This song is both ballad and elegy. It is in all four modes at once: narative, dramatic, lyric and didactic, for it is being spoken by a man at the gallows telling his own tale to preach a moral; for example:

1. Two hundred bars of gold
2. as I sailed, as I sailed.
3. Two hundred bars of gold
4. as I sailed.
5. Two hundred bars of gold
6. and dollars manifold
7. with riches uncontrolled
8. as I sailed.

The Rhythm

The rhythm is trochaic tetrameters, varied by leaving the second dimeter of lines 4 and 8 unvoiced. In Britain it is sung as an eight lined stanza totaling 16 bars but in America the stanza is made ten lines by repeating lines 7 and 8, to total 28 bars.

The Rhyme

The rhyme throughout is very correct single rhymes. In fact much of it scarcely qualifies as rhyme for lines 2, 4 and 8 end in the same word, as also do lines 1, 3 and 5. The only rhyming proper is lines 6 and 7, and even these rhyme with 1, 3 and 5. This primitive structure envelops the entirety for lines 2, 4 and 8 throughout the entire song end in the same word: sailed. The line as I sailed becomes in effect a chorus. That a group could join a soloist by singing this frequent chorus makes it a work-song.

Stanza Pattern

The Captain Kidd stanza pattern is unusual: were it not for the sixth line it would be an octet rhymed on alternate lines. For six and seven are rhymed with five making a tercet. Then line 8 returns to the 2, 4 rhyme. Technically the nearest pattern is ottava rima, a-b-a-b-a-b-c-c, in which the alternates switch to a couplet. However Captain Kidd is more primitive: a-b-a-b-a-b-b-b-a, for its tercet rhymes with one of the alternates.

It is ironic that the pattern Kidd most remembles is the Limerick, differing only that the latter has shorter lines. With an a-a-b-b-a rhyme scheme, Lines 1, 2, and 5 contain three stressed syllables and rhyme with each other, while lines 3 and 4 contain two stressed syllables and form a separate rhyming pair.

Work Song

Sung by a group of sailors aboard a large merchant sailships; a sea shanty‘s purpose is to synchronise and optimise the timing of rhythmical labour including weighing anchor and setting sail. The hallmark of such songs is call and response, performed between the soloist and the rest of the workers in chorus. The leader, known as the shantyman, was appreciated for his strong voice and lyrical wit by which he could lengthen or shorten a song to match the circumstances. His repertoire was borrowed from contemporary popular music, adapted to match the labour tasks, however, only performed during work not for entertainment.

Confesssion

The penitent begins with "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned." then confesses their sins simply and directly including (i) Sins against God: missing churc, misusing the Lord's name, or being superstitious. (ii) Sins against others: lying, gossip, stealing, or holding grudges. (iii) Sins against oneself: Drunkenness, gluttony, laziness or lust. The penitent concludes by saying "For these and all my sins, I am truly sorry." After the priest offers counsel and assigns a penance, the penitent prays "O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen." The priest then recites the prayer of absolution, and the penitent responds with "Amen," signifying their forgiveness.

The Catholic Church offers confession before death, allowing a priest to forgive sins so individuals can rest in peace. This is based on three key principles:
(a) In Isaiah 43:25, God says, “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. Review the past for me; let us argue the matter together. State your case so that you may be vindicated.”
(b) Referring to that, the Church holds that all confessions are private statements. Due to the “Seal of Confession,” these confessions must be kept secret.
(c) John 20:21-22 recounts that Jesus made the disciples mediators of God's reconciliation by telling them, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Thereafter, through the principle of Apostolic Succession, through the touch of a Pope, all priests can forgive sins and assure the dying that they can rest in peace.
(d) The Church maintains that confessions are private and protected by the "Seal of Confession."

In Kidd’s time, all executions were completed by the priest writing a statement that he had printed overnight within prison, and sold at the prison gates the next morning. Unfortunately, no copy of Kidd’s document survives. And that was not the famous song only an offical statement. Some historians propose that Newgate prison's chaplain was mean and considered criminals exempt from charity and in his document gossiped all the deceased had confesssed. However, other historians claim that in the 17th century, for a priest to break the Seal of Confession was so severe a sin that priests were executed for it. Hence it may be that the priest’s statement was not as wicked as some imagine, and considering the lengh of time it would take for a poet to knock it together then typeset such a long broadsheet by hand and then print it, it is more likely the broadsheet printers had already got all their information from gossip around the courtroom , and made the rest up.

"The British folio broadside was printed in 1701, just after his execution, features the emotional release of moral condemnation, reciting the personal confession of Kidd’s lawless acts, his pious regrets, and his moral warnings to others -- although he did none of those things in fact.” (Bonner p.89).

