The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #77777 Message #1391005
Posted By: Joe Offer
28-Jan-05 - 03:49 AM
Thread Name: Origins: The Cruel Ship's Captain (Broadside?)
Subject: Lyr Add: CAPTAIN JAMES
I think I should post at least the first version from Gale Huntington's Songs the Whalemen Sang (1964) This is from the ship Walter Scott of Nantucket, 1840.
CAPTAIN JAMES
Captains listen to my story A warning you must take by me See that you don't abuse your sailors While you're rolling on the sea
Richard Paddy was my servant A handsome sprightly lad was he His mother bound him to me an apprentice For to cross the rolling sea
As we had been to South Carolina And we were returning home Cruelly this boy I murdered Such a thing was never known
A trifling offense he gave me Which did my loving heart enrage Straightway to the mast I bound him There I kept him several days
With his hand and arms extended I no succor to him gave Swearing if my men relieved him Not a moment should he live
When three days I there had kept him He with hunger loud did cry Now for God's sake pray relieve me Or with hunger I shall die
Eighteen bitter stripes I gave him Which did cause the purple gore to run None there was that dare relieve him Such a thing was never known
When five days I thus had kept him He to languish did begin Praying for a little water I some vinegar gave to him
The poor soul requested to drink it As I had proposed when I had done I made him drink the purple gore That from his bleeding wound did run
When many days I thus had kept him Up to him I then did go He says my dearest loving master One small favor to me show
Don't leave me here thus for to suffer Kill and send me to the grave One small piece of bread afford me Which in humanity I crave
Oh that I had but one small morsel Which the dogs they do despise He says oh Lord send me some water From the lofty blissful skies
Hearing what he said unto me Would have grieved a Christian's heart Often time he cried dear mother Did you but know the cruel smart
How your tender son does suffer It would grieve you to the heart More bitter grief no tongue can utter Lord relieve me from my fate
When my men they disobeyed me I like a fury cursed and swore That I would have them hang for pirates When I did arrive on shore
But they knowing my intention Little to me they did say And they had me apprehended When I had got home from sea
How can I now ask for mercy When no mercy I would afford On a poor distressed creature Yet some mercy show me Lord
I thought that my money would have saved me Knowing that the boy was poor But the cries of his dear mother Would have grieved a heart full sore
She was resolved to prosecute me She no gold nor bribe would take Captain James for cruel murder Now the gibbet is your fate