Lyr Req: Captain Ward (from Robin Williamson #287)

Subject: Lyr Req: Robin Williamson's Captain Ward (#287)
From: Roberto
Date: 09 Jul 05 - 01:01 PM

Captain Ward
Robin Williamson, The Old Fangled Tone, Pig's Whisker Music, PWMD5015, 1999
No notes. I have problem to get the words. Please, help complete the transcription. Thank you. R

Come all you gallant seamen bold
All you who march to the drum
Let us go seek for Captain Ward
Who o'er the seas has come
For he's the greatest robber
As you shall quickly hear
There's not been such a robber found
At last six hundred years

The King he got a letter
On the sixth of January
Saying – Let bold Captain Ward come in
With all his company
If that you do let him in
Until his tale is told
For ... he will offer ye
A twenty tons of gold

Oh no, oh no – says the Royal King
This thing it never will be
For such an errant robber
Myself will ne'er agree
He has robbed the King o France
Likewise the King o Spain
How will he be true to me
Who has been false to twain?

Well, the King he has provided
A ship of noble fame
Called the Royal Rainbow
If you would know her name
She was as well provide for
As any ship could be
Full five hundred men on board
To bear her company

When the Royal Rainbow came
Where Captain Ward did lie
Who is the master of this ship
The Rainbow's crew did cry
... – says Captain Ward
.. never will be
If you are the King's fair ship
You're welcome unto me

For I never robbed an English ship
Just France's ships or Spain's
Likewise the blackguard Dutchman
That I met upon the main
Had I got a letter ...
I woud have spared Lord Essex's life
...

Six o' clock in the morning
They began to fight
So they did continue
Till nine o' clock at night
Fight on, fight on – says Captain Ward
So well it pleases me
If you fight a month or more
Your master I will be

Then the Royal Rainbow
She fired, she fired in vain
Till full four hundred of her crew
Upon the decks lay slain
Go home, go home – says Captain Ward
Tell your King from me
He may rule King o'er all the land
But Ward's the King on sea

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Robin Williamson's Captain Ward (#287)
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 09 Jul 05 - 01:13 PM

Several sets of Ward lyrics in the DT plus threads, including one posted to recently. Didn't even know Robin Williamson (ex-ISB?) sang it, so can't help further.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Robin Williamson's Captain Ward (#287
From: Anglo
Date: 09 Jul 05 - 06:45 PM

Here are lines amended as per the recording. Some are probably just typos, and very small differences, then of course there are the missing words. I give the verse numbers. I hope this is clear.

1) For he is the greatest robber
As you shall quickly hear
There's not been such a robber found
This last six hundred years

2) For ransom he will offer ye
A-twenty tons of gold [the "a-" is just a filler syllable]

3) For such an arrant robber
Myself will ne'er agree

4) She was as well provided for

5) The same am I – says Captain Ward
Why, ashamed I never will be

6) Had I got a letter through
This two weeks past, or three
I would have spared Lord Essex's life
And this pains me grievously

8) But Ward is the King on sea

That's it. As with all Robin's songs, I'm sure it doesn't come from any one traditional source. Good luck with it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Robin Williamson's Captain Ward (#287)
From: Roberto
Date: 10 Jul 05 - 01:34 AM

Thank you very much, Anglo. As for the source of Robin Williamson's recording, I'd say the tune is from the version collected by Ralph Vaughan Wiliams from James Carter, a fisherman of North End, King's Lynn, Norfolk, and the text is collated. R