Bounty
© Robin Whitehead

Under Captain Cook they learned their trade
How knots are tied and sails are made
The orders came from Joseph Banks
To cross the seas for breadfruit plants

 Rumour is Blithe pushed them hard
Lashed their backs until they scarred
Towards Argentina he made them sail
Towards the Cape through sleet and hail

Now hear me lads I’ll take no more
I care me not for England’s shore
Captain Blithe I once held dear
But I’ll take my chance as a mutineer

When bad winds blew they altered course
Still Captain Blithe showed no remorse
Fletcher Christian stirred seeds of doubt
Take the Bounty boys, tis the only way out

So the ship they took when the time was nigh
Christian tied up Blithe, looked him in the eye
You’ve a wife and four children who I know so well
But for three weeks now I’ve been living in hell

Now hear me lads I’ll take no more
I care me not for England’s shore
Captain Blithe I once held dear
But I’ll take my chance as a mutineer

So Blithe and friends were cast afloat
Came home to England in a foreign boat
To Pitcarn Island Christian fled
His pacific princess there he’d wed

So a hunt was made across the sea
Men were sought for treachery
In Pandora’s box the runaways jailed
To the hangmans noose is where they sailed

Now hear me lads I’ll take no more
I care me not for England’s shore
Captain Blithe I once held dear
But I’ll take my chance as a mutineer