A boy to me was bound apprentice Because his parents they were poor I took him from St James's workhouse All for to sail upon the Spanish shore
This boy one day, he did offend me No other word then did I say But straightway to the yardarm dragged him And left him there until the very next day
His hands and feet they hung before him His arms and legs they hung likewise And with my tarry rope I killed him Because I would not hear his cries
And then my men they did desert me Because that I had done such wrong And in my cabin close confined me And bound me there with iron strong
To London town they then did take me And here lie I condemned to die If I had by my men been ruled I might have spared that poor boys life - and mine
So come all you men who sail round the ocean All you with servants to wait on thee I pray you never, never ill use them For you plainly see it was the death of me
Not much different to the others - just a few more verses. Eddie told me it was collected by the Hammond Brothers. Sorry - haven't learned to do html Barbara