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Tall Ship Sample

Tall Ship

The song is highlighting the white slave trade, which flourished in the 17th and 18th Century. Thousands were kidnapped, chained, whipped, and worked to death in colonial America.
Many were shipped from the Highlands of Scotland to Norfolk Virginia, which at that time was part of the British Colonies.
Records are kept in the Orlando library of thousands of Highlanders who were white slaves in colonial America. You can also find records relating to the white slave trade in Aberdeen City the port of origin for many of those poor unfortunate wretches.

 

I’m on a tall ship upon the high seas
In chains a prisoner of his Majesty
And for his pleasure I did not agree
To be on this tall ship (on the high seas) *repeat
 
It’s only a month I was hunting the deer
Peat fires a burning and not have a care
Now my brother lies dead on the moor
No water or bread will he (taste any more) *repeat
 
Oh Caledonia               
We are your sons      
On a ship on the sea    
Ship of slavery              
Norfolk Virginia we are bound *  (repeat 3 times ) 
 
Clare was cooking by the fireside
Wee Jamie lying right by her side
They used and abused her they locked her inside
The burning cottage where (my Jamie lies) repeat.
 
I’m on a tall ship a long way from home   
In shackles and chains with nowhere to go 
Freedom is for the rich don’t you know
In shackles and chains a (long way from home)* repeat
 
Chorus
 
Hotter than hell now we land on the shore
I look at my body all covered in sores
Tied up like cattle they pull us along
Through swamp and woodland (they hurried us on) *repeat
 
The smell of sulphur it floats through the air
The whip on my back it lays my flesh bare
My blood and sweat it falls to the ground 
In the swamp the mosquitoes fly all around
 
As I fall to the ground* (repeat)
They fly all around..
As I fall to the ground.