Lyr/Tune Req: Hick the Pirate? / Hicks the Pirate

Subject: Who know 'Hick the Pirate???'
From: GUEST,Vincenzo Roma, Italy
Date: 11 Sep 00 - 09:05 AM

Who know the words and music of this ballad....if it is ballad, and where I can find other about this theme? (words and music)?

Ciao

Vincenzo

Subject: Lyr Add: HICKS THE PIRATE
From: GUEST,Barry Finn
Date: 12 Sep 00 - 12:58 AM

It's on "Folk Songs Of New York City" by June Lazare in 1966, Folkways #FH5276. I some how lost this LP a long time ago & even if I remembered the tune I computer challanged & couldn't post it but I do have the accompanying jacket.

Hicks The Pirate - March 1860

A mournful tale heart rending,
To you kind friends I will relate,
The solemn truth intending
Of three that met a tragic fate.
An oyster sloop was sailing
Upon the ocean's sparkling tide.
In the healthful breeze regaling,
She moved upon the waters wide.

But upon this oyster vessel,
A pirate bold had found his way.
With wicked heart this vassal
The captain and two boys did slay.
He seized the gold and silver,
Which this poor captain had in store;
His watch and clothes did pilfer,
While he lay struggling in his gore.

He overboard soon threw them,
The murdered boys and captain too.
The briny deep enclosed them,
And they were quickly gone from view.
But the eye that never slumbers,
Did follow on the murderer's track,
And the vigilance of numbers
To justice brought the monster back.

In a boat he left the vessel,
When he the wicked deed had done,
And soon the murderous rascal
Had far into the country gone.
He soon was overtaken,
And to New York was brought again,
A lonely wretch forsaken,
Who had the boys and captain slain.

By a true and faithful jury,
He was found guilty of the crime.
Some raved and cursed like fury,
But he met his fate in time.
'Twixt heaven and earth suspended,
On Bedloe's Island Hicks was hung.
Some thousands there attended,
To see the horrid murderer swung.

In the score of yrs that preceeded the Civil War the usually land locked gangs turned their attention to the waterfronts of NY. Most of the gangs such as the Hudson Dusters, the Potashes, the Gophers & the Daybreak Boysoperated exclusively on the East River piers while the Charlton St. Gang chose the Hudson docks as their exclusive territory for robbery & murder. Indeed, so successful was this latter gang that they acquired their own sloop, flew the Jolly Roger from the mast & extended their activities all the way the Hudson to Poughkeepsie earning the name River Pirates.
In the case of Alfred E Hicks the appellation "pirate" was not only undeserved but inadvertent. Hichs, locally known as Hicksey, was a free lance gangster with no particular interest in the waterfront. He stole where ever & when ever it was convenient.
Unfortunately for him a fellow free lancer drugged him one evening & dumped him onto an oyster sloop bound for Virginia. Hicks was morose when he awoke & found himself shanghaied. But, making the best of it, he murdered Captain Burr & 2 boys in the crew, Smith & Oliver Watts. Then he left the vessel taking with him all its moveable valuables. He was traced to a hideout where he had gone with his wife & daughter. Imprisoned & tried for the triple murder he was convicted & sentenced to be hanged.
Public interest in the case was particularly strong, possibly because of the extremely gruesome details of the slayings. His progress from jail to the gallows on Beloe's Island took on the aspect of a circus parade, complete with fife & drum cheering crowds. Peanut vendors & lemonade stands did a brisk business around the gallows while he was hung & a general holiday atmosphere prevailed. Soon after he was buried his body was dug up by grave robbers & sold to medical students.

from the jacket notes.
Barry