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Capo on 2nd fret
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Am E Am
There were three brothers in merry Scotland,
Dm C E
In merry Scotland there were three,
Am
And they did cast lots which of them should go,
Dm C E
should go, should go,
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And turn robber all on the salt sea.
Am E Am
The lot it fell first upon Henry Martin,
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The youngest of all the three;
Am
That he should turn robber all on the salt sea,
Dm C E
Salt sea, the salt sea.
Am C G Am
For to maintain his two brothers and he.
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They had not been sailing but a long winter's night
Dm C E
And a part of a short winter's day,
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When he espied a stout lofty ship,
Dm C E
lofty ship, lofty ship,
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Come abibbing down on him straight way.
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Hullo! Hullo! cried Henry Martin,
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What makes you sail so nigh?
Am
I'm a rich merchant ship bound for fair London Town,
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London Town, London Town
Am C G Am
Would you please for to let me pass by?
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Oh no! Oh no! cried Henry Martin,
Dm C E
This thing it never could be,
Am
For I have turned robber all on the salt sea
Dm C E
Salt sea, the salt sea.
Am C G Am
For to maintain my two brothers and me.
Am E Am
Come lower your tops'l and brail up your mizz'n
Dm C E
And bring your ship under my lee,
Am
Or I will give to you a full cannon ball,
Dm C E
cannon ball, cannon ball,
Am C G Am
And all your dear bodies drown in the salt sea.
Am E Am
Oh no! we won't lower our lofty topsail
Dm C E
Nor bring our ship under your lee,
Am
And you shan't take from us our rich merchant goods,
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merchant goods, merchant goods
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Nor point our bold guns to the sea.
Am E Am
Then broadside and broadside and at it they went
Dm C E
For fully two hours or three,
Am
Till Henry Martin gave to them the deathshot,
Dm C E
the deathshot, the deathshot,
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And straight to the bottom went she.
Am E Am
Bad news, bad news, to old England came,
Dm C E
Bad news to fair London Town,
Am
There's been a rich vessel and she's cast away,
Dm C E
cast away, cast away,
Am C G Am
And all of her merry men drown'd.
Written by Traditional