My name is Captain Kid, who has sail'd (who has sail'd),
My name is Captain Kid, who has sail'd;
My name is Captain Kid
What the laws did still forbid
Unluckily I did while I sail'd (while I sail'd, etc.).

Upon the ocean wide, when I sail'd, (when I sail'd),
Upon the ocean wide, when I sail'd,
Upon the ocean wide
I robbed on every side,
With the most ambitious pride, when I sail'd.

My faults I will display while I sail'd, (while I sail'd),
My faults I will display while I sail'd,
My faults I will display,
Committed day by day
(1 line lost.)......................., while I sail'd.

Many long leagues from shore when I sail'd, (when I sail'd),
Many long leagues from shore when I sail'd,
Many long leagues from shore
I murdered William Moore,
And laid him in his gore, when I sail'd.

Because a word he spoke when I sail'd, (when I sail'dj,
Because a word he spoke when I sail'd,
Because a word he spoke,
I with a bucket broke
His scull at one sad stroke, when I sail'd.

I struck with a good will* when I sail'd,(when I sail'd},
I struck with a good will when I sail'd,
I struck with a good will,
And did a gunner kill
As being cruel still when I sail'd.

A Quida merchant then while I sail'd, (while I sail'd),
A Quida merchant then while I sail'd,
A Quida merchant then
I robbed of hundreds ten,
Assisted by my men, while I sail'd.

A banker's ship of France, while I sail'd, (while I sail'd),
A banker's ship of France, while I sail'd,
A banker's ship of France
Before us did advance:
I seized her by chance, while I sailed.

Full fourteen ships I see when I sailed, (when I sailed),
Full fourteen ships I see when I sailed,
Full fourteen ships I see
Merchants of high degree;
They were too hard for me when I sailed.

We steered from sound to sound while we sailed, (while we sailed),
We steered from sound to sound while we sailed,
We steered from sound to sound,
A Moorish ship we found;
Her men we stripped and bound while we sailed.

Upon the ocean seas while we sailed, (while we sailed),
Upon the ocean seas while we sailed,
Upon the ocean seas
A warlike Portuguese
In sport did us displease, while we sailed.

At famous Malabar when we sailed, (when we sailed),
At famous Malabar when we sailed,
At famous Malabar
We went ashore, each tar,
And robbed the natives there, when we sailed.

Then after this we chased, while we sailed, (while we sailed),
Then after this we chased, while we sailed,
Then after this we chased
A rich Armenian, graced
With wealth, which we embraced, while we sailed.

Many Moorish ships we took while we sailed, (while we sailed),
Many Moorish ships we took while we sailed,
Many Moorish ships we took;
We did still for plunder look;
All conscience we forsook while we sailed.

I, Captain Culliford, while I sailed, (while I sailed),
I Captain Culliford, while I sailed,
I, Captain Culliford,
Did many merchants board,
Which did much wealth afford, while we sailed.

Two hundred bars of gold, while we sail'd, (while we sail'd),
Two hundred bars of gold, while we sail'd,
Two hundred bars of gold
And rix dollars manifold
We seized uncontrolled, while we sailed.

St. John, a ship of fame, when we sailed, (when we sailed),
St. John, a ship of fame, when we sailed,
St. John, a ship of fame
We plundered when she came,
With more than I could name, when we sailed.

We taken was at last, and must die, (and must die),
We taken was at last, and must die,
We taken were at last
And into prison cast:
Now, sentence being past, we must die.

Tho' we have resigned while we must die, (while we must die),
Tho' we have resigned while we must die,
Tho' we have resigned awhile,
While fortune seemed to smile,
Now on the British isle we must die.

Farewel the ocean main, we must die, (we must die),
Farewel the ocean main, we must die,
Farewel the ocean main:
The coast of France or Spain
We ne'er shall see again; we must die.

From Newgate now in carts we must go, (we must go),
From Newgate now in carts we must go,
From Newgate now in carts,
With sad and heavy hearts,
To have our due deserts we must go.

Some thousands they will flock when we die, (when we diel,
Some thousands they will flock when we die,
Some thousands they will flock
To Execution Dock,
Where we must stand the shock and must die.

* Kidd did no murder

The Nautical Law is unchanged. Mutiny is a criminal act of rebellion against lawful military or civil authority, During a mutiny, the captain or loyal crew member is legally justified in using deadly force to suppress the rebellion, making the death of a mutineer a form of justifiable homicide rather than murder. If an injured mutineer survives, they would be tried in a court-martial for the crime of mutiny, prosecuted, and face the death penalty. Further, if a mutineer killed the captain, the mutineer would have also committed the crime of premeditated murder, as in the historical case of the wreck of HMS Wager. Under the 2025 Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), mutiny is an offence punishable by death. It can be imposed in both times of war and peace under section 94 (10 U.S.C. § 894)

YOU captains brave and bold, hear our cries, hear our cries,
You captains brave and bold hear our cries,
You captains brave and bold,
tho' you seem uncontrol'd
Don't for the sake of gold lose your souls, lose your souls.

