Lyr Req: Pirate's Song

Subject: RE: Req: Long Lost Sea-Song (Pirate's Song)
From: mg
Date: 26 Oct 03 - 11:03 PM

another one about Ward..

http://www.contemplator.com/folk5/ward.html

Subject: RE: Req: Long Lost Sea-Song (Pirate's Song)
From: Amos
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 12:26 PM

Great song!

A

Subject: RE: Req: Long Lost Sea-Song (Pirate's Song)
From: radriano
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 11:24 AM

There are two versions of Captain Coulston in Digitrad. The second version looks to be close to the one GuestQ posted.

Subject: Lyr Add: CAPTAIN COLSTON
From: radriano
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 11:19 AM

Here's the version I have:

CAPTAIN COLSTON


You landsmen all on you I call you heroes stout and brave
That are inclined to cross the sea, your homeland now to leave
Come join with Captain Colston that hero stout and bold
Who fought his way all on the sea and never was controlled

O we sailed away from Liverpool the weather being fine
Bound for New York city Boys, it was our chief design
We being all Irish emigrants the truth to you I'll tell
Who in distress our homes had left and to Ireland bid farewell

The weather was as charming as ever you saw before
For twenty days of pleasure we never thought of shore
The Captain and his lady fair were seen on deck each day
To crown out hearts with merriment while sailing on the sea

On the evening of the twenty fifth our captain he did cry
Clear away the decks me boys for a strange ship I do spy
And all you Irish emigrants awake now from your sleep
For in a few more hours, me boys, you'll be slumbering in the deep

For a pirate ship is coming down just from the western sea
For to rob us of our property going to Anerikay
O the pirate ship came up to us and ordered us to stand
Your gold and precious cargo this moment I demand

You gold and precious loading resign to me this day
Or one living soul you'll never bring into Amerikay
Then out spoke Captain Coulston, unto his jovial crew
Saying, We will fight until we die; we've nothing else to do

Then up and spoke our captain with voice both loud and bold
Saying we will slumber in the deep before we'll be controlled
So the battle it commenced, the blood in streams did flow
Undaunted were our Irish boys, who did them overthrow

There was a young man on the deck with his true love by his side
With courage bold they fought their way along the bulwark side
She cried, My gallant hero, I'll shortly end this strife
And with a pocket pistol ball, she took the pirate captain's life

And the cries of women and children as in the hold they lay
And our captain and gallant crew they showed them Irish play
Well done, well done, brave Coulston cried, Well done my lady too
Your aim has proved so deadly, you've shot the pirate captain through

And it's to conclude and finish the truth I'll tell to you
Our Losses were not many, they being only one or two
And the pirate ship surrendered just at the break of day
And we brought her as a prisoner all to Amerikay

Subject: RE: Req: Long Lost Sea-Song (Pirate's Song)
From: Amos
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 10:47 AM

One mystery left here is who "L.E.L." was, who composed the words, and whether he was associated with the guy who did the music.

A

Subject: Lyr Add: CAPTAIN COLSTON
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 19 Nov 02 - 09:12 PM

Perhaps someone can fill in the few missing words in this humorous pirate ballad (the Irish win, of course, of course!).

Lyr. Add: CAPTAIN COLSTON or, The Pirate Ship

You inhabitants of Ireland, your yoes stout and brave,
That do intend to cross the sea your country to leave,
Come join with Captain Colston and h---- hero stout and bold,
That fought his way all on the ---------------thever
From the 11th to the 20th we sailed upon the sea,
For ten long days in pleasure bound for America
The captain and his lady they came on deck each day
To crown our hearts with merriment whilst sailing on the sea.

The weather was as charming as e'er you saw,
For 16 days in pleasure we never thought on before,
We sailed away from Liverpool, the weather it was fine,
All bound for New York City it was our whole design,
The number of our passengers was 162,
They were all teetotalers except one or two,
We shoved about the lemonade to nourish us on the sea,
And Father Marhew's medals we brought to America.

When our merrinent was over and going to bed that night,
Our Captain he went on board to see if all was right,
He said brave boys do not go down, you need not think of sleep.
For in a few hours you'll be slumbering in the deep,
Outspoke Captain Colston unto his jovial crew,
Prepare yourselves for battle, you've nothing else to do,
The pirate ship is coming down from the western sea,
To rob us of our property going to America.

