High Barbaree

Engelse ballade die teruggaat naar de vroege 17 de eeuw. Overleefde de eeuwen in verschillende verschijningsvormen: onder andere in de 19 de eeuw als een forebitter en soms als kaapstandershanty. De ballade vertelt het verhaal van de ‘Prince of Luther’ en de ‘Prince of Wales die aan de kust van Noord-Afrika een strafexpeditie tegen piraten uitvoeren.

---

There were two lofty ships that from old England came,
 Blow high - Blow low - and so sailed we,
One was the Prince o' Luther and the other Prince o' Wales.
 Sailing down along the coast of High Barbaree.
Aloft there – aloft - our jolly bosun cried,
 Blow high - Blow low - and so sailed we,
Look ahead, look astern - look to weather and a-lee.
 Sailing down along the coast of High Barbaree.
Thcre's naught upon the stern and there's naught upon the lee.
 Blow high - Blow low - and so sailed we,
But there's a lofty ship to wind'ard, sailing fast and free.
 Sailing down along the coast of High Barbaree.
O hail ‘er - O hail ‘er - our gallant captain cried,
 Blow high - Blow low - and so sailed we,
“Are you a man-o'-war or a privateer?" says ‘e.
 “Sailing down along the coast of High Barbaree?”
" I'm not a man-of-war, nor a privateer," says ‘e,
 Blow high - Blow low - and so sailed we,
"But I'm a salt sea pirate - a-looking for me fee,
 Sailing down along the coast of High Barbaree.”
So ‘twas broadside and broadside - as hour on hour we lay,
 Blow high - Blow low - and so sailed we,
Untill the Prince o’ Luther shot the pirate's mast away
 Sailing down along the coast of High Barbaree.
"O quartcr - O quarter!” - thc pirates then did cry,
 Blow high - Blow low - and so sailed we,
The quarter that we gave 'em - we sunk 'em in the sea.
 Sailing down along the coast of High Barbaree.
And O it was a cruel sight and grieved us full sore,
 Blow high - Blow low - and so sailed we,
To see ‘em all drowning as they tried to swim ashore.
 Sailing down along the coast of High Barbaree.