The Coast of High Barbary

Look ahead, look a stern, look the weather in the lee,
Blow high! Blow low! and so sailed we.
I see a wreck to the windward and a lofty ship to lee,
A sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbary

O are you a pirate or a man-o-war? cried we.
Blow high! Blow low! and so sailed we.
O no! I'm not a pirate but a man-o-war, cried he.
A sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbary

We'll back up our topsails and heave our vessel to;
Blow high! Blow low! and so sailed we.
For we have got some letters to be carried home by you.
A sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbary

For broadside, for broadside they fought all on the main;
Blow high! Blow low! and so sailed we.
Until at last the frigate shot the pirate's mast away.
A sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbary

For quarters! For quarters! the saucy pirates cried,
Blow high! Blow low! and so sailed we.
The quarters that we showed them Was to sink them in the tide.
A sailing down all on The coasts of High Barbary

With cutlass and gun, O we fought for hours three;
Blow high! Blow low! and so sailed we.
The ship it was their coffin and their grave it was the sea.
A sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbary       

Lyrics courtesy www.sailorsongs.com