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Henry Martin

from Neofolk Romantique by Sharon Knight

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about

A traditional Scottish folk song about the 16th-century freebooter Sir Andrew Barton.

"Barton was captured on August 2, 1511 and subsequently beheaded. Over the years, through oral tradition, the song has been shortened (to a mere nine verses, ha! - Sharon) and the name of the protagonist changed from Andrew Barton to Henry Martin. In this form, the tale is Child Ballad 250. In "The Folk Handbook" pub 2007, it states that the song has been widely collected from singers in England and North America, and is represented in Wales by the singing of Phil Tanner. It notes that, surprisingly, given the opening line "There were three brothers in Merry Scotland," there is just a single existing record from Scotland where the hero is given the name 'Robin Hood'.

Musician and folklorist A. L. Lloyd described Henry Martin as "one of the most-sung ballads of our time." It has been recorded, amongst others, by Joan Baez, Donovan, Bert Jansch, Figgy Duff, Sherwood, Sam Larner, Phil Tanner and Broadside Electric on their album Black-edged Visiting Card."

lyrics

Henry Martin

There were three brothers in merry Scotland,
In merry Scotland there were three
And they did cast lots which of them should go
And turn robber all on the salt sea.

The lot it fell first upon Henry Martin,
The youngest of all of the three
That he should turn robber all on the salt sea
For to maintain his two brothers and he.

They had not been sailing but a long winter's night
And part of a short winter's day,
When he spied a stout lofty ship
Come a-bibing down on them straightway.

"Hello, hello," cried Henry Martin,
"What makes you sail so nigh?"
"We're a rich merchant ship bound for fair London Town,
Would you please for to let us pass by."

"Oh no, oh no," cried Henry Martin,
"This thing it never can be.
For I have turned robber all on the salt sea,
For to maintain my two brothers and me."

"So lower your topsail and brail up your mizzen,
Bow your ship under my lee,
Or I will give to you a full cannon ball,
And all your bodies drown in the salt sea."

"Oh no, we won't lower our lofty topsail,
Nor bow our ship under your lee,
And you'll not give to us a full cannon ball,
No, nor point our bold guns to the sea."

So broadside, and broadside, and at it they went,
For fully two hours or three,
Until Henry Martin gave them the death shot,
And straight to the bottom went she.

Sad news, bad news, to old England came,
Sad news to fair London town,
There's a rich merchant vessel and she's cast away,
And all of her merry men drowned.

credits

from Neofolk Romantique, released August 1, 2013
Sharon Knight: lead vocals, octave mandolin, bodhran
Winter: acoustic guitar, bass, percussion
Caith Threefires: mandolin

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Sharon Knight Oakland

Festival favorites Sharon Knight and her longtime collaborator Winter perform a mythic-Celtic style, which they call "Neofolk Romantique; songs for poets, adventurers and lovers of mystery". They tour internationally several months of the year, bringing their fantastical tales of love and magic to festivals, cafes, and homes across the land. ... more

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