Name: The Ballad Of Henry Martin
Duration: P00H02M54S
Description: An old sea shanty famously covered by Joan Baez, I lifted the first couple of stanzas and then wrote the rest of the song from there...adding a musical twist on the old ballad. My mother used to sing this to me often when I was a boy.

The Ballad Of Henry Martin

from Cat Trap by Andy Witmyer

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

$1 USD or more
Buy the Full Digital Album

about

An old sea shanty famously covered by Joan Baez, I lifted the first couple of stanzas and then wrote the rest of the song from there...adding a musical twist on the old ballad. My mother used to sing this to me often when I was a boy.

lyrics

9. THE BALLAD OF HENRY MARTIN

There were three brothers in merry Scotland
In Scotland there were brothers three
And they did cast lots to see which one would go
Would go, would go
For to turn pirate upon the salt sea

Well, the lot it fell first upon Henry Martin
The youngest of all of the three
That he should turn pirate upon the salt sea
Salt sea, Salt sea
For to maintain his three brothers and he

Sail now, Henry
You know, you shouldn't be so glum
The Spanish Armada awaits, but don't wait
Be free, my friend
And you won't face death alone

Bad news, bad news to Scotland had come
Bad news to dear London Town
When Henry Martin's vessel was cast away
Away, Away
And all of her merry men drowned in that way

credits

from Cat Trap, released September 15, 2014

license

about

Andy Witmyer Altoona, Pennsylvania

contact / help

Contact Andy Witmyer

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like Andy Witmyer, you may also like:

On The Way (To The Laughing Light Of Plenty)
by The Naturals

featured on Bandcamp Radio Dec 22, 2015
go to album
Behind The Pale
by William Ryan Fritch

featured on Bandcamp Radio Nov 7, 2017
go to album
Certain Doubt
by Sharif Ali

Another release of catchy and eccentric homemade pop from Sharif Ali. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 2, 2021
go to album
Higher Lows
by Sharif Ali

Truly oddball pop from Sharif Ali combines smooth synths, groovy electric piano, and Karoke-style crooning into a strangely catchy whole. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 5, 2020
go to album
Hallelujah Hell Yeah
by String Machine

On their latest LP, the Pittsburgh group String Machine fuses Americana with indie rock in big, soaring songs. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 19, 2022
go to album
In The Midnight Sun or Stubbornly Persistent Illusion
by GOLDEN DRUGS

featured on Bandcamp Radio Aug 12, 2014
go to album
Drugz
by Night Auditor

featured on Bandcamp Radio Jul 5, 2016
go to album