Billy Budd, op. 50, Act 2: According to the articles of War Songtext
von Benjamin Britten

According to the articles of war, it is provided as follows
If any officer, mariner, soldier or other person in the fleet
Shall strike any of his superior officers, he shall suffer death
It is further provided that if any of the fleet
Commits murder, he shall be punished by death
William Bird, you have been found by the court- Martial guilty of striking your superior officer
You have further been found guilty of murder in
Accordance with the aforesaid articles of war
You are condemned to death by hanging from the yard-arm
Star of fear, God bless you
Star of fear, God bless you