My name was Robert Kidd, when I sail'd, when I sail'd,
My name was Robert Kidd when I sail'd
My name was Robert Kidd,
God's laws I did forbid,
And so wickedly I did when I sail'd.

My parents taught me well, when I sail'd, when I sail'd,
My parents taught me well when I sail'd,
My parents taught me well
to shun the gates of hell,
But against them I did rebel, when I sail'd.

I curs'd my father dear when I sail'd, when I sail'd,
I curs'd my father dear when I sail'd,
I curs'd my father dear,
and her that did me bear,
And so wickedly did swear when I sail'd.

I made a solemn vow, when I sail'd, when I sail'd,
I made a solemn vow, when I sail'd.
I made a solemn vow,
to God I would not bow,
Nor myself one prayer allow, when I sail'd.

I'd a bible in my hand, when I sail'd, when I sail'd,
I'd a bible in my hand when I sail'd,
I'd a bible in my hand
by my father's great command,
But I sunk it in the sand when I sail'd.

I murder'd William Moore as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
I murder'd William Moore as I sail'd;
I murder'd William Moore,
and I left him in his gore,
Not many leagues from shore, as I sail'd.

And being cruel still, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
And being cruel still, as I sail'd;
And being cruel still,
my gunner I did kill,
And his precious blood did spill as I sail'd.

My mate took sick and died, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
My mate took sick and died, as I sail'd;
My mate took sick and died,
which me much terrified,
When he call'd me to his bedside, as I sail'd.

And unto me did say, see me die, see me die,
And unto me did say, see me die;
And unto me did say,
take warning now I pray
There'll come a reckoning day, you must die.

You cannot then withstand, when you die, when you die,
You cannot then withstand, when you die;
You cannot then withstand
the judgements of God's hand,
But bound in iron bands you must die.

I was sick and nigh to death as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
I was sick and nigh to death as I sail'd!
I was sick and nigh to death,
and vow'd at every breath,
To walk in wisdom's ways as I sail'd.

I thought I was undone, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
I thought I was undone, as I sail'd;
I thought I was undone,
that my wicked glass was run,
But my health did soon return, as I sail'd.

My repentance lasted not, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
My repentance lasted not, as I sail'd;
My repentance lasted not,
my vows I soon forgot,
Damnation's my just lot, as I sail'd.

I steer'd from sound to sound, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
I steer'd from sound to sound, as I sail'd;
I steer'd from sound to sound,
and many ships I found,
And most of them I burn'd as I sail'd.

I spy'd three ships of France, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
I spy'd three ships of France as I sail'd.
I spy'd three ships of France,
to them I did advance,
And took them all by chance, as I sail'd.

I spy'd three ships of Spain, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
I spy'd three ships of Spain as I sail'd;
I spy'd three ships of Spain,
I fir'd on them, amain,
Till most of them were slain, as I sail'd.

I'd ninety bars of gold, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
I'd ninety bars of gold as I sail'd,
I'd ninety bars of gold
and dollars manifold,
With riches uncontrol'd, as I sail'd.

Then fourteen ships I see, as I sail'd, as I sail'd,
Then fourteen ships I see, as I sail'd,
Then fourteen ships I see,
and all brave men they be,
And they were too hard for me, as I sail'd.

Thus being o'ertaken at last, I must die, I must die,
Thus being o'ertaken at last, I must die,
Thus being o'ertaken at last,
and into prison cast,
And sentence being past, I must die.

Farewell to the raging main, for I must die, for I must die,
Farewell to the raging main, for I must die,
Farewell to the raging main,
to Turkey, France & Spain,
I shall ne'er see you again, for I must die.

To Newgate now I'm cast, and must die, and must die,
To Newgate now I'm cast, and must die;
To Newgate now I'm cast,
with sad and heavy heart,
To receive my just desert, I must die.

To Execution Dock, I must go, I must go,
To Execution Dock, I must go;
To Execution Dock,
where many thousands flock,
But I must bear my shock, and must die.

Come all ye young and old, see me die, see me die,
Come all ye young and old, see me die;
Come all ye young and old,
you're welcome to my gold,
For by it I've lost my soul, and must die.

Take warning now by me, for I must die, for I must die,
Take warning now by me, for I must die;
Take warning now by me,
and shun bad company,
Lest you come to hell with me, for I must die;
Lest you come to hell with me, for I must die.

Source: Bonner, William Hallard Pirate Lauriate. Rutgers University Press. 1947. ISBN: 1299849849 ISBN-13: 9781299849846, p.91.