The Saladin Mutiny



My name if is George Jones, I am from the county Clare:

I leaved my ancient parents and I leaved them living there

I fell in bent for roving, 'twas home I could not stay,

So much against my parents' will I shipped and went to sea.



I shipped on board the Saladin; I shudder at her name.

She was a Valparaiso boat bound to the Spanish Main.

I shipped as cabin steward; that proved my fatal day

When a demon came on board of us and led us all astray.



He said he'd work his passage. The ship was homeward bound

With copper ore and silver worth many thousand pounds.

Besides, two cabin passengers on board of us did come:

The one was Mr. Fielding and the other one was his son.



Being on a Sunday morning I'm sorry to relate

We started this desperate enterprise and first we killed our mate.

And next we killed the carpenter and overboard him threw

Our captain he did soon meet death with four more of our crew.



An oath was next administered to all the rest of the crew,

And like a band of brothers we were sworn to be true.

Being on a Sunday morning when that bloody deed was done

Then Fielding brought a Bible and swore in every one.



The firearms and weapons all we threw into the sea.

He said he'd steer for Newfoundland, to which we did agree

We found with Captain Fielding (for which he lost his life)

A brace of loaded pistols, likewise a carving knife.



His son he begged for mercy for he was all alone,

But his sad tale was soon cut short and overboard was thrown.

We served him as his father who met a watery grave;

We buried son and father beneath the stormy waves.



And next it was agreed upon before the wind to keep.

We had the world before us; we were on the trackless deep

We ofttimes kept before the wind as we could do no more

And on the twenty-ninth of May were shipwrecked on shore



To Newgate we were taken, bound down in iron chain,

Confessing to our deadly crimes and all whom we had slain.

So fare you well, my parents dear, I'll never see you more

So fare you well, my own sweetheart, you're the girl that I adore.



Note: A true incident that happened in 1843.

From Folk Songs of Canada, Fowkes.

@sailor @mutiny @death

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