Nic Jones - William Glen lyrics

Oh it's of a ship and a ship of fame Launched off the stocks, bound to sail the main; With one hundred and fifty brisk young men Well picked and chosen every one And William Glenn was the captain's name. He was a fine and a tall young man As fine a sailor as sailed the sea; And we were sailing to New Barbary. On the first of April, then we set sail, Blessed with a fine and a prosperous gale. And we were bound for New Barbary With all of our whole ship's company. We hadn't been sailing a league or two Till all of our whole ship's jovial crew, They all fell sick but sixty-three As we were sailing to New Barbary. One night the Captain then he did dream, A voice came to him and said to him: "Prepare yourself and your company For tomorrow night you must lie with me." This woke the captain in a terrible fright, It being the third watch of the night. And aloud for the bosun then he did call And to him told his secrets all. "Bosun," he said, "it grieves my heart To think I've played a villain's part: A man I slew in Staffordshire And all for the sake of his lady fair. And of the ghost of that I am afraid That has in me such terror bred. So keep the secret within your breast And pray to the lord that he gives you rest." We hadn't been a sailing a league but three Till raging grew the roaring sea. There rose a tempest up in the skies Which did our seamen much surprise And the main mast sprung by the break of day Which made our rigging all but to give way; And did our seamen much affright The terrors of that awful night. And then the bosun he did declare That the captain was a murderer. This so enraged the whole ship's crew That overboard our captain threw. Our treacherous captain he being gone Immediately there came a calm And the winds abated and so did the sea And we went sailing to New Barbary. And when we came to the Spanish Shore Our good little ship for to repair, The people there were amazed to see Our dismal case and such misery. Now seamen all wherever you may be I pray you take a warning from me: As you love life won't you have care And never go sailing with a murderer.