Brian Peters - Sir William Gower lyrics

I'm a brisk young sailor, both stout and strong To a goodly vessel I do belong Well carved and anchored so fine and rare And gallant sailors loaded there Our captain's name was Sir William Gower His crew amounted to just four score With hearts undaunted we set to sea Bound for New York, in Ameriky One night our captain he lay asleep When a dreadful voice came from the deep: "Prepare yourself and ship's company For tomorrow night you'll lie with me." Our captain woke in a terrible fright It was the third watch of the night And loud for the bosun he did call And to him told his secrets all "Bosun," he said, "it grieves my heart To think I've acted the villain's part I slew a lord in Staffordshire And all for the sake of his lady fair "I k**ed my wife and my children three All for the sake of jealousy And on my servant I laid the blame; He was hanged and quartered for the same "And it's of the ghost that I am afraid This very night my heart betrayed And though I sail far out on the sea Each day he's in my company "Bosun," he said, "let no one know What your poor captain do undergo But keep the secret within your breast And pray to God to give you rest." But the very next morning a storm did rise It did our sailors so much surprise The sea came over, both fore and aft Till scarce a man on the deck was left Ah, then, the bosun he did declare Our captain he was a murderer This so enraged the whole ship's crew That they overboard our captain threw Our cruel captain, he being gone Immediately there came a calm The wind abated, so did the sea And we went sailing for Ameriky