Captain Bateman

Lord Bateman was a noble lord

A noble lord of high degree

Imprisoned in some foreign country

To spend his life in captivity

He is a captain in the King's own Navy

He'd spent his life upon the cold grey sea

What would he give now for a plate of meat and gravy

Or for an angel to appear and set him free

Full seven years he lives on bread and dirty water

A single candle in his prison room for light

Into the cell will walk the pretty jailer's daughter

The cloak she's wearing is as black as any night

She is a creature of captivating beauty

As this bold captain's hungry eyes would ever see

She looks upon him with the eye of love's desire

And so he begs her, "Lady, will ye set me free?"

"What can you offer if you gain your freedom?

I'll lose my heart if I should ever set you free

I have the keys if you'll deliver me a promise

Should I release you, then you'll vow to marry me"

"You are a creature of captivating beauty

We could run and make a life beyond the sea"

He takes her hand in his and makes a solemn promise

"Unchain me now and I will vow to marry thee"

Beneath the city walls and down into the harbour

She'll throw his chains into the wine-dark sea

They'll find a ship, but now his hand is forced to stay her

"In truth, I never could have married thee"

She was a creature of captivating beauty

He still has many miles of ocean to traverse

His broken promises will move the gods to anger

All broken promises will render matters worse

She sees the black storm clouds on the horizon

His solemn promises lie broken

And whispered on the wind, as if it's spoken

He'll hear a maiden's curse