Admiral Benbow    written after his death in 1752
                                                      

Come all you sailors bold

Lend an ear lend an ear

Come all you sailors bold lend an ear

It's of our Admiral's fame

Brave Benbow called by name

How he fought on the main

You shall hear.

Brave Benbow he set sail

For to fight for to fight

Brave Benbow he set sail for to fight

 

Brave Benbow he set sail

With a fine and pleasant gale

But his captains they turned tail

In a fright

Says Kirby unto Wade

I will run, I will run

Says Kirby unto Wade I will run

I value not disgrace

Nor the losing of my place

My enemies I'll not face

With a gun"

 

'Twas the Ruby and Noah's Ark

Fought the French fought the French

'Twas the Ruby and Noah's

Ark fought the French

 

And there was ten in all

Poor souls they fought them all

They valued them not at all

Nor their stench

 

It was our Admiral's lot

With a chain shot with a chain shot

It was our Admiral's lot with a chain shot

Our Admiral lost his legs

And to his men he begs

Fight on my boys he says

'Tis my lot

While the surgeon dressed his wounds

Thus he said thus he said

While the surgeon dressed his wounds thus he said

Let my cradle now in haste

On the quarterdeck be placed

That my enemies I may face

Till I'm dead

 

And there bold Benbow lay

Crying out crying out

And there bold Benbow lay crying out

Let us tack about once more

We'll drive them to their own shore

I value not half a score

Nor their noise   CHORUS

courtesy of www.sailorsongs.com