“One evening for their tea Her family broiled and ate her; ‘Never mind!’ says the king to me, ‘Just go and pick out a better.’” _Chorus._ Now this is pretty bad, Yet it’s nothin’ to what’s a-coming; But I hear the old man a bawlin’ like mad, So I guess I will stop my humming. “Wal,” answered Brown, “that comes it rather strong. Now if you like I’ll sing a pirate’s song Of which you all have heard at times a bit; I’ve jined ’em into one to make ’em fit, Like beads upon a string, altho’ I fear It’s partly pirate and part mutineer.” BOLD ROBIN ROVER Bold Robin Rover Said to his crew: “Up with the black flag And down with the blue! Up with the Black Boy! All men to show, Over the water And off let us go!” A man-of-war he hailed us: “Come under my lee!” “See you damned,” said the pirate, “For I’d rather sink at sea, In the blue water Far out and free, Cruising down on the shore By the coast of Barbary.” We met the _Flying Dutchman_, By midnight he came, His hull was all of hell fire, His sails were all o’ flame; Fire on the main-top, Fire on the bow, Fire on the gun-deck, Fire down below! Four-and-twenty dead men, Those were the crew, The devil on the bowsprit Fiddled as she flew. We gave her a broadside Right in the dip, Just like a candle, Out went the ship. We met a gallant vessel A-sailing on the sea, For mercy, for mercy, For mercy, she did plea; But the mercy we gave her We sunk her in the sea; Cruising down on the shore By the coast of Barbary, Four-and-twenty Spaniards, Mighty men of rank, With their golden ladies Had to walk the plank, Over the gunwale Into the sea, Cruising down on the shore, By the coast of Barbary. Oh devil take the captain! And devil take the ship! And devil take the cargo! And devil take the trip! And devil take the bo’su’n! And devil take his call! And devil take the doctor! And devil take ’em all! Over the quarter, Over the sail, Into the water, Dead as a nail, Slung like a biscuit, Hot as a coal, Where the sharks may take the body, And the devil take the soul!