William Hollander

Song William Hollander
Artist Gaelic Storm
Album The Boathouse

Lyrics

[00:00.189] For whiskey and bad company
[00:04.658] Has made a fool of me
[00:08.681] So, come all young men, my warning tale
[00:13.226] Won't you shun the piracy?
[00:18.764]
[00:18.764] Oh, me name, 'tis William Hollander
[00:22.108] As you will understand
[00:25.217] I was born in the County of Waterford
[00:28.351] Down by her golden strand
[00:31.486] When I was young and in me prime
[00:34.621] Good fortune, upon me, shone
[00:37.703] And my parents raised me tenderly
[00:40.786] I was their only son
[00:43.633]
[00:43.633] Oh, me father bound me to a trade
[00:47.029] In Waterford's fair town
[00:50.111] He bound me to a cooper there
[00:52.750] By the name of William Brown
[00:56.355] I served my master faithfully
[00:59.437] For three long years or more
[01:02.337] Til I shipped aboard The Ocean Queen
[01:05.733] Belonging to Tramore
[01:08.737]
[01:08.737] And when we reached Bermuda's isle
[01:11.976] I met with a Captain Moore
[01:14.771] He was the skipper of the Flying Cloud
[01:18.088] From out of Baltimore
[01:21.406] He asked me if I'd sail with him
[01:24.044] On a slaving voyage to go
[01:27.205] And to the burning shores of Africa
[01:30.235] Where the sugar cane does grow
[01:33.814]
[01:33.814] For whiskey and bad company
[01:36.844] Has made a fool of me
[01:39.848] So, come all young men, my warning tale
[01:42.748] Won't you shun the piracy?
[01:52.518]
[01:52.518] 'Twas after five weeks we arrived
[01:55.653] Off Africa's burning shore
[01:58.735] Five hundred of them weeping blacks
[02:01.426] From their native lands, we tore
[02:05.004] We loaded them in iron chain
[02:08.113] And stowed them down below
[02:10.908] Scarce eighteen inches to the man
[02:14.226] Was all that they had to show
[02:17.386]
[02:17.386] Well, the fever came and the plague, too
[02:20.495] And it killed them off like flies
[02:23.656] We dragged their bodies up on deck
[02:26.320] And we dumped them in the tide
[02:29.638] It was better for the rest of them
[02:33.034] If they had died below
[02:35.881] Than to wear the chain or feel the lash
[02:39.016] In America forever more
[02:42.020]
[02:42.020] For whiskey and bad company
[02:45.494] Has made a fool of me
[02:48.342] So, come all young men, my warning tale
[02:51.346] Won't you shun the piracy?
[03:00.724]
[03:00.724] Oh, we sacked and we plundered many a ship
[03:04.120] Both frigates and liners, too
[03:07.228] Until the British man-o-war
[03:10.389] The Dungeness, hove in view
[03:13.497] She fired a shot across our bow
[03:16.658] We sailed before the wind
[03:19.741] The chain-shot brought our mainmast down
[03:22.902] And we fell far behind
[03:25.880]
[03:25.880] So, it's now to Newgate we are bound
[03:29.066] And we're the ones in chains
[03:32.044] For the sinking and for plundering
[03:34.970] All along the Spanish Main
[03:38.418] The judge, he found us guilty
[03:41.553] We were condemned to die
[03:44.400] So, to all my friends, take heed by me
[03:47.744] Lead not such a life as I
[03:50.644]
[03:50.644] So, it's fare-thee-well, old Waterford
[03:53.909] And the girl I do adore
[03:57.253] I'll never kiss your lips again
[04:00.257] Or squeeze your breasts no more
[04:03.339]
[04:03.339] For whiskey and bad company
[04:06.526] Has made a fool of me
[04:09.347] So, come all young men, my warning tale
[04:12.351] Won't you shun the piracy?
[04:15.643] For whiskey and bad company
[04:18.986] Has made a fool of me
[04:21.729] So, come all young men, my warning tale
[04:26.170] Won't you shun the piracy?