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about

Written by Lake Davineer.

George White/Hori Waiti and later Barnet Burns was an Englishman who travelled to New Zealand via Australia. He was a trader who assimilated into Maori culture.

More info here:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnet_Burns

lyrics

Chorus
Em D C D Em
Em D C Am Em

Em
From these marks I earn my keep
D
I cannot work still I must eat
C
and when I look into the glass
Am
for my family I weep

Born a sailor, born to work
down here they use me as a clerk
The sea it called, a call I heed
from Sydney’s shores I promptly fleed

Em D C
With Captain Brown mastered my trade
D Em
of flax and guns and regions gained
C
I learned the language of the coast
Am
within one year I earned a post

A stranger in Mahia
one hundred miles from Pakeha
I slept my musket by my side
I feared each hour for my life.

I earned the trust of tribe and chief
my spirit grew, I gained belief
And so to bind me to the land
the chief offered his daughter’s hand

A ship was sent from Sydney town
with word I was to be shut down
For my friends and world I grieved
my wife with child I wouldn’t leave

It was time of war and death
my iwi swore they would protect
Pledged my honour to my tribe
fought with my brothers by my side

Armed with slaves in search of flax
one night Ngai Te Rangi attacked
We fought till every man was beaten
all but I was killed and eaten

The rival chief pled that I stay,
that I fight, and that I trade
The jealous said they’d eat my heart
they called for proof I’d play my part

For seven days they cut my face
then in the rain I fled in haste
Cries of joy when I appeared
musket shots revenge declared

100 toa I lead to war
in the siege of Kekeparaoa
And with my moko entire
a rangatira or a liar

Two years I lived in happiness
the likes I will forever miss
Then the sea it called a call I heed
for this I’m cursed and now I bleed

The Bardester of Liverpool
would make land make me a fool
Sydney bound my wife I left
of brothers and of sons bereft

Every night I sell this story
for the coin more than the glory
No man’s known more regret
those distant islands haunt me yet

And the sea keeps us apart
across the sea I left my heart...

credits

from NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL SEA SHANTIES Vol II, released June 29, 2015

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Wellington Sea Shanty Society Wellington, New Zealand

Aotearoa New Zealand's Most 'Sea Worthy' Shanty Group™

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