Andy Bardan

Three brothers in old Scotland did dwell,
Three loving brothers were they;
They all cast lots to see which of them
Should go robbing around the salt sea.

The lot fell on to Andy Bardan,
The youngest of the three,
For to maintain the other two
A-robbing around the salt sea.

He had not sailed very many long nights
Before a ship he did spy;
It sailed far off, it sailed far off,
And then it came sailing close by.

"Who's there, who's there?" said Andy Bardan,
"Who's there that sails so nigh?"
"We are the rich merchants from old England,
If no offense, let us pass by."

"Oh no! oh no!" said Andy Bardan,
"Oh no, that never can be!
Your ship and your cargo we'll have, my boys,
And your bodies sink in the salt sea."

The news came unto King Henry
(For it was him they crowned)
His ship and his cargo both were lost
And all his merry men drowned.

"Go build a ship both wide and deep
And build it safe and secure,
And if Andy Bardan you do not bring in
Your lives shall no longer endure."

They had not sailed very many long nights
Before a ship they did spy;
It sailed far off, it sailed far off,
And then it came sailing close by.

"Who's there? Who's there:" said Captain Charles Stewart,
"Who's there that sails so nigh?"
"We are the bold robbers from old Scotland;
If no offense, let us pass by."

"Oh no! oh no!" said Captain Charles Stewart,
"Oh no! that never can be;
Your ship and your cargo we'll have, my boys,
And your bodies sink in the salt sea."

"Peel on! peel on!" said Andy Bardan,
And loud the cannon did roar;
And Captain Charles Stewart took Andy Bardan
He took him to fair England's shore.

"What now, what now?" said Andy Bardan
"What now my fate it will be!
The gallows is ready for Andy Bardan
The bold robber around the salt sea.

"Go dig my grave both wide and deep,
And dig it close to the sea;
And tell my brothers as I pass by
I've done robbing around the salt sea."

Child #250
From The Penguin Book of Folk Ballads, Friedman
RG