rich merchant ship
For hours twelve and three,
Till at length the salt water so fast flowed in
And down to the bottom went she.

They lashed the sailor men back unto back
And threw them into the sea . . .
"Some help, some help," cried Captain Markee,
"And ? ? we all could agree,
For you've the salt water, and we've the money,
Now you've got to follow the sailors to sea."


Source: Bronson: The Traditional Tunes Of The Child Ballads from Vaughan Williams MSS., III, p. 206. Sung by Mr. Harper,
King's Lynn, Norfolk, January 13, 1905.