April 26th, 1717

295 years ago today, the pirate ship the Whydah encountered a fierce storm, and sunk off the coast of Cape Cod. 28 years ago, Barry Clifford salvaged that same ship from its sandy and briney resting place. 2 years ago, Jim Cunningham, the docent of the Whydah Pirate Museum, decided to sell a CD called "Give Me an RRR!" by Rockin' Ron the Friendly Pirate. In honor of these events I have written a song (mostly accurate) about the ship and its captain. To paraphrase what they say in the biz... "read it, and weep".

1717 (Black Sam Bellamy)

Spoken: come with me to the Golden Age of Pirates…

born in Old England, was Sam Bellamy

he came to Cape Cod across the sea

to see the New World and make a new start

then he saw her face and he lost his heart

to win her hand he went sailing for gold

southward to Florida, he was so bold

but having no luck he went on Account

for pirate treasure stolen or found

These tales they tell-a-me of Black Sam Bellamy

and 1717, hey-ho, 1717

his crew came from countries all over the world

but they had one cause when Roger unfurled

with John Julian, a Honduran man

from Wales, Thomas Davis, hammer in hand

with Hendrick Quintor, African Dutch

of sailing and ships he knew so much

and Little John King - eleven years old

left Mama’s side for pirates and gold

            These tales they tell-a-me of Black Sam Bellamy

and 1717, hey-ho, 1717

the crew had a vote and the Captain was fair

‘cause they signed the Articles, all who were there

when in the Bahamas they spied with their eyes

the galley the Whydah and she was a prize

she was a ship in the Triangle Trade

transporting humans to sell them as slaves

they captured the Whydah, and loot, it was seized

but her crew and her passengers, all were released

           These tales they tell-a-me of Black Sam Bellamy

and 1717, hey-ho, 1717

back to New England for unfinished deeds

the Captain and Whydah they went with such speed

her name was Maria and Sam loved her so

he longed to see her but naught did he know

a wicked nor’easter on April Two Six

took all but a few, turned timber to sticks

went down with his ship – Captain Sam Bellamy

Prince of the Pirates, Robin Hood of the Sea

          These tales they tell-a-me of Black Sam Bellamy

          and 1717, hey-ho, 1717

By RRR Carter © 2012

Pictured below - Whydah Pirate Museum, next to the Whale Watch, Provincetown, MA.