Our King Our King — Is a True British Sailor
Too long out of sight have been kept Jolly Tars,
In the ground-tiers like huts stow’d away,
Despis’d & contemn’d were their honour’d scars
And Red Coats were Lords of the day.
But Britannia now moves as a gallant first-rate
And with transports the Blue Jackets hail her;
For William’s right hand steers the helm of the State,
And our King is a true British Sailor.
No danger the heart of a seaman appals,
To fight or to fall he is ready,
The safeguard of Britain is her wooden walls,
And the Helmsman cries “steady! boys, steady!”
Cheer up, my brave boys, give the wheel a new spoke,
If a foe is in view we will hail her,
For William the Fourth is a sound heart of oak,
True Blue, and a bold British Sailor.
The wild winds around us may furiously whistle
And tempest the ocean deform,
But unite the red rose, the shamrock, & thistle,
With King William we’ll weather the storm;
Hard up with the helm, Britannia’s sheet flows
Magna Charta on board will avail her,
And better she sails as the harder it blows,
For her Pilot’s a King and a Sailor.
Co-equal with red be the gallant true blue,
And nought can their glories o’erwhelm,
Whilst Sydney & Freemen direct the brave crew,
And William presides at the helm;
Then fill up a bumper, Britannia appears
New rigg’d, and with joy we all hail her,
Here’s a health to the King, with three times three cheers,
And long life to the first British Sailor.
(ENCORE VERSES.)
As a Beacon on high with a glorious blaze,
Our Monarch, our Admiral, and Friend,
A staunch crew of heroes on deck can soon raise
Britannia’s just rights to defend.
Steady, always be ready, he cries at the wheel,
Making justice and mercy prevail here;
With a hand that can guide and a heart that can feel,
Our King’s heart and soul is a Sailor.
Fore and aft fill the glasses and make the decks ring,
We are loyal and true one and all;
Prepar’d to support our lov’d Country & King
And with liberty stand boys, or fall.
Our Sweethearts, our Wives, & our Children combine,
For Britannia there’s no one will fail her;
As laurels the temples of William entwine,
Our King! and a bold British Sailor.