Captain William Kidd

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Just listen!

Can’t you hear it, moving by

an ancestral ghost’s tormented cry

Captain William Kidd sentenced to die

all because of a political lie

How could that be?

The year sixteen fifty-five

is when Kidd’s time begins

A life marred by injustice

historically dug in

He was born in Dundee

on Scotland’s east coast

Son of a Presbyterian

stricter than most

Kidd went to sea early

showed natural talent

A leader of scoundrels

tough, strong and gallant

In English French conflict

he was a paid privateer

A naval mercenary

a man with no fear

He sailed the Caribbean

guarding King’s sovereign land

Engaged in close combat

with steel sword in hand

Then crown’s seaborne muscle

sailed to New York’s fair city

Where William met Sarah

who was rich and real pretty

Sarah’s first two husbands

had both passed away

Making William Kidd’s marriage

a golden pay day

So William settled into

years of ease and leisure

Sarah bore two daughters

the result of their pleasure

So where is the plunder

the coins and the gold?

Oak Island, Madagascar

the rumours are told

Things were going well

could ahead be some pain?

The Crown sent the word:

‘Return to London again!’

Waiting for him dockside

the brave ‘Adventure Galley’

An agile man-of-war

the best in Thames Valley

Off to Madagascar

General One sought salute

Instead crew dropped pants

maybe cute, not astute

This would be remembered

by the politics in power

‘One day that-there captain

will swing from the Tower’

Cholera and desertion

plagued ship’s voyage south

Grumbling and mutiny

spewed from each sailor’s mouth

A gunner challenged Kidd

who threw a tub at his head

Next day the malcontent

was pronounced to be dead

When a French pirate ship

came broadside their stern

Kidd’s crew took possession

and soon they would learn

The vessel was laden

with silver and gold

But the ship’s English captain

had connections we’re told

He sent word to London:

‘Kidd’s a pirate! Get him!’

Foes conspired back home

the double-cross was now in

So where is the plunder

the coins and the gold?

Oak Island, Madagascar

the rumours are told

Just listen!

Can’t you hear it, moving by

an ancestral ghost’s tormented cry

Captain William Kidd sentenced to die

all because of a political lie

How could that be?

The privateer code

was to split all the bounty

With a price on Kidd’s head

he sought a much safer country

It was back to New York

to family and friends

But a summons from England

would signal the end

His mission paid by

richest backers in the land

The official seal

signed by King’s own hand

Kidd assumed all his backers

would rally support

But none could be found

when he walked into court

Motley crew members

said captain was bad

In exchange for a pardon

their dishonour was sad

The fix was now in

two charges trumped up

Murder and Piracy

the road to lockup

But cruelty called out

‘Hang him instead!’

When the first rope broke

the next ensured he was dead

Kidd’s body was caged

and hung over the Thames

Suspended three years

just to tarnish his fame

A political scapegoat

died in seventeen oh-one

The tragedy for Captain Kidd

was no justice was done!

So where is the plunder

the coins and the gold?

Oak Island, Madagascar

the rumours are told

Just listen!

Can’t you hear it moving by

an ancestral ghost’s tormented cry

Captain William Kidd sentenced to die

all because of a political lie

How could that be?