Classic Poem

Come all ye British tars, lend an ear, lend an ear,
Come all ye British tars, lend an ear;
Come all ye British tars fro' aboard a man-o'-war,
And of bribery have a care on the seas.

I of late was admiral on the seas, on the seas,
I of late was admiral on the seas;
I of late was admiral of a squadron stout and tall,
But for gold I sold them all on the seas.

I received an express from London, from London,
I received an express from London;
I received an express to sail up to the west,
The French to disperse from New Home.

Up the Mediterranean coast we sailed on, we sailed on,
Up the Mediterranean coast we sailed on;
Up the Mediterranean coast where the French did brag and boast,
With their whole fleet almost, near New Home.

When the French fleet did appear, and drew near and drew near,
When the French fleet did appear, and drew near;
When the French fleet did appear it puts us in a steer,
And our valour turned to fear at New Home.

I said unto brave West, "Take the van, take the van,'
I said unto brave West, "Take the van';
I said unto brave West, for he loved the fight the best,
"I on the rear will rest, take the van'.

When brave West did warmly act on the seas, on the seas,
When brave West did warmly act on the seas;
When brave West did warmly act I kept my mainsail back,
Lest they had been ca'd to wrack on the seas.

To further my design on the seas, on the seas,
To further my design on the seas;
To further my design I shot across the line,
Lest victory had been mine on the seas.

So now my honour's lost and is gone, and is gone,
So now my honour's lost and is gone;
So now my honour's lost, no more of Benwell boast,
Up the Mediterranean coast near New Home.

It's decreed me by the king, as I hear, as I hear,
It's decreed me by the king, as I hear;
It's decreed me by the king to be shot by my marines
For the misdeeds I have done on the seas.

All traitors gets their doom, so maun I, so maun I,
All traitors gets their doom, so maun I;
All traitors gets their doom, wears the sackcloth in their bloom,
Because it is their doom, so maun I.