SPANISH LADIES.

    Farewell and adieu to you fine Spanish Ladies—
        Farewell and adieu all you Ladies of Spain—
    For we’ve received orders to sail for Old England
        And perhaps we shall never more see you again.

Chorus—We’ll rant and we’ll roar like true British Sailors,
            We’ll range and we’ll roam over all the salt seas,
            Until we strike soundings in the Channel of Old England—
            From Ushant to Scilly ’tis thirty-five leagues.

    We hove our ship to when the wind was sou’west boys,
        We hove our ship to for to strike soundings clear,
    Then we filled our main-tops’l and bore right away boys,
        And right up the Channel our course we did steer.

Chorus—We’ll rant and we’ll roar—etc.

    The first land we made it is known as the Deadman,
        Next Ram Head near Plymouth, Start, Portland and Wight;
    We sailed past Beachy, past Fairly and Dungeness,
    And then bore away for the South Foreland Light.

Chorus—We’ll rant and we’ll roar—etc.

    Then the signal was made for the grand fleet to anchor
        All all in the Downs that night for to meet,
    So stand by your stoppers, see clear your shank-painters.
    Haul all your clew-garnets, stick out tacks and sheets.

Chorus—We’ll rant and we’ll roar—etc.

    Now let every man toss off a full bumper,
        Now let every man toss off a full bowl,
    For we will be jolly and drown melancholy
        In a health to each jovial and true-hearted soul.

Chorus—We’ll rant and we’ll roar—etc.                                 

        Words and Music given to John Masefield by Wally Blair , A.B.