William Bligh was a seasoned master
He learned his trade under Cook
Forty five men were his ship’s roster
A course for Otahiete he took
He was a tough captain but fair
He used the lash sparingly
On the brig under his care
A voyage out of the ordinary
His sailing master was John Fryer
A capable man and true
But he replaced him with Fletcher Christian
Before the trip was half through
In Tahiti, Christian went native
Enjoying the girls and the sun
The men took his acts for permission
And ship’s discipline they shunned
Bligh cracked the whip
And departed Otahiete for home
Christian took over the ship
And said “you’ll take that trip alone”
Bligh was put aboard a boat
With 18 honest men
His feat was so much greater
Than the treason of young Christian
He was given food and water, not much
And a compass for the course
He carefully arranged his crew, as such
To keep from swamping took all his force
He undertook an open boat voyage
Said to be legend or more
Three thousand six hundred nautical miles
From Tahiti to East Timor
William Bligh was a seasoned master
He learned his trade under Cook
Forty five men were his ship’s roster
A course for Otahiete he took