Ward the Pirate
from Songs of the Sea by GreenMatthews
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about
John Ward or Birdy (c. 1553 –1622), was an English-Ottoman pirate who later became a Barbary Corsair for the Ottoman Empire operating out of Tunis during the early 17th century.
lyrics
Come all you gallant sailors bold,
All you that march to drum,
Let's go and look for Captain Ward,
Far on the sea he roams.
He is the boldest robber
That ever you did hear,
There's not been such a robber found
Above this hundred year.
A ship was sailing from the east
And going to the west,
Loaded with silks and satins
And velvets of the best;
But meeting there with Captain Ward,
It was a bad meeting;
He robbéd them of all their wealth,
And bid them tell their king.
O then King James provided a ship of noble fame,
She's call'd the Royal Rainbow
Perhaps you've heard the name;
She was as well provided for
As any ship can be,
Full thirteen hundred men on board
And all her company.
'Twas at eight in the morning
When they began to fight,
And so they did continue there
Till nine o'clock at night;
Fight on, fight on, says Captain Ward
This sport well pleases me,
For if you fight this month or more,
Your master I will be.
O then the Royal Rainbow, she fired
And fired in vain.
Till six and thirty of her men
All on the deck were slain;
Go home, go home, says Captain Ward
And tell your king from me,
That though he be the king on land
Ward is the king on the sea.
All you that march to drum,
Let's go and look for Captain Ward,
Far on the sea he roams.
He is the boldest robber
That ever you did hear,
There's not been such a robber found
Above this hundred year.
A ship was sailing from the east
And going to the west,
Loaded with silks and satins
And velvets of the best;
But meeting there with Captain Ward,
It was a bad meeting;
He robbéd them of all their wealth,
And bid them tell their king.
O then King James provided a ship of noble fame,
She's call'd the Royal Rainbow
Perhaps you've heard the name;
She was as well provided for
As any ship can be,
Full thirteen hundred men on board
And all her company.
'Twas at eight in the morning
When they began to fight,
And so they did continue there
Till nine o'clock at night;
Fight on, fight on, says Captain Ward
This sport well pleases me,
For if you fight this month or more,
Your master I will be.
O then the Royal Rainbow, she fired
And fired in vain.
Till six and thirty of her men
All on the deck were slain;
Go home, go home, says Captain Ward
And tell your king from me,
That though he be the king on land
Ward is the king on the sea.
credits
from Songs of the Sea,
released July 31, 2023
Chris Green: voice, mandocello. mandolin
Sophie Matthews: English border bagpipes
Chris Green: voice, mandocello. mandolin
Sophie Matthews: English border bagpipes
license
all rights reserved
tags
about
GreenMatthews Coventry, UK
Chris Green and Sophie Matthews play English traditional songs and tunes in a thoroughly 21st-century kick-ass style. Using a blend of ancient instruments such as cittern, English bagpipes and shawm as well as modern folk instruments such as guitar, flute and piano accordion, they breathe new life into material from hundreds of years ago, making it fresh and relevant for a modern audience. ... more
shows
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Jun 19Hoddesdon, UK
discography
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Jul 2023 -
Dec 2022 -
Jun 2021 -
Dec 2020
contact / help
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