While William Kidd has a reputation for cruelty and viciousness, which is largely due to official and folk-song propaganda (some of the songs not even getting his name correct or even heaping on the charges above and beyond what had been leveled against Kidd in court).  Kidd had maintained that he had been hired as a privateer to hunt down some people who had pulled a scam on the King of England and several compatriots which would have been damagingly scandalous had it come to light; thus, Kidd was framed, and evidence discovered not too long ago proves this point.  Kidd was hanged, in any event, on 23 May 1701.

The song is one of several that opportunistic composers of broadside ballads saw an opportunity to jump on.  The words to the below version are more or less from about 1700 but the melody commonly used is from the contemporaneous broadside ballad “Admiral Benbow”.  Recall that it was quite common to write new words to a commonly recognized melody, or to borrow a tune that fit the meter of the newly composed lyrics.

Jos. Morneault

William Kidd

Oh, my name is Captain Kidd, as I sailed, as I sailed
My name is Captian Kidd, as I sailed
My name is Captian Kidd, God’s laws I did forbid
And most wickedly I did, as I sailed, as I sailed

My parents taught me well, as I sailed, as I sailed
My parents taught me well, as I sailed
My parents taught me well to shun the gates of Hell
But against them I rebelled, as I sailed, as I sailed

Well, I murdered William Moore, as I sailed, as I sailed
I murdered William Moore, as I sailed
I murdered William Moore and I left him in his gore
Forty leagues from shore, as I sailed, as I sailed

And being cruel still, as I sailed, as I sailed
And being cruel still, as I sailed
And being cruel still the gunner I did kill
And his precious blood did spill, as I sailed, as I sailed

Well, my repentance lasted not, as I sailed, as I sailed
My repentance lasted not, as I sailed
My repentance lasted not, my vows I soon forgot
Damnation was my lot, as I sailed, as I sailed

To execution dock I must go, I must go
To execution dock I must go
To execution dock, lay my head upon the block
And no more the laws I’ll mock, as I sail, as I sail

Oh, my name is Captain Kidd, as I sailed, as I sailed
My name is Captian Kidd, as I sailed
My name is Captian Kidd, God’s laws I did forbid
And most wickedly I did, as I sailed, as I sailed