Henry ‘Long Ben’ Avery (or Every) was an infamous English pirate born in Newton Ferrers, near Plymouth, in the 17th century (1659). He sailed throughout the Atlantic and Indian oceans in the 1690s, consistently evading either arrest or death, becoming known as “The Arch Pirate” or “The King of the Pirates”. He gained particular infamy after carrying out possibly the most lucrative act of pirary in history, then subsequently avoiding capture and disappearing. The date and time of his death remain unknown.
lyrics
Gather round you lost and found and listen to my tale
Lend me your ears, you buccaneers, and those out hunting whale
And I will sing of the pirate king, a lord amongst the free
A pirate bold, with a lust for gold, and a vice for villainy
He stole the biggest prize there’ll ever be, sail with Long Ben Avery
In Newton Ferrers he was raised, by water we begin
In Plymouth town, he could be found, scuppered there on gin
In the wake of Francis Drake he found himself at sea
The shilling’s gleam of Anne our queen was worth his liberty
So in foreign wars and in all the seven seas, sail with Long Ben Avery
‘Charles II’s Fancy’ was a naval ship of war
But ropes and spars and jacky tars had left him wanting more
He sowed the seeds of mutiny, just off the coast of Spain
The captain who he overthrew, a pirate he proclaimed
And soon he proved the very devil of the Caribbea’
Sail with Long Ben Avery
The Grand Mughal of Islam was from holy Mecca bound
And all on board, a treasure hoard, worth two hundred million pounds
So Avery and comrades the Portsmouth and the Pearl
With stripped down masts, their ships were fast
And they chased them ‘round the world
A bounder, rake, a cad, a knave was he
Sail with Long Ben Avery
Forty nautical miles on
Forty fathoms deep
Forty broadsides firing on
The flash of steel will ring
The shanty man shall sing
All for the pirate king
A manhunt for the pirates was declared throughout the globe
And high and low, the ships did go, to reprimand the rogues
But all his men had gold and gems, a fortune each did gain
They set sail for the Indies and were never seen again
Still to this day, the largest ever robbery
Sail with Long Ben Avery
Some say he’s back in Devon now, some say he’s in his grave
Some say he is a king somewhere, some say he’s selling slaves
But listen all, both great and small, to what I say to you
And ask yourselves the question, how I know just what I do?
I even know where his buried treasure be
Sail with Long Ben Avery
Forty nautical miles on
Forty fathoms deep
Forty broadsides firing on
The flash of steel will ring
The shanty man shall sing
All for the pirate king
credits
from Awaken,
released April 30, 2022
Jake - Vocals, Synthesiser
Jeremy - Guitar, Percussion
Fran - Low (D) whistle
Windjammer are a trio who cast timeless stories in a context of their own making. They blend self-penned songs and instrumentals with original, genre-bending arrangements of music drawn from the traditions of British folk.
supported by 5 fans who also own “The Pirate King”
What happens if you combine the top europen balfolk artists and put them in a room?
topette is happening! and the results are beyond amazing - this record is for everyone, not only folk enthusiasts. redpanda3800
