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The History of Maritime Piracy

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Who Drinks with Blackbeard?
By Calvin Z. Heyward

(A sea shanty - Sung as a call and response between the shanty and crew as they labored on a pirate vessel.)






Blackbeard























Party of pirates

































Blackbeard's Head
Here be a story
of wit, guts and glory
A captain revered
by Moors commandeered.

On high seas and shallows
his black crew was feared,
Poseidon and Hades
would drink with Blackbeard.

Edward Teach be his Christian name
Taught us the code, through powder and flame.

Shanty:  Heave
Crew:  Ho

Shanty:  Heave
Crew:  Ho

Shanty: 17
Crew: 17

Shanty: 17
Crew: 17

He had a taste for sweet French wine
Found just the lass that eased his mind.

Gave her gift of forty long guns
Smoothed out her trim so she might then run
Queen Anne's Revenge, thought them not pretty
Come then sweet girl, let’s kidnap a city.

Seized all of Charleston
Every beast, hound, and bird
King paid the ransom
And this ’twas now heard.

Here be a story
of wit, guts and glory
A captain revered
by Moors commandeered.

On high seas and shallows
his black crew was feared,
Poseidon and Hades
would drink with Blackbeard.

Shanty:  Heave
Crew:  Ho

Shanty:  Heave
Crew:  Ho

Shanty: 17
Crew: 18

Shanty: 17
Crew: 18

Stood tall as a mountain
With black beard in braids
Lit fuses within them
To lead his brigade.

King's coffers grew wee thin
Through his wit and his charm
Bounty was given, so he did no harm.

But the King had him hunted, could not outrun Fate
Best of the fleet caught him in a shallow wake.

Took five shots to floor him
Twenty knifes for good measure
Chopped head hung to their mast
To claim the King's treasure.

Here be a story
of wit, guts and glory
A captain revered
By Moors commandeered.

On high seas and shallows
his black crew was feared
Poseidon and Hades
Now drink with Blackbeard.

Shanty:  Heave
Crew:  Ho

Shanty:  Heave
Crew:  Ho

Shanty:  Black
Crew:  Beard

Shanty:  Black
Crew:  Beard



























French
                    ship similar to Concorde, aka Queen Anne's Revenge


























Capture of Blackbeard by J. L. G.
                      Ferris

Learn more about Pirates and Sea Shanties





Calvin Z. Heyward is an educator living and working in Westchester, New York. He is currently working on a collection of poetry, entitled Honey in Flames: A Call from Carolina, recalling lessons learned on the coastal isles of South Carolina and North Carolina.


Copyright © 2013 Calvin Z. Heyward

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