High Barbaree (West Country Tune)

Interesting Facts about the High Barbaree (West Country Tune)

“High Barbaree (West Country Tune)” – “geographical”: The song’s name is taken from the savage Coast of North Africa, the lair of the Corsairs. Stan Hugill mentioned apart of him two collectors, who gave us versions of this song: Sampson (shanty version) and Whall (forebitter version). The song was sometimes called “Salcombe Seamen” and was sung solely at the capstan. Here is the west country tune.
The song will be reconstructed by myself as the forebitter.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 420).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 420).

The Record of the High Barbaree (West Country Tune)

You can also find this record on my YouTube channel here or directly listen below. Additionally, if you want to share your opinion about the record or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or leave a comment at the bottom of this blog article.

The musical notation

The full lyrics

High Barbaree (West Country Tune)

There were two lofty ships from ol’ England they set sail
– Blow high! Blow low! An’ so sailed we – ,
One was the “Prince of luther” an’ the other “Prince of Wales”,
– Sailin’ down along the coasts o’ High Barbaree!

* 2 *

‘Aloft there, aloft!’ our bully bosun cried.
‘Look ahead, look astern, look to weather an’ a-lee!”

* 3 *

‘There’s naught upon the starn, sir, there’s naught upon the lee,’
But there’s a lofty ship to wind’ ard an’ she’s sailin’ fast an’ free.’

* 4 *

‘O hail her! O hail her!’ our gallant cap’n cried,
‘Are you a man-o’-war or a privateer?’ cried he.

* 5 *

‘Oh, no I’m not a man-o’-war, nor privateer,’ cried he,
‘But I’m a salt sea pirate, all a-lookin’ for me fee!’

* 6 *

For broadside, for broadside a long time we lay,
Till at last ‘Prince o’ Luther’ shot the pirate’s mast away.

* 7 *

‘O quarter! O quarter!’ those pirates they did cry,
But the quarter that we gave ’em, was to sink ’em in the sea.

Related to this Forebitter

Oh Susanna

Susannavisan (Stan Hugill Translation)

Roll Alabama Roll! – Forebitter