The Cruel Ship’s Captain

Lyrics

A boy to me was bound apprenticed Because his parents they were poor So I took him from St. James' workhouse All for to sail on the Greenland shore One day this poor boy he did annoy me Nothing to him then did I say But I rushed him to my frozen yardarm And I kept him there 'til early next day When his eyes and his teeth hang before me With his hands and his feet down bowed And with a tarry gasket there I killed him For I would not hear his cries below I would not hear his cries below Now all you sea captains that navyin' here' Take a fair advantage by me Don't abuse your young apprentice boys Or else its hanged you'd surely be