The Ballad of Barnacle

This is based on a real Scottish ballad called "Henry Martin". It's meant to be sung to the same tune as "Henry Marin", but I don't think the melody can be found online . . . sorry!

THE BALLAD OF BARNACLE

There were three brothers in the Black Mountains,
In the mountains there were three.
And they did cast lots which of them should go, should go, should go,
And turn robber all on the salt sea.

The lot it fell first upon Barnacle,
The youngest of the three,
That he should turn robber all on the salt sea, the salt sea, the salt sea,
For to maintain his two brothers and he.

He had not been sailing a long winter's night,
Nor part of a short winter's day,
When he did espy a stout lofty ship, lofty ship, lofty ship,
Comin' and bearin' down on them straight way.

"Hello, hello," cried Barnacle then,
"What makes you sail so nice?"
"I'm a rich merchant ship bound for fair Ponyland, Ponyland, Ponyland.
"Wouldn't you please for to let us pass by?"

"Oh no, oh no," cried Barnacle then,
"This thing, it can never be.
"For I have turned robber all on the salt sea, the salt sea, the salt sea,
"For to maintain my two brothers and me."

"So lower your topsail and fire up your mizen
"And bring your ship under my lee!
"For I have resolved for to pirate you here, you here, you here,
"For to maintain my two brothers and me."

So broadside for broadside and at it they went,
For fully two hours or three,
Till Barnacle gave to them the death shot, the death shot, the death shot,
And straight to the bottom went she.

Sad news, sad news to Ponyland came,
Sad news to fair Ponyland.
There's been a rich vessel and she's passed away, passed away, passed away,
And all of her merry crew drowned.

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