"High Barbaree" Lyrics

Burl Ives - 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.