Ballad of Captain Kidd
Hymnal Index | Ship's Company Website
My name was William Kidd, As I sailed, as I sailed,
My name was William Kidd, As I sailed,
My name was William Kidd; God's laws I did forbid,
And so wickedly I did, As I sailed, as I sailed.

My parents taught me well,
To shun the gates of hell,
But against them I rebelled, As I sailed, as I sailed.

I murdered William Moore,
And laid him in his gore,
Not many leagues from shore,

I was sick and nigh to death,
And I vowed with every breath,
To walk in wisdom's ways,

I thought I was undone,
And my wicked glass had run,
But health did soon return,

My repentance lasted not,
My vows I soon forgot,
Damnation was my lot,

I spied three ships from France,
To them I did advance,
And took them all by chance,
I spied three ships from Spain,
I looted them for gain,
Till most of them were slain,

Thus being o'ertaken at last,
And into prison cast,
And sentence being passed,

Farewell, the raging main, I must die, I must die,
Farewell, the raging main I must die,
Farewell, the raging main To Turkey, France, and Spain,
I shall never see you again, For I must die.

To the Execution Dock, I must go, I must go,
To the Execution Dock, I must go,
To the Execution Dock, While many thousands flock,
But I must bear the shock, And must die, and must die.

Take a warning now by me, For I must die, I must die,
Take a warning now by me, For I must die,
Take a warning now by me And shun bad company,
Lest you come to hell with me, For I must die, I must die.