Captain William Kidd
Updated: Jun 2
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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?
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