Heart of Oak
David Garrick/Dr. Boyce, 1759

Come cheer up, my lads, 'tis to glory we steer,

To add something more to this wonderful year,

To honour we call you, not press you like slaves,

For who are so free as the sons of the waves?


Heart of oak are our ships,

Jolly tars are our men,

We always are ready,

Steady, boys, steady,

We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.


We ne'er see our foes but we will them to stay,

They never see us but they will use away,

If they run, why we follow, and run them ashore,

And if they won't fight us, we cannot do more.


Heart of oak are our ships,

Jolly tars are our men,

We always are ready,

Steady, boys, steady,

We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.


They swear they'll invade us, these terrible foes,

They frighten our women, our children and beaus,

But should their flat bottoms in darkness get o'er,

Still Britons they'll find to receive them on shore.


Heart of oak are our ships,

Jolly tars are our men,

We always are ready,

Steady, boys, steady,

We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.