Recorded as part of the Seventeen Album by Short Drag Roger in 2020. Tells the tale of Captain Woodes Rogers, who pickup up a man, marooned by his navigator (Dampiere), in the Juan Fernando islands near Chile. Woodes introduced him to a friend - DeFoe, who took the story and used it as the principal character in Robinson Crusoe.


SEVENTEEN

Seventeen years before the mast, A Privateer to my very Last
I was born, I was born just to save my soul,
But a sailor pays the devil so he’ll never grow old

Haul away bold privateers, Haul away bold privateers
Haul away bold privateers, Haul away bold privateers

Captain Woodes Rogers of great renown                 
       Haul away bold privateers
He set sail from Bristol Town
       Haul away bold privateers
The Duke & Duchess set for the Straight                 
       Haul away bold privateers
He sailed West in 1708
       Haul away bold privateers

[Chorus]
Seventeen Years, Seventeen Men
Seventeen Trips, there and back again
Seventeen Burdens, Seventeen Souls
Seventeen Men in our watch all told

We harassed the Spanish at the kings’ command
Then we rested in Nassau Town
Some men deserted along the way
(Then) For Drakes passage we sailed away

[Chorus]

Master Dampiere made our voyage plans
Years before he’d marooned a man
Off Chile’s coast that Isle he found
Woodes rescued the man back to London Town

[Chorus]

Alexander Selkirk was his name
Daniel Defoe then brought him fame
Robinson Crusoe was his pseudonym
Rescued from a life that was pretty grim

[Chorus]

Captain Rogers, a Governor became
The Bahama Islands were his Reign
Pirates Were pardoned by the Crown
(and) this brought order to Nassau Town

[Chorus]

Repeat - Haul Away bold Privateers x 4 – sang along the line ( Start on the word Privateers from the person to your right)