Spanish Ladies

by Chants de marins

Farewell and adieu to you, Spanish Ladies, 
Farewell and adieu to you, ladies of Spain ;
For we've received orders for to sail for ole England, 
But we hope in a short time to see you again.

{Refrain:}
We will rant and we'll roar like true British sailors, 
We'll rant and we'll roar all on the salt sea.
Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England ;
From Ushant to Scilly is thirty five leagues.
We hove our ship to with the wind from sou'west, boys
We hove our ship to, deep soundings to take;
'Twas forty-five fathoms, with a white sandy bottom, 
So we squared our main yard and up channel did make.

{au Refrain}

The first land we sighted was called the Dodman, 
Next Rame Head off Plymouth, off Portsmouth the Wight ;
We sailed by Beachy, by Fairlight and Dover, 
And then we bore up for the South Foreland light.

{au Refrain}

Then the signal was made for the grand fleet to anchor, 
And all in the Downs that night for to lie ;
Let go your shank painter, let go your cat stopper !
Haul up your clewgarnets, let tacks and sheets fly !

{au Refrain}

Now let ev'ry man drink off his full bumper, 
And let ev'ry man drink off his full glass ;
We'll drink and be jolly and drown melancholy, 
And here's to the health of each true-hearted lass.

{au Refrain}