“YE LAMENTABLE BALLAD, AND YE TRUE HISTORIE OF CAPTAINE ROBERT KIDD, WHO WAS HANGED IN CHAINS AT EXECUTION DOCK, FOR PIRACY AND MURDER ON YE HIGH SEAS.”
He calleth upon the captains:
You captains bold and brave, hear our cries, hear our cries,
You captains bold and brave, hear our cries,
You captains brave and bold, tho’ you seem uncontroll’d,
Don’t for the sake of gold lose your souls, lose your souls,
Don’t for the sake of gold lose your souls.
He stateth his name and acknowledgeth his wickedness:
My name was Robert Kidd, when I sail’d, when I sail’d,
My name was Robert Kidd, when I sail’d,
My name was Robert Kidd, God’s laws I did forbid,
And so wickedly I did, when I sail’d.
He beareth witness to the good counsel of his parents:
My parents taught me well, when I sail’d, when I sail’d,
My parents taught me well, when I sail’d,
My parents taught me well to shun the gates of hell,
But against them I rebell’d when I sail’d.
He curseth his father and his mother dear:
I cursed my father dear, when I sail’d, when I sail’d,
I cursed my father dear, when I sail’d,
I cursed my father dear and her that did me bear,
And so wickedly did swear, when I sail’d.
And blasphemeth against God:
I made a solemn vow when I sail’d, when I sail’d,
I made a solemn vow when I sail’d,
I made a solemn vow, to God I would not bow,
Nor myself one prayer allow, as I sail’d.
He burieth the Good Book in sand:
I’d a Bible in my hand when I sail’d, when I sail’d,
I’d a Bible in my hand when I sail’d,
I’d a Bible in my hand by my father’s great command,
And I sunk it in the sand, when I sail’d.
And murdereth William Moore:
I murdered William Moore, as I sail’d, as I sail’d,
I murdered William Moore, as I sail’d,
I murdered William Moore, and left him in his gore,
Not many leagues from shore as I sail’d.
And also cruelly killeth the gunner.
And being cruel still, as I sail’d, as I sail’d,
And being cruel still, as I sail’d,
And being cruel still, my gunner I did kill,
And his precious blood did spill, as I sail’d.
His mate, being about to die, repenteth and warneth him in his career.
My mate was sick and died as I sail’d, as I sail’d,
My mate was sick and died as I sail’d,
My mate was sick and died, which me much terrified,
When he called me to his bedside as I sail’d.
And unto me he did say, see me die, see me die,
And unto me did say see me die,
And unto me did say, take warning now by me,
There comes a reckoning day, you must die.
You cannot then withstand, when you die, when you die,
You cannot then withstand when you die,
You cannot then withstand the judgments of God’s hand,
But bound then in iron bands, you must die.
He falleth sick, and promiseth repentance, but forgetteth his vows.
I was sick and nigh to death, as I sail’d, as I sail’d,
I was sick and nigh to death as I sail’d,
And I was sick and nigh to death, and I vowed at every breath
To walk in wisdom’s ways as I sail’d.
I thought I was undone as I sail’d, as I sail’d,
I thought I was undone as I sail’d,
I thought I was undone and my wicked glass had run,
But health did soon return as I sail’d.
My repentance lasted not, as I sail’d, as I sail’d,
My repentance lasted not, as I sail’d,
My repentance lasted not, my vows I soon forgot,
Damnation’s my just lot, as I sail’d.
He steereth thro’ Long Island and other Sounds.
I steer’d from Sound to Sound, as I sail’d, as I sail’d,
I steer’d from Sound to Sound, as I sail’d,
I steer’d from Sound to Sound, and many ships I found
And most of them I burn’d as I sail’d.
He chaseth three ships of France.
I spy’d three ships from France, as I sail’d, as I sail’d,
I spy’d three ships from France, as I sail’d,
I spy’d three ships from France, to them I did advance,
And took them all by chance, as I sail’d.
And also three ships of Spain.
I spy’d three ships of Spain, as I sail’d, as I sail’d,
I spy’d three ships of Spain as I sail’d,
I spy’d three ships of Spain, I fired on them amain,
Till most of them were slain, as I sail’d.
He boasteth of his treasure.
I’d ninety bars of gold, as I sail’d, as I sail’d,
I’d ninety bars of gold, as I sail’d,
I’d ninety bars of gold, and dollars manifold,
With riches uncontroll’d, as I sail’d.
He spyeth fourteen ships in pursuit, and surrendereth.
Then fourteen ships I saw, as I sail’d, as I sail’d,
Then fourteen ships I saw as I sail’d,
Then fourteen ships I saw and brave men they are,
Ah! they were too much for me as I sail’d.
Thus being o’ertaken at last, I must die, I must die,
Thus being o’ertaken at last, I must die,
Thus being o’ertaken at last, and into prison cast,
And sentence being pass’d, I must die.
He biddeth farewell to the seas, and the raging main.
Farewell the raging sea, I must die, I must die,
Farewell the raging main, I must die,
Farewell the raging main, to Turkey, France, and Spain,
I ne’er shall see you again, I must die.
He exhorteth the young and old to take counsel from his fate:
To Newgate now I’m cast, and must die, and must die,
To Newgate now I’m cast, and must die,
To Newgate I am cast, with a sad and heavy heart,
To receive my just desert, I must die.
To Execution Dock I must go, I must go,
To Execution Dock I must go,
To Execution Dock will many thousands flock,
But I must bear the shock, I must die.
Come all you young and old, see me die, see me die,
Come all young and old, see me die,
Come all you young and old, you’re welcome to my gold,
For by it I’ve lost my soul, and must die.
And declareth that he must go to hell, and be punished for his wickedness.
Take warning now by me, for I must die, for I must die,
Take warning now by me, for I must die,
Take warning now by me, and shun bad company,
Lest you come to hell with me, for I must die,
Lest you come to hell with me, for I must die.