There were three brothers in merry Scotland,
In merry Scotland there were three, aye,
And they did cast lots which of them should go,
Should go, should go, should go, aye,
And to turn robber all on the salt sea,
To turn pirate all on the salt sea.
The lot of it fell first to Henry Martin,,
The younger of all the three, aye,
That he should turn robber all on the salt sea,
Salt sea, salt sea, salty sea, aye,
For to maintain his two brothers and he,
To maintain his two brothers and he.
He had not been sailing but a long winter's night
And part of a short winter's day, aye,
When he espied a stout lofty ship,
Lofty ship, lofty ship, lofty ship, aye
Come abibbing down on him straight away,
Come abibbing down on him straight away.
Hello, hello, cried Henry Martin,
What makes you sail so nigh? aye,
I'm a rich merchant ship bound for fair London town, aye,
