Burl Ives - High Barbaree



Look ahead, look astern, look the weather and the lee,

Blow high !  Blow low !  and so sailed we.

I see a wreck to windward and a lofty ship to lee,

A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.





O are you a pirate or a man o'war ? cried we

Blow high !  Blow low !  and so sailed we.

O no !  I'm not a pirate, but a man o'war, cried he,

A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.





Then back up your topsails and heave your vessel to;

Blow high !  Blow low !  and so sailed we.

For we have got some letters to be carried home by you.

A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.





We'll back up our topsails and heave our vessel to;

Blow high !  Blow low !  and so sailed we.

But only in some harbour and along the side of you.

A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.





For broadside, for broadside, they fought all on the main;

Blow high !  Blow low !  and so sailed we.

Until at last the frigate shot the pirate's mast away.

A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.





For quarters !  For quarters !  the saucy pirate cried.

Blow high !  Blow low !  and so sailed we.

The quarters that we showed them was to sink them in the tide.

A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.





With cutlass, and with gun, O we fought them hours three;

Blow high !  Blow low !  and so sailed we.

The ship it was their coffin, and their grave it was the sea.

A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.





But O !  It was a cruel sight, and grieved us full sore,

Blow high !  Blow low !  and so sailed we.

To see them all a-drowning as they tried to swim to shore.

A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.