When the pirate ship came up to us they ordered us to stand,
Your gold and precious loading this moment I demand,
Your gold and precious loading resign to me this day
Or not one soul you'll ever bring unto America,
Out spoke captain Colston that stood stout and bold,
It's on the deep we all will sleep before we are controlled,
The battle it did then commence, the blood in streams did flow,
But undaunted was the passengers who did the Pirate (Pilate) overthrow.

There was a young man on the deck with his true love by his side,
With courage bold they fought their way all on the bulwark side,
She said my gallant heroes I'll shortly end the strife,
And with a pistol ball she took the Pirate Captain's life,
The cries of women and children while in the hold they lay,
While our Captain and his passengers they showed them Irish play,
With courage bold they went on board the pirate ship that day,
Our Irish boys gave three loud cheers for America.

Now to conclude and make an end, the truth I'd like to tell you,
Not a soul was lost excepting one or two,
The pirate's ship surrendered just by the break of day
And we brought her as a prisoned unto America.

Bodleian Ballads, Firth b25(41/42), 1867, Dublin, W. Birmingham, 92, Thomas St., one of six ballads on sheet.
Try with Star of County Down (John Barden mentioned this song in thread 14441) Songs to Star

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Lost Sea-Song
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Nov 02 - 05:47 PM

Malcolm-

That is truly amazing! I've never had a clue where this song came from, and you've certainly "nailed it." What a lovely graphic. Thank you!

Too bad I can't read music to hear what tune they composed.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Lost Sea-Song
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 19 Nov 02 - 12:22 PM

You can see a full score at the Lester Levy Collection of Sheet Music:

To the Mast Nail Our Flag. The Pirate's Song. Words by L.E.L., music by Horatio D. Hewitt. Boston: Geo. P. Reed, 17 Tremont Row, 1846.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Lost Sea-Song
From: Amos
Date: 19 Nov 02 - 09:31 AM

Aww, Charlie, I mighta known!! You,re a prince to Sorcha's Queen!

Let's 'ave a Lyr Add then, mite!!   Arrrgh, indeed!

A

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Lost Sea-Song
From: MMario
Date: 19 Nov 02 - 09:26 AM

for the tune derry down

dt tunefile drrydwn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Lost Sea-Song
From: Wolfgang
Date: 19 Nov 02 - 09:01 AM

It was a pleasure to watch the proceedings here. Though more than twelve hours until the tune and the chords were posted is a tiny bit long. I'll come back tomorrow to read the history of this song and follow the link to the original broadside from 1743 titled 'A new song about a pirate and his desires'. (grin)

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Lost Sea-Song
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Nov 02 - 08:42 AM

MMario is correct that this poem is from THE PIRATES OWN BOOK, in the back. Most people assume that it's an 19th century parlor room creation rather than the work of an actual pirate or sailor. There is no tune or composer indicated but it does work well with a minor tune such as "Down, Derry Down", i.e., "Blue Mountain Lake."

My own revision of this poem looks like this (I could never sing the phrase "powder room key" without giggling):

From Pirates Own Book © 1924
Adapted by Charlie Ipcar © 1993
Tune: "King John & the Abbot of Canterbury"
also known as "Blue Mountain Lake"
Key: Dm(7/Gm)

Pirates Own Song


Dm----------------------------C/Dm/Am
Hoist our flag to the mast, 'tis dark as the grave,
------Dm—C---Dm/Gm-------Am
Or the death which we bear, as we sweep o'er the waves;
---------Dm----------------------Am
Have the decks cleared for action, the gun crews prepared,
----Dm--------------------------C Dm/Am
The boarding-axe sharpened, the cut-lass-es bared.

Chorus

Dm------------C-----Dm/Am/Dm
And 'tis down, down; sink them all down!

Have the great guns run out, then bring unto me,
For the last of my duties, the gun powder key;
I'll never lower this black flag we bear;
If the sea be denied us, we'll fly through the air!

Chorus

To share lies the plunder, from our last prey,
'Tis mine to divide; 'tis yours to obey;
I claim not a portion; I ask but for mine –
A toast to our prize – one cup of red wine!

Chorus

Now some fight for riches; some fight for fame:
The first I despise; the last's but a name;
I fight for vengeance! I love to see flow,
At the stroke of my saber, the blood of my foe!

Chorus

I strike for the memory of long-vanished years:
Of a fair maiden lost, of a family in tears;
I come in a flash, as lightning from above,
And chase o'er the waves to the battle I love!

