Come, cheer up, my lads, 'tis to glory we steer
To add something more to this wonderful year
To honor we call you, as freemen not slaves
For who are so free as the sons of the waves?
Chorus: Heart of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men,
We always are ready; steady, boys, steady!
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.
We ne'er see our foes but we wish them to stay
They never see us but they wish us away
If they run, why we follow and run them ashore
For if they won't fight us, what can we do more?
(Chorus)
They say they'll invade us these terrible foes
They frighten our women, our children, our beaus
But if should their flat bottoms, in darkness set oar
Still Britons they'll find to receive them on shore.
(Chorus)
We still make them feel and we still make them flee
And drub them ashore as we drub them at sea
Then cheer up me lads with one heart let us sing
Our soldiers and sailors, our statesmen and king.
(Chorus X2)
Alternative last verse: Britannia triumphant her ships rule the seas
Her watch word is justice her password is free
So come cheer up my lad, with one hart let us sing
Our soldiers, our sailors, our statesmen, our king[queen].
Alternate first verse: Come, cheer up, my lads, 'tis to glory we steer
With heads carried high, we will banish all fear
To honor we call you, as freemen not slaves
For who are so free as the sons of the waves?
