The Constitution and Guerrière
Air—The Landlady of France.
It oft-times has been told
That the British seamen bold
Could flog the tars of France
So neat and handy, O!
But they never met their match
Till the Yankees did them catch,—
Oh! the Yankee boy for fighting
Is the dandy, O!
The Guerrière, a frigate bold,
On the foaming ocean roll’d,
Commanded by proud Dacres,
All the grandee, O!
With as choice a British crew
As a rammer ever drew,—
They could flog the French men, two to one
So handy, O!
When this frigate bore in view,
Says proud Dacres to his crew:
‘Come! clear the ship for action
And be handy, O!
To the weather-gage, boys, get her!’—
And to make his men fight better
Gave them gunpowder to drink
Mixed with brandy, O!
Then Dacres loudly cries,
‘Make this Yankee ship your prize,—
You can in thirty minutes,
Neat and handy, O!
Twenty-five’s enough, I’m sure;
And if you do it in a score
I’ll treat you to a double share
Of brandy, O!’
The British shot flew hot,
Which the Yankee answered not
Till they got within the distance
They call handy, O!
Now says Hull unto his crew:
‘Boys, let’s see what we can do!—
If we take this boasting Briton
We’re the dandy, O!’
The first broadside we poured,
Came her mainmast by the board,
Which made this lofty frigate
Look abandoned, O’!
Then Dacres shook his head,
And to his officers he said,
‘Lord—I didn’t think these Yankees
Were so handy, O!’
Our second told so well
That their fore and mizen fell,
Which doused the royal ensign
Neat and handy, O!
‘By George!’ says he, ‘we’re done!’—
And then fired a lee gun,
While the Yankees struck up
‘Yankee doodle dandy, O!’
Then Dacres came on board
To deliver up his sword,
Loth was he to part with it,
’Twas so handy, O!
‘Oh! keep your sword,’ says Hull,
‘For it only makes you dull;
Cheer up,—and take a little drink
Of brandy, O!’
Come! fill your glasses full!
And we’ll drink ‘To Captain Hull,’
And so merrily we’ll push about
The brandy, O!
John Bull may toast his fill!
But let the world say what it will,
The Yankee boy for fighting
Is the dandy, O!