BOLD CARTER Come all you wild young men, And a warning take by me And never lead your life astray Unto bad company. Bold Carter is my name, And hard is my intent; Till I got pressed by a press merchant, And on board a man of war got sent. We hadn't sailed long, Before the first thing that we spied, It was five French ships came sailing to war, And at length they were going to draw nigh. We hoisted our main colours, Our bloody flag we let fly, Singing, every man stand to his gun, For the Lord knows the day we must die. Our captain got wounded most wonderfully sore, And so did most of his men; Our whole ship's rigging got all shot away, So at last we were forced to give in. Our decks were all sprinkled with blood, And the great guns so loudly they did roar; I wished myself back home again With my Polly that I left upon the shore. She's a tall and a handsome girl, She's a black and roving eye; And here upon the deck where I lay shot, For her sweet sake I must die. Here's adieu to my father and mother, Crying friends and relations, too, I never should have crossed the salt seas so wide If I had been ruled by you.
Music; traditional. Content copyright © 2000 held by the author; Ian Hall.
