Captain Ward and the Rainbow
There are many versions of this traditional song - I used this version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA_fyIR5qHg
[Verse]
Am
Come all ye jolly mariners
G
That love to take a dram
Am
Let's go and seek for Captain Ward
E Am
Who over the seas has come
Am
He is the greatest robber
G
As you shall quickly hear
Am
There's not been such a robber found
E Am
This last six hundred years
[Verse]
Am
The King he got a letter
G
On the sixth of January
Am
Saying - Let bold Captain Ward come in
E Am
With all his company
Am
If that you do let him in
G
Until his tale is told
Am
For ransom he will offer you
E Am
A twenty tons of gold
[Chorus]
Am
No, no - says the King
G
That can never be
Am
Captain Ward is a robber
E Am
A robber on the sea
[Verse]
Am
Well, the King he has provided
G
A ship of noble fame
Am
Called the Royal Rainbow
E Am
If you would know her name
Am
She was as well provided for
G
As any ship could be
Am
Full five hundred men on board
E Am
To bear her company
[Verse]
Am
When the Royal Rainbow came
G
Where Captain Ward did lie
Am
Who is the master of this ship
E Am
The Rainbow's crew did cry
Am
The same am I - says Captain Ward
G
Why, ashamed I never will be
Am
If you were the King's fair ship
E Am
You're welcome unto me
[Chorus]
Am
No, no - says the King
G
That can never be
Am
Captain Ward is a robber
E Am
A robber on the sea
[Verse]
Am
For I never robbed an English ship
G
Just France's ships or Spain's
Am
Likewise the blackguard Dutchman
E Am
That met upon the main
Am
Had I got a letter through
G
This two weeks past or three
Am
I would've spared Lord Essex's life
E Am
This pains me grievously
[Verse]
Am
Six o' clock in the morning
G
They began to fight
Am
So they did continue
E Am
Till nine o' clock at night
Am
Fight on, fight on - says Captain Ward
G
So well it pleases me
Am
If you fight a month or more
E Am
Your master I will be
[Verse]
Am
Then the Royal Rainbow
G
She fired on in vain
Am
Till full four hundred of her crew
E Am
Upon the decks lay slain
Am
Go home, go home - says Captain Ward
G
And tell your King from me
Am
He may rule King o'er all the land
E Am
But Ward's the King on sea
[Chorus]
Am
No, no - says the King
G
That can never be
Am
Captain Ward is a robber
E Am
A robber on the sea
[Outro]
Am
No, no - says the King
G
That can never be
Am
Captain Ward is a robber
E Am
A robber on the sea
Am
No, no - says the King
G
That can never be
Am
Captain Ward is a robber
E Am
A robber on the sea