Farewell and adieu to you, Spanish Ladies, Farewell and adieu to you, ladies of Spain; For we've received orders for to sail for old England, But we hope in a short time to see you again.
Chorus: 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.[2]
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[3] , with a white sandy bottom, So we squared our main yard and up channel did make.
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The first land we sighted was called the Dodman, Next Rame Head off Plymouth, Start, Portland and Wight; We sailed by Beachy, by Fairlight and Dover, And then we bore up for the South Foreland light.
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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![4] Haul up your clewgarnets, let tacks and sheets fly![5]
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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.