The Ballad of Three Pirates

The Ballad of Three Pirates
by Peter Andrews and Ben Wall

The first three verses were adapted from a song sung quite often during the Summer 2003 camp season at Wakpominee.  The rest were created by us.
Sung to the tune of "Johnny Comes Marching Home" and "The Ants go Marching"

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Three pirates came to London town, yo-ho, yo-ho
Three pirates came to London town, yo-ho, yo-ho
Three pirates came to London town to see the king put on his crown,
Refrain (R):
Yo-ho you lubbers, yo-ho you lubbers, yo-ho, yo-ho, yo-ho

That night they stopped at a wayside inn, yo-ho, yo-ho (2x)
That night they stopped at a wayside inn, and asked the lord, "Please let us in"
R

Land lord give us your best red meat, yo-ho, yo-ho (2x)
Land lord give us your best red meat, for we are hungry, we must eat
R

Land lord give us your bags of gold, yo-ho, yo-ho (2x)
Land lord give us your bags of gold, enough to fill a galleon's hold
R

Then we made a fast retreat, yo-ho, yo-ho (2x)
Then we made a fast retreat, running through the city's streets
R

Those lubbers chased us through the town, yo-ho, yo-ho (2x)
Those lubbers chased us through the town and at the ship they ran us down
R

We climbed aboard and raised the sail, yo-ho, yo-ho (2x)
We climbed aboard and raised the sail, and fought them off with tooth and nail
R

That's when we made our bold escape, yo-ho, yo-ho (2x)
That's when we made our bold escape; we thew them off and sailed away
R

For days and days we sailed around, yo-ho, yo-ho (2x)
For days and days we sailed around, until our ship, she ran aground
R

We washed ashore on an island bare, yo-ho, yo-ho (2x)
We washed ashore on an island bare and found there was no water there
R

Very soon our casks went dry, yo-ho, yo-ho (2x)
Very soon our casks went dry and we feared the worst, that we would die
R

We scoured the island to quench our thirst, yo-ho, yo-ho (2x)
We scoured the island to quench our thirst, we found a stream and [1 person, spoken with gusto] "I drank first!"
R

We thought to hide the treasure now, yo-ho, yo-ho (2x)
We thought to hide the treasure now, but then began to wonder [noticable pause. then, in a questioning voice] how?
R

Down in the hold of our fine ship, yo-ho, yo-ho (2x)
Down in the hold of our fine ship, we went and found a shovel and pick
R

Once we'd gathered up our tools, yo-ho, yo-ho (2x)
Once we'd gathered up our tools, we grabbed our bags of gold and jewels
R

We searched the island for a spot, yo-ho, yo-ho (2x)
We searched the island for a spot, but instead we found a pot
R

In the pot the treasure went, yo-ho, yo-ho (2x)
In the pot the treasure went and into a big old hole was sent
R

Then we covered up that hole, yo-ho, yo-ho (2x)
Then we covered up that hole to hide all of our jewels and gold
R

By now we'd run right out of food, yo-ho, yo-ho (2x)
By now we'd run right out of food, we had to eat our shirts and shoes
R

That night we tried to sail away, yo-ho, yo-ho (2x)
That night we tried to sail away, but we didn't get far; we sank 'neath the main
R

[end melody]
[optional - spoken by one person]
And now I fear we're out of breath
Along with our bodies and boots.
We died that day in a horrible way,
Sliding down life's old chimney-chutes.

We sank to the bottom,
And lie there, now rotten;
Our bones have been cleansed to white.

But our treasure lives on,
In its hole, now a pond,
Where its beauty will spark future fights.