Tell the story of Englands glory,
Let us sing of the pirate king,
He plied the straits of Madagascar (a),
His cargo, fear and plundering. Trading routes round the Cape and Gold Coast,
Spices, oils, and gold doubloons,
He scuttled ships but he spared their crewmen,
Such kindness rare would break him soon,
His destiny marooned. Raise a gla** to Edward England,
Englands loss, Englands gone,
Raise a gla** to a pirate legend,
Englands loss, Englands gone. At the helm of Englands Fancy (b),
His envious crewmen claimed the prize.
But when he spared the life of a merchant captain,
Mutiny shone in their eyes. Cast adrift on a lonely island,
Buried deep, identity,
Hearts and bones lost on Mauritius (c),
Sail the Sea of Tranquillity,
Moonlight piracy. Raise a gla** to Edward England,
Englands loss, Englands gone,
Raise a gla** to a pirate legend,
Englands loss, Englands gone. Footnotes:
(a) not only the island from which he sailed but also the island on which he died
(b) the name of Englands flagship, which was seized by his mutinous crew
(c) the island on which he was marooned following the mutiny