Spanish Ladies

Farewell and adieu, to you Spanish ladies,

Farewell and adieu, to ye ladies of Spain,

For we’ve received orders to sail for old England,

We hope in a short time to see yous again

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

We’ll rant and we’ll roar, all on the salt seas,

Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England,

From Ushant, to Scilly, ‘tis 35 leagues

We hove our ship to, wi’ the wind from sou’west boys,

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

It’s 45 fathoms, with a white sandy bottom,

We squared our main yard and up channel did steer

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

Next Rame Head off Plymouth, Start, Portland & Wight,

We sailed on by Beachy, by Fairlight & Dungeness,

And hove our ship to off the South Foreland Light

Then the signal was given, for the grand fleet to anchor,

And all in the downs, that night for to lie,

Let go your shark painter likewise your cat-stopper,

Haul up your clewgarnets let tacks & sheets fly

Now let ev’ry man, drink off his full bumper,

Now let ev’ry man, toss off his full glass,

We’ll sign and be jolly and drown melancholy,

And here’s to the health of each true-hearted lass