Smith of Bristol
Luke Kelly & The Dubliners
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Smith was a Bristol man
And a rare old sort was he
With his cutlass and his pistols
Heave ya ho
With a noble crew of cut-throats
He used to scour the sea
A-plunderin' and a-robbin'
High and low
He swore 'twas no concernin'
He didn't give a hearin'
About right or wrong
Or any holy show
He swore that grabbin' booty
Was Britain's foremost duty
Wherever she could get it
Heave ya ho
Heave ya ho (heave ya ho)
Heave ya ho (heave ya ho)
He swore that grabbin' booty
Was Britain's foremost duty
Wherever she could get it
Heave ya ho (heave ya ho)
Smith had a noble soul
And lofty was his pride
With his cutlass and his pistols
Heave ya ho
He'd watch his beaten foe-men
Jump out into the tide
Call ya beggars
You had nowhere else to go
And hangin' from his lanyard
Were Portuguese and Spaniards
And beaten Frenchmen
Jumping to and fro
Right along the blazin' story
Shone a loon in England's glory
Pirate Smith of Bristol
Heave ya ho
Heave ya ho (heave ya ho)
Heave ya ho (heave ya ho)
He swore that grabbin' booty
Was Britain's foremost duty
Wherever she could get it
Heave ya ho (heave ya ho)
But accidents will happen
Even to heroes such as he
With his cutlass and his pistols
Heave ya ho
He was standing at his capstan
As happy as could be
Hoping soon to have
Another prize in tow
When a whistlin' Spanish bullet
Came and caught him in the gullet
And very sad to say
Laid him low
He was only ninety-seven
But his soul has gone to Heaven
To rest on Nelson's bosom
Heave ya ho
Heave ya ho (heave ya ho)
Heave ya ho (heave ya ho)
He swore that grabbin' booty
Was Britain's foremost duty
Wherever she could get it
Heave ya ho (heave ya ho)
Heave ya ho (heave ya ho)
Heave ya ho (heave ya ho)
He swore that grabbin' booty
Was Britain's foremost duty
Wherever she could get it
Heave ya ho (heave ya ho)