Donovan
Lyric guide

Henry Martin

Read Henry Martin lyrics by Donovan on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.

Donovan visibility2 visits Video on page
person Curated by Ethan Walker LyroVerse team
Reference snapshot

The page facts to cite before the commentary

Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.

Page type: lyric reference Artist: Donovan Canonical path: /donovan/henry-martin Related lyric paths: 6 Video embedded: yes
Lyrics

Henry Martin

The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.

There were three brothers in merry Scotland,

In merry Scotland there were three, aye,

And they did cast lots which of them should go,

Should go, should go, should go, aye,

And to turn robber all on the salt sea,

To turn pirate all on the salt sea.

The lot of it fell first to Henry Martin,,

The younger of all the three, aye,

That he should turn robber all on the salt sea,

Salt sea, salt sea, salty sea, aye,

For to maintain his two brothers and he,

To maintain his two brothers and he.

He had not been sailing but a long winter's night

And part of a short winter's day, aye,

When he espied a stout lofty ship,

Lofty ship, lofty ship, lofty ship, aye

Come abibbing down on him straight away,

Come abibbing down on him straight away.

"Hello, hello," cried Henry Martin,

"What makes you sail so nigh ?" aye,

"I'm a rich merchant ship bound for fair London town, aye,

And will you not please for to let me pass by ?

won't you please for to let me pass by ? "

"Oh no, oh no," cried Henry Martin,

"This thing it can never be, aye,

For I have turned pirate all on the salt sea,

Salt sea, salt sea, salty sea, aye,

For to maintain my two brothers and me,

To maintain my two brothers and me."

"Come lower your top sail and slacken your mizzen,

And bring your ship under our lee, aye,

Or we will give to you a full cannon ball,

Cannon ball, cannon ball, cannon ball, aye,

And all your merry men drown in the sea,

All your merry men drown in the sea."

"We won't lower our top sail nor slacken our mizzen,

Nor bring our ship under your lee,

And you won't give to us your full cannon ball,

Cannon ball, cannon ball, cannon ball, aye,

Nor all our merry men drown in the sea,

All our merry men drown in the sea."

Then up him and at him and at him he went,

For fully two hours or three, aye,

Till Henry Martin gave to them the death shot,

The death shot, aye,

And all their merry men drowned in the sea,

All their merry men drowned in the sea.

Sad news, sad news to old England came,

Sad news to fair London town, aye,

There's been a rich vessel and she's cast away,

Cast away, cast away, cast away, aye,

And all her merry men drowned in the sea,

All her merry men drowned in the sea

Quick answers

What this page can answer fast

Who performs "Henry Martin"?

Donovan performs "Henry Martin", and this lyric page sits inside the Donovan catalog on LyroVerse.

Are there related songs to explore after "Henry Martin"?

Yes. The related section below points to Lord of the Dance and Breezes Of Patchulie with a short reason for opening each page next.

Where can I find more songs by Donovan?

Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Donovan's lyric pages.

Song Room

Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song

Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.

Open Song Room
0 followers Selected insights only surface after moderation
Listener comments

What people are saying

0 comments
Add a short interpretation or memory

A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.

Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.

No listener comments on Henry Martin yet.