I first took ship at twelve years old,
a lad both young and green.
A score years since, I'm a pirate bold,
and many's the sights I've seen,
but the finest sight I've seen by far,
from Port Royale to Malabar,
in time of peace or time of war
is Anne, the pirate queen.
And it's weigh hey, where the Red Queen reigns
from her throne upon the sea,
with the hot rum running in our veins
we will serve you steel for tea.
With a black flag dancing overhead,
we'll salt your beef with flying lead,
and you'll regret that ever you fed
at the board of Anne Bonney.
There's some will rue their sailor's trade
when they see the bo'sun glare,
and some will quake at the scrape of blades
where powder smokes the air,
but the bravest tar who ever sailed
would sooner face a roaring gale
than feel his heart within him fail
at the flash of Anne's red hair.
Come if you dare, you silly sheep:
we'll shear you head to heel.
We made the jolly Dutchman weep
and the haughty Spaniard kneel.
Come brig and frigate, sloop and snow:
we'll strip you clean and sink you low
to take your grog with Davy Jo'
beneath the rolling keel.
It's rum and plunder, ho! my hearts --
our ship is trim and true.
We'll set a course for distant parts
and foreign revenue.
We sail upon the morning tide
to strop our blades on merchant hide,
and we'll get glory, gold and pride
on Captain Bonney's crew.