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High Barbaree

Look ahead, look astern, look the weather and the lee,
 Blow high !  Blow low !  and so sailed we.
I see a wreck to windward and a lofty ship to lee,
 A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.


O are you a pirate or a man o'war ? cried we
 Blow high !  Blow low !  and so sailed we.
O no !  I'm not a pirate, but a man o'war, cried he,
 A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.


Then back up your topsails and heave your vessel to;
 Blow high !  Blow low !  and so sailed we.
For we have got some letters to be carried home by you.
 A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.


We'll back up our topsails and heave our vessel to;
 Blow high !  Blow low !  and so sailed we.
But only in some harbour and along the side of you.
 A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.


For broadside, for broadside, they fought all on the main;
 Blow high !  Blow low !  and so sailed we.
Until at last the frigate shot the pirate's mast away.
 A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.


For quarters !  For quarters !  the saucy pirate cried.
 Blow high !  Blow low !  and so sailed we.
The quarters that we showed them was to sink them in the tide.
 A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.


With cutlass, and with gun, O we fought them hours three;
 Blow high !  Blow low !  and so sailed we.
The ship it was their coffin, and their grave it was the sea.
 A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.


But O !  It was a cruel sight, and grieved us full sore,
 Blow high !  Blow low !  and so sailed we.
To see them all a-drowning as they tried to swim to shore.
 A-sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbaree.