Come, cheer up, my lads, 'tis to glory we steer, <br />To add something more to this wonderful year; <br />To honour we call you, as freemen not slaves, <br />For who are as free as the sons of the waves? <br /> <br />Heart of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men, <br />we always are ready; Steady, boys, steady! <br />We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again. <br /> <br />We ne'er see our foes but we wish them to stay, <br />They never see us but they wish us away; <br />If they run, why we follow, and run them ashore, <br />And if they won't fight us, we cannot do more. <br /> <br />Heart of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men, <br />we always are ready; Steady, boys, steady! <br />We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again. <br /> <br />They swear they'll invade us, these terrible foes, <br />They frighten our women, our children and beaus, <br />But should their flat-bottoms in darkness get o'er, <br />Still Britons they'll find to receive them on shore. <br /> <br />Heart of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men, <br />we always are ready; Steady, boys, steady! <br />We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again. <br /> <br />Brittania triumphant, her ships sweep the sea, <br />Her standatd is Justice -- her watchword, 'be free.' <br />Then cheer up, my lads, with one heart let us sing, <br />Our soldiers, our sailors, our statesmen, and king. <br /> <br />Heart of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men, <br />we always are ready; Steady, boys, steady! <br />We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.<br /><br />David Garrick<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/hearts-of-oak/
