Captain Ward and the Rainbow, or Ward the Pirate (Roud 224, Child 287) is an English-language folk song. It recounts a tale of the pirate Captain Ward, likely Jack Ward.[1]
The king sends a ship, the Rainbow, after Captain Ward. In one variant, the ship carries 500 seamen, in another it carries 1,300. Ward defeats the Rainbow and sends taunts back to the king, "If he reign king of all the land, I will reign king at sea."[2] In many variants, Ward claims to have never harmed an English ship.
A ship was sailing from the eastAnd going to the west,Loaded with silks and satinsAnd velvets of the best,But meeting there with Captain Ward,It proved a bad meeting;He robbèd them of all their wealthAnd bid them tell their king.
O then the king provided a ship of noble fame,She's call'd the "Royal Rainbow,"If you would know her name;She was as well provided forAs any ship could be,Full thirteen hundred men on boardTo bear her company.
'Twas eight o' clock in the morningWhen they began to fight,And so they did continue thereTill nine o' clock at night."Fight on, fight on," says Captain Ward,"This sport well pleases me,For if you fight this month or more,Your master I will be."
O then the gallant "Rainbow"She fired, she fired in vain,Till six and thirty of her menAll on the deck were slain."Go home, go home," says Captain Ward,"And tell your king from me,If he reigns king on all the land,
Ward will reign king on sea!"