Pirate of the Isles, The

DESCRIPTION: "I command a steady band Of pirates so bold and free." The pirate rejoices at being ruler of his ship and men. He tells of his joy in the sea. At last, however, he is overtaken by a warship. Hit by a cannonball, he is dying. His crew surrenders
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1847 (Journal of William Histed of the Cortes)
KEYWORDS: pirate ship battle death
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Harlow-ChantyingAboardAmericanShips, pp. 172-174, "The Pirate of the Isle" (1 text, 1 tune)
Huntington-SongsTheWhalemenSang, pp. 74-77, "The Pirate of the Isles" (1 text, 1 tune)
Huntington-TheGam-MoreSongsWhalemenSang, pp. 138-139, "The Pirate of the Isle" (1 text, 1 tune)
Frank-NewBookOfPirateSongs 44, "The Pirate of the Isle" (1 text, 1 tune; from Chappell; #37 in the first edition)
Roud #2024
BROADSIDES:
Murray, Mu23-y4:026, "The Pirate of the Isles," unknown, 19C
NOTES [128 words]: Leslie Shepard, John Pitts, Ballad Printer of Seven Dials, London 1765-1844, Private Library Association, 1969, p. 65, quotes an interview by Henry Mayhew with the alleged author of this piece (who is, however, not named). He complained about the pay:
"The first song I ever sold was to a concert-room manager. The next I sold had great success. It was called the 'Demon of the Sea', and was to the tune of 'The Brave Old Oak.' Do I remember how it began? Yes, sir, I remember every word of it.... That song was written for a concert-room, but it was soon in the streets, and ran a whole winter. I got only 1 [shilling] for that. Then I wrote the 'Pirate of the Isles,' and other ballads of that sort. The concert-rooms pay no better than the printers in the sheets...."
Last updated in version 5.0
File: SWMS074

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