The Flying Cloud
1. Come all you rambling sailor lads and listen unto
me. I'm heavy bound in iron chains, To die for piracy.
With eighteen more I am condemned in sorrow to complain,
For plundering and burning ships down on the Spanish Main.
2 My name is Edward Anderson, as you will understand.
I was born in the town of Waterford in Erin's lovely land.
My parents raised me tenderly, in the care of God likewise,
But little did they think I'd die 'neath Cuba's sunny skies.
3 My father bound me to a trade in Waterford's fair town.
He bound me to a cooper there by the name of William Brown.
I served my master faithfully for eighteen months or more,
Then I shipped on board the Ocean Queen , bound to Valparaiso shore.
4 It was in Valparaiso I fell in with Captain Moore.
He commanded the clipper Flying Cloud , sailing out of Tramore.
'Twas there I did agree with him on a slavery voyage to go,
To the burning shores of Africa where the sugarcane do grow.
5 The Flying Cloud was a clipper ship, five hundred tons or more.
She could easily sail around any ship sailing out of Tramore.
I often saw this gallant ship, with wind abaft the beam,
With royals and stun's'ls set aloft taking sixteen from the reel.
6 Her sails were white as driven snow, on them there were no specks,
And thirty-five brass powder guns she carried on her decks;
With magazines securely placed all safely down below,
She carried a Long Tom on her poop, and swivels there also.
7 We started then upon a voyage with a full cargo of slaves.
It would have been better for those poor souls to be going to their graves.
The plague and fever came on board, swept half of them away.
We dragged their bodies to the rails and threw them in the sea.
8 It was a short time after, we reached the Cuban shore.
We sold them to a planter to be slaves forevermore,
In the rice and sugarcane to toil beneath the burning sun,
To drag along their wretched life till their career was done.
9 We again weighed anchor on our ship and put to sea again.
Then Captain Moore he came on deck and said to us, his men:
" There's gold in plenty to be had far over on the Main.
Now, if you'll agree, my lively lads, I'll tell you how it's gained.
10 " We have the fastest sailing ship that ever spread the wave,
That ever spread a main topsail before the pleasant gale!
So if you'll agree, my lively lads, with me to remain,
We'll run aloft the pirate flag and scour the Spanish Main! "
11 We all agreed but five young youths who told us them to land,
Two of them being Boston chaps and two from Newfoundland.
The other was an Irish lad belonging to Tramore.
I wish that I had joined those men and landed safe on shore.
12 We've ravished and plundered many ships down on the Spanish Main,
Caused many a wife and orphan child in sorrow to complain.
We've caused their crews to walk the plank gave them a watery grave.
The saying of our captain was, " A dead man tells no tales. "
13 We were often chased by men-of-war, liners and freighters [frigates] too;
But to overhaul the Flying Cloud was a thing they never could do,
Until at last astern of us, where the cannon roar so loud.
A feat that they never could do was overhaul the Flying Cloud .
14 At last a Spanish man-of-war, the Dungeon , hove in view.
They fired a ball across our bow, a signal to heave to.
But to them we gave no answer, but kept before the wind.
Then a bombshell set our ship on fire; we were forced to surrender then.
15 Now we were taken prisoners and into prison cast,
Tried and found guilty, and to be hung at last.
So see what I have come to by my unlucky hand,
For on the gallows I must die by the laws of a Spanish land.
16 Adieu to dear old Waterford and the girl that I love dear.
Her voice like music soft and sweet I nevermore shall hear.
No more will I kiss those ruby lips or press her lily-white hand,
For on the gallows I must die by the laws of a Spanish land.
17 When I was young and innocent, my heart did know no guile;
In my happy home I lived, my friends did on me smile.
But drinking and bad company has made a wretch of me,
So a warning take by my sad state beware of piracy!
me. I'm heavy bound in iron chains, To die for piracy.
With eighteen more I am condemned in sorrow to complain,
For plundering and burning ships down on the Spanish Main.
2 My name is Edward Anderson, as you will understand.
I was born in the town of Waterford in Erin's lovely land.
My parents raised me tenderly, in the care of God likewise,
But little did they think I'd die 'neath Cuba's sunny skies.
3 My father bound me to a trade in Waterford's fair town.
He bound me to a cooper there by the name of William Brown.
I served my master faithfully for eighteen months or more,
Then I shipped on board the Ocean Queen , bound to Valparaiso shore.
4 It was in Valparaiso I fell in with Captain Moore.
He commanded the clipper Flying Cloud , sailing out of Tramore.
'Twas there I did agree with him on a slavery voyage to go,
To the burning shores of Africa where the sugarcane do grow.
5 The Flying Cloud was a clipper ship, five hundred tons or more.
She could easily sail around any ship sailing out of Tramore.
I often saw this gallant ship, with wind abaft the beam,
With royals and stun's'ls set aloft taking sixteen from the reel.
6 Her sails were white as driven snow, on them there were no specks,
And thirty-five brass powder guns she carried on her decks;
With magazines securely placed all safely down below,
She carried a Long Tom on her poop, and swivels there also.
7 We started then upon a voyage with a full cargo of slaves.
It would have been better for those poor souls to be going to their graves.
The plague and fever came on board, swept half of them away.
We dragged their bodies to the rails and threw them in the sea.
8 It was a short time after, we reached the Cuban shore.
We sold them to a planter to be slaves forevermore,
In the rice and sugarcane to toil beneath the burning sun,
To drag along their wretched life till their career was done.
9 We again weighed anchor on our ship and put to sea again.
Then Captain Moore he came on deck and said to us, his men:
" There's gold in plenty to be had far over on the Main.
Now, if you'll agree, my lively lads, I'll tell you how it's gained.
10 " We have the fastest sailing ship that ever spread the wave,
That ever spread a main topsail before the pleasant gale!
So if you'll agree, my lively lads, with me to remain,
We'll run aloft the pirate flag and scour the Spanish Main! "
11 We all agreed but five young youths who told us them to land,
Two of them being Boston chaps and two from Newfoundland.
The other was an Irish lad belonging to Tramore.
I wish that I had joined those men and landed safe on shore.
12 We've ravished and plundered many ships down on the Spanish Main,
Caused many a wife and orphan child in sorrow to complain.
We've caused their crews to walk the plank gave them a watery grave.
The saying of our captain was, " A dead man tells no tales. "
13 We were often chased by men-of-war, liners and freighters [frigates] too;
But to overhaul the Flying Cloud was a thing they never could do,
Until at last astern of us, where the cannon roar so loud.
A feat that they never could do was overhaul the Flying Cloud .
14 At last a Spanish man-of-war, the Dungeon , hove in view.
They fired a ball across our bow, a signal to heave to.
But to them we gave no answer, but kept before the wind.
Then a bombshell set our ship on fire; we were forced to surrender then.
15 Now we were taken prisoners and into prison cast,
Tried and found guilty, and to be hung at last.
So see what I have come to by my unlucky hand,
For on the gallows I must die by the laws of a Spanish land.
16 Adieu to dear old Waterford and the girl that I love dear.
Her voice like music soft and sweet I nevermore shall hear.
No more will I kiss those ruby lips or press her lily-white hand,
For on the gallows I must die by the laws of a Spanish land.
17 When I was young and innocent, my heart did know no guile;
In my happy home I lived, my friends did on me smile.
But drinking and bad company has made a wretch of me,
So a warning take by my sad state beware of piracy!
Translation:
Language:
Reviews
No reviews yet.