Spanish Ladies

Farewell an’ adieu to you fair Spanish ladies,
Farewell an’ adieu to you ladies of Spain,
For we’ve received orders for to sail for ol’ England.
And we hope very shortly to see you again.
We’ll rant an’ we’ll roar, like true British sailors,
We’ll rant an’ we’ll roar across the salt sea,
Until we strike soundin’s in the Channel of Ol’ England.
From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-four leages.

We hove our ship to, wi’ the wind at sou’west, boys,
We hove our ship to for to take soundings clear.
So we rounded an’ sounded, an’ got forty-five fathoms,
We squared our main yard, up th’ Channel did steer.

Now the first land we made it is call-ed the Deadman,
Nex’ Ramshead off Plymouth, Start, Portland and Wight.
We sail-ed by Beachy, by Fairly an’ Dungeyness,
Until we came ‘brest of the South Foreland light.

Now the signal was made for the Grand Fleet to anchor,
An’ all in the Downs that night for to meet.
Then it’s stand by yer stoppers, let go yer shank painters,
An’ anhored ahead of the noblest of fleets.

Now let every man toss off a full bumper,
An’ let every man toss off a full bowl,
An’ we’ll drink an’ be merry an’ drown melancholy.
Singin’ here’s a good health to all true-hearted souls.