The Bold Princess Royal

lyrics courtesy of www.sailorsongs.com

On the fourteenth of February we sailed from the land

In the bold Princess Royal bound for Newfoundland

We had forty bright seamen our ship’s company

So boldly from the Eastward to the Westward bore we

 

We had not been sailing scarce days two or three

When a man from our topmast a sail he did see

Come bearing down on us to see where we bore

And under her mizzen black colors she bore.

 

Great God cried our captain what shall we do now

Here comes a bold pirate to rob us I know

Oh no cried our chief mate that shall not be so

We will shake out our reef me boys and away from him we’ll go

 

It was the next morning at the dawning of the day

This lofty large pirate shot under our lee

Whence came you cried the pirate we answered him so

We are out of fair London bound for Callao

 

Then back your main topsails and heave your ship to

For I have a letter to send down to you

If I back may topsail and heave my ship to

It will be for some pilot and not alongside you

 

He chased us to the Eastward all that livelong day

He chased us to the Westward but he couldn't make no way

He fired some shots after us but none did prevail

And the bold Princess Royal soon showed him her tail

 

Oh now cried our captain the pirate is gone

Go down for your grog boys go down every one

Go down for your grog boys and be of good cheer

For while we’ve got sea room bold lads never fear

Lyrics courtesy of www.sailorsongs.com