Tell the story of England’s glory,
Let us sing of the pirate king,
He plied the straits of Madagascar (a),
His cargo, fear and plundering.

Trading routes round the Cape and Gold Coast,
Spices, oils, and gold doubloons,
He scuttled ships but he spared their crewmen,
Such kindness rare would break him soon,
His destiny – marooned.


Raise a glass to Edward England,
England’s loss, England’s gone,
Raise a glass to a pirate legend,
England’s loss, England’s gone.


At the helm of England’s Fancy (b),
His envious crewmen claimed the prize.
But when he spared the life of a merchant captain,
Mutiny shone in their eyes.

Cast adrift on a lonely island,
Buried deep, identity,
Hearts and bones lost on Mauritius (c),
Sail the Sea of Tranquillity,
Moonlight piracy.

Raise a glass to Edward England,
England’s loss, England’s gone,
Raise a glass to a pirate legend,
England’s loss, England’s gone.



Footnotes:
(a)  not only the island from which he sailed but also the island on which he died
(b)  the name of England’s flagship, which was seized by his mutinous crew
(c)  the island on which he was marooned following the mutiny