Chorus

Arrghhh!
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Lost Sea-Song
From: MMario
Date: 19 Nov 02 - 08:21 AM

I *THINK* this is in the "book of Pirate Songs" I bought at Mystic. I'll try to remember to check tonight.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Lost Sea-Song
From: Amos
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 09:23 PM

Just been all along that trail -- thanks!! I've sent email to two people who perform songs by that name.

Wow. Wodda piece of lyric. One site refers to it (or its title anyway) as a Victorian parlor song!! Scintillating, huh? Another refers to a song by the ame title as from an 18th C. broadside. We'll see if any further answers surface.

Thanks again Sorch! Ya made my day!!


A

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Lost Sea-Song
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 09:19 PM

Nope. No idea about anything other than what I pasted. It's the only thing that came up. I use "power room key" in Google. Ya'll have fun looking!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Lost Sea-Song
From: Amos
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 08:30 PM

Looks like the typist might have been an OCR program or not sure of grammar and spelling -- the 'tis's are "tie"s and the couplet in the last verse (I think they are three six-line verses) which reads:

I strike for the memory of long-vanished prearm;
I only shed blood where another shed tears.

makes no sense -- "prearm" should be "years", or possibly "dears" or even (farfetched) "fears". All the othe rcoupletsd are simple rhyming pairsd, and there's no such animal as a pre-arm. I think it was scanned in and OCR'd.

Any idea who the author was?

A

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Lost Sea-Song
From: Amos
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 08:22 PM

HOLY MOLY!!! Sorcha you are THE QUEEN!!!!!! Dang!!!!


I am so bloody impressed!!!

Ain't it a rollicking little lyric though??? LOL!!! This old salt was singing it in a gravelly voice -- his chest was as big as a drum of diesel -- and he was using minor chords along the lines of "High Barbary" but more driven, is all I can recall.

WOW!!


Thanks, you Cyber Queen!!

A

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Lost Sea-Song
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 07:56 PM

And whose deathless verse is it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Lost Sea-Song
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 06:47 PM

Yea, and no tune found. Only one website with it turned up.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Lost Sea-Song
From: toadfrog
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 06:42 PM

Splendid job, Sorcha! After that, only a slob would ask for the tune!

Subject: Lyr Add: PIRATE'S SONG
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 06:37 PM

PIRATE'S SONG.


To the mast nail our flag it is dark as the grave,
Or the death which it bears while it sweeps o'er the wave;
Let our deck clear for action, our guns be prepared;
Be the boarding-axe sharpened, the scimetar bared:
Set the canisters ready, and then bring to me,
For the last of my duties, the powder-room key.
It shall never be lowered, the black flag we bear;
If the sea be denied us, we sweep through the air.
Unshared have we left our last victory's prey;
It is mine to divide it, and yours to obey:
There are shawls that might suit a sultana's white neck,
And pearls that are fair as the arms they will deck;
There are flasks which, unseal them, the air will disclose
Diametta's fair summers, the home of the rose.
I claim not a portion: I ask but as mines
'Tis to drink to our victory one cup of red wine.
Some fight, 'tie for riches some fight, 'tie for fame:
The first I despise, and the last is a name.
I fight, 'tie for vengeance! I love to see flow,
At the stroke of my sabre, the life of my foe.
I strike for the memory of long-vanished prearm;
I only shed blood where another shed tears.
I come, as the lightning comes red from above,
O'er the race that I loathe, to the battle I love.


(Anything else I can do for ya tonight?)

Subject: Lyr Req: Long Lost Sea-Song
From: Amos
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 06:22 PM

Many years ago I met an old sea-captain on a ship in the Med, and after a few glasses on a summer hatchcover, he grabbed my primitive nylon-stringed Spanish guitar and knocked out a thrilling ballad of derring-do on the high seas. Although I do not know much of it today the thought occurred to me someone out there might know it. It describes a sea-battle in which the enemy overwhelms the singer's ship, and he intends to perform the ultimate sacrifice by torching the powder store, blowing the ship out from under the pirates or enemy or whoever. From the way he sang I surmised he had known the song a long while, but of course it could have been a modern invention, I do not know. All I remember is a snatch of the song from the end of one of the verses, which goes:

Now...(something something)...and render to me
For my very last duty, the powder room key.


Anyone have any idea what it is, whence it came?


Thanks for pondering this old mystery!

A

No cracks about painted powder rooms, either!! :>)