In the county of Buchan in Fraserburgh just north of old Aberdeen
A young Scottish laddie was born and was raised
They called him Charles Rawden Maclean

On a brig called The Mary he set off to sea, apprentice to Lieutenant King
To search for two missing African hunters
And traders called Farwell and Fynn

A freckled-faced lad with the sea in his blood who never knew panic or fear
Perhaps that's why it was that they called him John Ross
John Ross with the flaming red hair

Round the Cape of Good Hope with long telescope
Those explorers just could not be found
And then on a shoal at Old Port Natal, The Mary the brig ran aground

Took Bennie a year that ship to repair, for timber they searched high and low
To Kwa Bulawayo to King Shaka's Kraal, the crew were then summonsed to go

When they got there that brave boy with red hair
Caught that great warrior's eye
He said I'll show you the way to Delagoa Bay
Go for medicine or you will all die

With no doubt or fear John Ross followed cheer
That six hundred mile journey to make
Shaka said to appease those shrewd Portuguese
Some ivory tusks you must take

A freckled-faced lad with the sea in his blood who never knew panic or fear
Perhaps that's why it was that they called him John Ross
John Ross with the flaming red hair

On that trip he was sent with ten warriors he went
They returned after sixty long days
They completed their task bringing medicine at last
And the Captain and crew they were saved

Shaka then said, were you not afraid, who'd have saved you if you had to run
John Ross he replied, with your men by my side
My head and my heart and my gun

The champion of justice he grew up to be abhorring the practice of slavery
Of his own ship he then a captain became
Sailed all seven seas and the old Spanish Main

But one day while sailing to England was ailing
But before the good ship could get there
He died there at sea where he wanted to be
John Ross with the flaming red hair

A freckled-faced lad with the sea in his blood who never knew panic or fear
Perhaps that's why it was that they called him John Ross
John Ross with the flaming red hair

John Ross with the flaming red hair