The Constitution and the Guerriere
It ofttimes has been told,
That the British seaman bold
Could flog the tars of France so neat and handy, oh!
But they never found their match,
Till the Yankees did them catch,
Oh, the Yankee boys for fighting are the dandy, oh!
The Guerriere , a frigate bold,
On the foaming ocean rolled,
Commanded by proud Dacres the grandee, oh!
With as choice an English crew,
As a rammer ever drew,
Could flog the Frenchmen two to one so handy, oh!
When this frigate hove in view,
Says proud Dacres to his crew,
" Come, clear ship for action and be handy, oh!
To the weather gage, boys, get her, "
And to make his men fight better,
Gave them to drink, gunpowder mixed with brandy, oh!
Then Dacres loudly cries,
" Make this Yankee ship your prize,
You can in thirty minutes, neat and handy, oh!
Twenty-five's enough I'm sure,
And if you'll do it in a score,
I'll treat you to a double share of brandy, oh! "
The British shot flew hot,
Which the Yankee answered not,
Till they got within the distance they called handy, oh!
" Now, " says Hull unto his crew,
" Boys, let's see what we can do,
If we take this boasting Briton we're the dandy, oh! "
The first broadside we poured
Carried her mainmast by the board,
Which made this lofty frigate look abandoned, oh!
Then Dacres shook his head,
And to his officers said,
" Lord! I didn't think those Yankees were so handy, oh! "
Our second told so well,
That their fore and mizzen fell,
Which dous'd the royal ensign neat and handy, oh!
" By George, " says he, " we're done, "
And they fired a lee gun,
While the Yankees struck up Yankee Doodle Dandy, oh!
Then Dacres came on board,
To deliver up his sword,
Tho' loath he was to part with it, it was so handy, oh!
" Oh, keep your sword, " says Hull,
" For it only makes you dull,
Cheer up and let us have a little brandy, oh! "
Now fill your glasses full,
And we'll drink to Captain Hull,
And so merrily we'll push about the brandy, oh!
John Bull may toast his fill,
But let the world say what they will,
The Yankee boys for fighting are the dandy, oh!
That the British seaman bold
Could flog the tars of France so neat and handy, oh!
But they never found their match,
Till the Yankees did them catch,
Oh, the Yankee boys for fighting are the dandy, oh!
The Guerriere , a frigate bold,
On the foaming ocean rolled,
Commanded by proud Dacres the grandee, oh!
With as choice an English crew,
As a rammer ever drew,
Could flog the Frenchmen two to one so handy, oh!
When this frigate hove in view,
Says proud Dacres to his crew,
" Come, clear ship for action and be handy, oh!
To the weather gage, boys, get her, "
And to make his men fight better,
Gave them to drink, gunpowder mixed with brandy, oh!
Then Dacres loudly cries,
" Make this Yankee ship your prize,
You can in thirty minutes, neat and handy, oh!
Twenty-five's enough I'm sure,
And if you'll do it in a score,
I'll treat you to a double share of brandy, oh! "
The British shot flew hot,
Which the Yankee answered not,
Till they got within the distance they called handy, oh!
" Now, " says Hull unto his crew,
" Boys, let's see what we can do,
If we take this boasting Briton we're the dandy, oh! "
The first broadside we poured
Carried her mainmast by the board,
Which made this lofty frigate look abandoned, oh!
Then Dacres shook his head,
And to his officers said,
" Lord! I didn't think those Yankees were so handy, oh! "
Our second told so well,
That their fore and mizzen fell,
Which dous'd the royal ensign neat and handy, oh!
" By George, " says he, " we're done, "
And they fired a lee gun,
While the Yankees struck up Yankee Doodle Dandy, oh!
Then Dacres came on board,
To deliver up his sword,
Tho' loath he was to part with it, it was so handy, oh!
" Oh, keep your sword, " says Hull,
" For it only makes you dull,
Cheer up and let us have a little brandy, oh! "
Now fill your glasses full,
And we'll drink to Captain Hull,
And so merrily we'll push about the brandy, oh!
John Bull may toast his fill,
But let the world say what they will,
The Yankee boys for fighting are the dandy, oh!
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