Kelly the Pirate (Bold Princess Royal)

On the eighth day of June from the land we set sail
In the bold Princess Royal bound for New Orleans.
And forty bold seamen being our ship's company
With the wind from the South to the West steered we.

We scarce had been sailing for days two or three,
When the man from our top-mast strange colours did see.
He came bearing down on us with his main-sheet so high,
And out from his mizzen-peak those colours did fly.

Our mate he came aft and he judged her all round:
'This is Kelly, the pirate; I'11 bet fifty pound.'
He said:'Drop your top-sails and heave your ship to,
For I am a packet with letters for you.'

'Now I won't drop my top-sails or heave my ship to;
It'll be in some harbour but not 'longside you.
He chased and he fired, but he did not prevail,
For the bold Princess Royal soon showed them her tail.

Come down to your dinner boys, come down every man;
Come down to your grog for the pirate is gone.
Half barrels of rum like salt water did flow:
Drink a health to your wives and your sweethearts also.

From Irish Songs of the Sea
DT #410
Laws K29
RG
oct99