Скачать или смотреть "The Ballad of Captain Kidd" - English Folk Ballad / Colonial Murder Ballad

The Ballad of Captain Kidd provides a melodious and exaggerated account of the Scottish Privateer William Kidd, who was found guilty of murder and piracy. His execution was held on May 21, 1701, at the Execution Dock in Wapping, London. The event attracted great public attention and inspired the creation of numerous ballads instantaneously after his death. However, only one was destined to outlive the rest. The ballad was printed in Britain in 1701, written by an anonymous author, and it traveled to the colonies immediately, where certain features of the song survived in regional balladry and religious hymns (namely, "What Wonderous Love is This"). Nevertheless, renditions of the ballad survived long enough to be recorded in the late 20th century, remaining in the oral traditions of England, the United States, and Canada.

The original melody remains a subject of debate amongst historians, with some arguing that it resembles the one sung to "Ye Jacobites by Name" (c. 1746) or "The Diggers' Song" (c. 1649). It should be noted that the melody used in this rendition is similar to "Admiral Benbow", a popular shanty written a year later in 1702.

Performed by the Sheringham Shantymen, 2014.