Spanish Ladies

by: Lesley Nelson-Burns

From: Contemplator.com

Farewell and adieu to you, Spanish ladies,

Farwell and adieu to you, ladies of Spain;

For we've received orders for to sail to old England;

But we hope in a short time to see you again.

We'll rant and we'll roar like true British sailors,

We'll rant and we'll roar across the salt seas,

Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England,

From Ushant to Scilly is thirty five leagues.

Then we hove our ship to with the wind at sou'west, boys,

We hove our ship to, for to strike soundings clear;

We got soundings in ninety-five fathom, and boldly       

Up the channel of old England our course we did steer.

Now the first land we made it is called the Deadman,

Then, Ramshead off Plymouth, Start, Portland, and Wight;

We passed by Beechy, by Fairleigh and Dungeness,

And hove our ship to, off South Foreland Light.

Then a signal was made for the grand fleet to anchor,

All in the Downs, that night for to meet

Then stand by your stoppers, let go your shank-painters,

Haul all your clew garnets, stick out tacks and sheets.

Now let every man drink off his full bumper

Let every man toss off his full bowls;

We'll drink and be jolly, and drown melancholy,

So here's a good health to all true-hearted souls!