Henry Martin- S.C.G. (MN) 1855 Barry JOAFL 1905
[From: Traditional Ballads in New England I by Phillips Barry; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 18, No. 69 (Apr. - Jun., 1905), pp. 123-138
This is the first part of Barry's Traditional Ballads in New England, all three parts were published in 1905 in three consecutive editions of the JOAFL. These early ballads are fully preserved because Barry recognized that including the tune whenever possible was as important as including lyrics.
The informant is Susan D. Gale of Minneapolis, MN recorded Nov. 5, 1904 by Barry (Bronson). It was learned from her husband. Apparently the initials should have been S. D. G. or her middle initial should be C-- Susan C. Gale.
R. Matteson 2013]
VI. HENRY MARTIN
Communicated by S. C. G., Minneapolis, Minn., as sung over fifty years ago.
1. In Scotland there dwelt three brothers of late,
Three brothers of late, brothers three,
And they cast lots, to see which of them
Should go robbing all on the salt sea.
Salt sea!
And they cast lots, to see which of them
Should go robbing all on the salt sea.
2. The lot it fell on Henry Martin,
The youngest of these brothers three,
That he should go robbing all on the salt sea,
To maintain his two brothers and he.
3. He had scarce sailed one long winter's night,
One long winter's night on the sea,
Before he espied a lofty brave ship,
A-sailing off over the sea.
4. "Put back!" he cried, "and square your main tack, -
Come sail down under my lee,
Your gold we'll take from you, your ship we'll let drift,
And your bodies we'll sink in the sea!"
5. Broadsides, broadsides they gave to each other,
They fought for hours full three,
Till Henry Martin received his death wound,
And his body did sink in the sea.
6. Bad news, bad news I bring to old England,
Bad news I bring unto thee,
Your rich merchant ship is now cast away,
And your mariners sunk in the sea.