The Saucy Arethusa   trad English /

Lyrics courtesy of www.sailorsongs.com

Come all ye jolly sailors bold
Whose hearts are cast in honour's mould
While English glory I unfold
Hurrah for the Arethusa

She is a frigate tight and brave
As ever stemmed the dashing wave
Her men are staunch to their favorite launch
And when the foe shall meet our fire
Sooner than strike we'll all expire
On board of the Arethusa

'Twas with the spring fleet she went out
The English Channel to cruise about
When four French sail in show so stout
Bore down on the Arethusa

The famed Belle Poole straight a head did lie
The Arethusa seemed to fly
Not a sheet or a tack or a brace did she slack
Though the Frenchmen laughed and thought it stuff
But they knew not the handful of men how tough
On board of the Arethusa.

On deck five hundred men did dance
The stoutest they could find in France
We with two hundred did advance
On board of the Arethusa.

Our captain hailed the Frenchman Ho
The Frenchmen then cried out Hallo
Bear down d'ya see to our Admiral's lee
No no says the Frenchman that can't be
Then I must lug you along with me
Says the saucy Arethusa.

The fight was off the Frenchman's land
We forced them back upon their strand
For we fought till not a stick would stand
Of the gallant Arethusa

And now we've driven the foe ashore
Never to fight with Britons more
Let each fill a glass to his favorite lass
A health to the captain and officers true
And all that belong to the jovial crew
On board of the Arethusa     

Lyrics courtesy of www.sailorsongs.com