Lyr Add: Pirates' Own Song

Subject: Lyr Add: PIRATES' OWN SONG / TO THE MAST NAIL ...
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Nov 05 - 01:51 PM

Here's my favorite pirate ditty, adapted from a romantic 19th century song (copy and paste into WORD/TIMES/12 to line up chords):

PIRATES' OWN SONG

(Original words by L.E.L., music by Horatio D. Hewitt. Boston: Geo. P. Reed, 17 Tremont Row, 1846.
From Pirates Own Book © 1924
Adapted by Charlie Ipcar © 1993
Tune: "King John & the Abbot of Canterbury"
also known as "Blue Mountain Lake")


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! (CHO)

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! (CHO)

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! (CHO)

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! (CHO)

If you'd like to hear how I sing this, here's a link to a MP3 sample on my website: Click here!

Here's the original words to the song if you'd like to see what I changed, or come up with your own version:

Words by L.E.L., music by Horatio D. Hewitt. Boston: Geo. P. Reed, 17 Tremont Row, 1846.
From The Pirates' Own Book © 1924, p. 465

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 waves;
Let our deck clear for action, our guns be prepared;
Be the boarding-axe sharpened, the scimitar bared.
Set the canisters ready, and then bring to me,
For the last of my duties, the powder-room key.

CHORUS: 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 mine –
'Tis to drink to our victory – one cup of red wine.
Some fight, 'tis for riches – some fight, 'tis for fame:
The first I despise, and the last is a name.

I fight, 'tis 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 years:
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.

Arrgghhh!
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pirates' Own Song
From: masato sakurai
Date: 12 Nov 05 - 05:53 PM

The original sheet music:

Title: To the Mast Nail Our Flag. The Pirate's Song.
Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: The words by L.E.L. Music composed by Horatio D. Hewitt.
Horatio D. Hewitt Publication: Boston: Geo. P. Reed, 17 Tremont Row, 1846.
Form of Composition: strophic with chorus
Instrumentation: piano and voice
First Line: To the mast nail our flag, it is dark as the grave
First Line of Chorus: It shall never be lower'd, the black flag we bear
Dedicatee: Respectfully Inscribed to Miss Eliza Gaither of Washington, D.C.
Engraver, Lithographer, Artist: Bufford & Co's Lith. Boston

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pirates' Own Song
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Nov 05 - 09:54 PM

Masato-

Thanks for the additional notes on this song.

I am curious who "L.E.L." might be.

Can't say that I'm thrilled with the original tune but now we have it.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pirates' Own Song
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Nov 05 - 11:18 PM

Here's an article about a songwriter named John Hill Hewitt which mentions that he had a son named Horatio Dawes Hewitt.

I'm afraid that doesn't shed any light on who L.E.L. was, though.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pirates' Own Song
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 09:04 AM

Jim-

That's a nice website, John Hill Hewitt. It's a mine of information with regard to a lot of 19th century "minstrel songs" as well as patriotic ballads and other Victorian songs.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pirates' Own Song
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Nov 08 - 09:21 PM

Here's a new link to a new rendition of this fine pirate song: Clink here!

I wonder if the Somali pirates would have any interest in this song?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pirates' Own Song
From: bubblyrat
Date: 10 Nov 08 - 04:02 AM

I would suggest Letitia Elizabeth Landon as the prime suspect here !

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pirates' Own Song
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Nov 08 - 09:00 AM

"Letitia Elizabeth Landon"

Hmmmm?

Charley Noble

Subject: Lyr Add: PIRATE'S SONG (Letitia Elizabeth Landon)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Nov 08 - 06:47 PM

From
L. E. L. (Letitia Elizabeth Landon) The Poetical Works of Miss Landon. Philadelphia: E. L. Carey and A. Hart, 1838.


THE 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 sharpen'd, the cimetar* bared;
Set the canisters ready, and then bring to me,
For the last of my duties, the powder-room key.
It shall never be lower'd, 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 mine,
'Tis to drink to our victory—one cup of red wine.

Some fight, 'tis for riches; some fight, 'tis for fame:
The first I despise, and the last is a name.
I fight, 'tis 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 vanish'd years;
I only shed blood, where another sheds tears.
I come, as the lightning comes red from above,
O'er the race that I loathe, to the battle I love.

[*sic.]


[Note the difference in how the lines are divided into stanzas—compared to the version posted by Charley Noble above—and that there is no chorus designated as such.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pirates' Own Song
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 09:18 AM

Jim-

Thanks for tracing this fine pirate poem back to its composer.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Pirates' Own Song
From: GUEST,MSFG
Date: 28 Nov 08 - 09:57 PM

Curious to know more about L.E.L ?

Read.

L.E.L The Life and Murder of Letitia E.Landon - 'A Flower of Loveliness' Author. Michael Gorman ISBN 9781905513703. Published Nov 3 2008.
www.olympiapublishers.com