Captain Kidd

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Lyrics from Songs of American Sailormen, by Joanna Colcord

You captains bold and brave, hear our cries, hear our cries, You captains bold and brave, hear our cries, You captains brave and bold, tho' you seem uncontrolled Don't for the sake of gold, lose your souls. My name was Robert Kidd, when I sail'd, when I sail'd, My name was Robert Kidd, when I sail'd, My name was Robert Kidd, God's laws I did forbid, And so wickedly I did, when I sail'd. My parents taught me well, when I sail'd, when I sail'd, My parents taught me well, when I sail'd, My parents taught me well, to shun the gates of hell, But against them I rebell'd, when I sail'd. I cursed my father dear, when I sail'd, when I sail'd, I cursed my father dear, when I sail'd, I cursed my father dear, and her that did me bear, And so wickedly did swear, when I sail'd. I made a solemn vow, when I sail'd, when I sail'd, I made a solemn vow, when I sail'd, I made a solemn vow to God I would not bow, Nor my self one prayer allow, as I sail'd. I'd a Bible in my hand, when I sail'd, when I sail'd, I'd a Bible in my hand, when I sail'd, I'd a bible in my hand by my father's great command, And sunk it in the sand, when I sail'd. I murdered William Moore, as I sail'd, as I sail'd, I murdered William Moore, as I sail'd, I murdered William Moore, and left him in his gore, Not many leagues from shore, as I sail'd. And being cruel still, as I sail'd, as I sail'd, And being cruel still, as I sail'd, And being cruel still, my gunner I did kill, And his precious blood did spill, as I sail'd. My mate was sick and died, as I sail'd, as I sail'd, My mate was sick and died, as I sail'd, My mate was sick and died, which me much terrified, When he call'd me to his bedside, as I sail'd. And unto me he did say, as I sail'd, as I sail'd, And unto me he did say, as I sail'd, And unto me he did say, take warning now by me, There comes a reckoning day, you must die. You cannot then withstand,, when you die, when you die, You cannot the withstand, when you die, You cannot then withstand the judgment of God's hand, But bound then in iron bands you must die. I was sick and nigh to death, as I sail'd, as I sail'd, I was sick and nigh to death, as I sail'd, I was sick and nigh to death, and I vow'd at every breath, To walk in wisdom's ways, as I sail'd. I thought I was undone, as I sail'd, as I sail'd, I thought I was undone, as I sail'd, I thought I was undone and my wicked glass had run, But health did soon return, as I sail'd. My repentance lasted not, as I sail'd, as I sail'd, My repentance lasted not, as I sail'd, My repentance lasted not, my vows I soon forgot, Damnation's my just lot, as I sail'd. I steer'd from sound to sound, as I sail'd, as I sail'd, I steer'd from sound to sound, as I sail'd, I steer'd from sound to sound and many ships I found And most of them I burned, as I sail'd. I spy'd three ships from France, as I sail'd, as I sail'd, I spy'd three ships from France, as I sail'd, I spy'd three ships from France, to them I did advance, And took them all by chance, as I sail'd. I spy'd three ships of Spain, as I sail'd, as I sail'd, I spy'd three ships of Spain, as I sail'd, I spy'd three ships of Spain, I fired on them amain, Till most of them were slain, as I sail'd. I'd ninety bars of gold, as I sail'd, as I sail'd, I'd ninety bars of gold, as I sail'd, I'd ninety bars of gold and dollars manifold, With riches uncontrolled, as I sail'd. Then fourteen ships I saw, as I sail'd, as I sail'd, Then fourteen ships I saw, as I sail'd, Then fourteen ships I saw and brave men they were, Ah! they were too much for me, as I sail'd. Thus being o'ertaken at last, I must die, I must die, Thus being o'ertaken at last, I must die, Thus being o'ertaken at last, and into prison cast And sentence being passed, I must die. Farewell the raging main, I must die, I must die, Farewell the raging main, I must die, Farewell the raging main, to Turkey, France, and Spain, I ne'er shall see you again, I must die. To Newgate now I'm cast, and must die, and must die, To Newgate now I'm cast, and must die, To Newgate now I'm cast, with a sad and heavy heart, To receive my just desert, I must die. To Execution Dock I must go, I must go, To Execution Dock I must go, To Execution Dock will many thousand flock, But I must bear the shock, I must die. Come all you young and old, see me die, see me die, Come all you young and old, see me die, Come all you young and old, you're welcome to my gold, For by it I've lost my soul, and must die. Take warning now by me, for I must die, for I must die, Take warning now by me, for I must die, Take warning now by me, and shun bad company, Lest you come to hell with me, for I must die.

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