High Barbaree
Forebitter or Capstan Shanty
Traditional


SHANTY SINGERS AND BALLADEERS

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REVISED 02/07/08

 

NO "HI-LOW" There was a gallant lofty ship, A-sailing on the sea,
(Resp):  Blow high ! Blow low ! and so sailed we.
And her Captain he was searching for a pirate enemy,
(Resp):  A-sailing down along the coasts of High Barbaree.
NO "HI-LOW" Look ahead, look astern, look the weather and the lee,
(Resp):  Blow high ! Blow low ! and so sailed we.
I see a wreck to windward and a lofty ship to lee,
(Resp):  A-sailing down along the coasts of High Barbaree.
REPEAT "HI-LOW" "O hail her! O hail her!" our gallant cap'n cried,
(Resp):  Blow High! Blow low! And so sailed we.
"Are you a man-o'-war or a privateer?" cried he.
(Resp):  A-sailing down along the coasts of High Barbaree.
REPEAT "HI-LOW" "Oh, no I'm not a man-o'-war, nor privateer," cried he,
(Resp):  Blow High! Blow low! And so sailed we.
"But I'm a salt sea pirate, all a-lookin' for me fee!"
(Resp):  A-sailing down along the coasts of High Barbaree.
REPEAT "HI-LOW" For broadside, for broadside, a long time we lay;
(Resp):  Blow high ! Blow low ! and so sailed we.
Until at last the frigate shot the pirate's mast away.
(Resp):  A-sailing down along the coasts of High Barbaree.
REPEAT "HI-LOW" For quarters ! For quarters ! the saucy pirates cried.
(Resp):  Blow high ! Blow low ! and so sailed we.
The quarters that we showed them was to sink them in the tide.
(Resp):  A-sailing down along the coasts of High Barbaree.
SUSTAIN "HI-LOW" But O ! It was a cruel sight, and grieved us full sore,
(Resp):  Blow high ! Blow low ! and so sailed we.
To see them all a-drowning as they tried to swim to shore.
(Resp):  A-sailing down along the coasts of High Barbaree.
SUSTAIN "HI-LOW" With cutlass, and with gun, O we fought them hours three;
(Resp):  Blow high ! Blow low ! and so sailed we.
The ship it was their coffin, and their grave it was the sea.
(Resp):  A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.
(Resp):  A-sailing down all on the coasts of High--- Barbaree.

“High Barbaree” was originally written in England, to the tune of “The George Aloe And The Sweepstake”. This dates to at least January 14, 1595, when “Soldier’s Joy” was noted in the Stationers’ Register to be sung to the same tune. Other sources date the tune to 1590. The American words refer to the notorious pirates of the Barbary Coast which plagued Mediterranean merchant ships. — Gunner Maggie.

This song sure moves like a halyard shanty, doesn't it?  — Capt. Jake