Look ahead, look a stern, look the weather in the lee,
Blow high! Blow low! and so sailed we.
I see a wreck to the windward and a lofty ship to lee,
A sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbary
O are you a pirate or a man-o-war? cried we.
Blow high! Blow low! and so sailed we.
O no! I'm not a pirate but a man-o-war, cried he.
A sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbary
We'll back up our topsails and heave our vessel to;
Blow high! Blow low! and so sailed we.
For we have got some letters to be carried home by you.
A sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbary
For broadside, for broadside they fought all on the main;
Blow high! Blow low! and so sailed we.
Until at last the frigate shot the pirate's mast away.
A sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbary
With cutlass and gun, O we fought for hours three;
Blow high! Blow low! and so sailed we.
The ship it was their coffin and their grave it was the sea.
A sailing down all on the coasts of High Barbary
