Traditional Sea Shanties & Sea Songs
High Barbary

A Collection of lyrics for traditional Sea Shanties & Songs of the Sea.

High Barbary

There were two lofty ships
From old England came
Blow high, blow low
And so sail we
One was the Prince of Luther
The other Prince of Wales
All a-cruisin' down the coast
Of High Barbary

2. "Aloft there, aloft there"
Our jolly bosun cried
Blow high, blow low
And so sail we
"Look ahead, look astern,
Look to weather an' a-lee"
All a-cruisin' down the coast
Of High Barbary

3. "There's naught upon the stern, sir
There's naught upon our lee
Blow high, blow low
And so sail we
But there's a lofty ship to wind'ard
An' she's sailin' fast and free"
All a-cruisin' down the coast
Of High Barbary

4. "Oh hail her, oh hail her"
Our gallant captain cried
Blow high, blow low
And so sail we
"Are you a man-o-war
Or a privateer?" cried he
All a-cruisin' down the coast
Of High Barbary

5. "Oh, I'm not a man-o-war
Nor privateer," said he
Blow high, blow low
And so sail we
"But I am salt sea pirate
All a-looking for me fee"
All a-cruisin' down the coast
Of High Barbary

6. For Broadside, for broadside
A long time we lay
Blow high, blow low
And so sail we
'Til at last the Prince of Luther
Shot the pirate's mast away
All a-cruisin' down the coast
Of High Barbary

7. "Oh quarter, oh quarter"
Those pirates they did cry
Blow high, blow low
And so sail we
But the quarter that we gave them
Was we sank 'em in the sea
All a-cruisin' down the coast
Of High Barbary