Digital Tradition Mirror

Captain Kidd

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Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Captain Kidd

My name is Captain Kidd, as I sailed, as I sailed
My name is Captian Kidd, as I sailed
My name is Captian Kidd, God's laws I did forbid
And most wickedly I did, as I sailed, as I sailed

Oh, my parents taught me well, as I sailed, as I sailed
My parents taught me well, as I sailed
My parents taught me well to shun the gates of Hell
But against them I rebelled, as I sailed, as I sailed

Well, I murdered William Moore, as I sailed, as I sailed
I murdered William Moore, as I sailed
I murdered William Moore and I left him in his gore
Forty leagues from shore, as I sailed, as I sailed

And being cruel still, as I sailed, as I sailed
And being cruel still, as I sailed
And being cruel still the gunner I did kill
And his precious blood did spill, as I sailed, as I sailed

Well, my repentance lasted not, as I sailed, as I sailed
My repentance lasted not, as I sailed
My repentance lasted not, my vows I soon forgot
Damnation was my lot, as I sailed, as I sailed

To execution dock I must go, I must go
To execution dock I must go
To execution dock, lay my head upon the block
And no more the laws I'll mock, as I sail, as I sail

The reputation for cruelty and viciousness generally assigned to
Captain Kidd, probably the most famous of all pirates, is largely
the result of the ballad maker's art.  Actually, it would appear
that William Kidd (1645?-1701) was the victim of a frame-up.  He
was hanged, guilty or not, near London on May 23, 1701.

The tune, and particularly the verse pattern, of this song has
been used for other songs, such as: "Samuel Hall", "The Praties
They Grow Small", and the American hymn, "Wonderous Love."  This
version comes from Peter Seeger, who learned it in London from
Steve Benbow.
NOTE: Most versions have "My name is Robert Kidd etc." Nobody
seems to know where the "Robert" came from. RG

Recorded on "Golden Ring", FSI-16, 1964
DT #413
Laws K35
DC

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!