Lyrics

Here’s of a packet a packet of fame,
She sails from New York and the Dreadnought’s her name.
‘Cross the wild western ocean she’s bound for to go;
She’s the Liverpool packet, oh Lord, let her go!
Chorus
Derry down, down, down derry down

Oh, the Dreadnought is lying in the river Mersey,
Waiting for the Independence to tow her to sea.
All around that rock light where the salt tides do flow,
Bound away in the Dreadnought to the westward we’ll go. (Chorus)

Now the Dreadnought’s a-howling down the wild Irish Sea,
Her passengers merry, and the drink is so free;
The sailors, like lions, walk the decks to and fro.
Bound away in the Dreadnought to the westward we’ll go. (Chorus)

The Dreadnought’s a-sailing the Atlantic so wide,
Where the high, rolling seas roll along her black sides.
The sails tightly set for the Red Cross to show,
She’s the Liverpool Packet, oh Lord, let her go! (Chorus)

Now the Dreadnought is sailing by the banks of Newfoundland,
Where the water’s so green and the bottom is sand;
The fishes all sing as they swim to and fro,
Saying: “God bless the Dreadnought where ‘ere she may go!” (Chorus)

Here’s health to the Dreadnought and all her brave crew;
To old Captain Samuels and his officers true.
Talk about your flash packets, Swallowtail and Black Ball,
But the Dreadnought’s the ship that can out-sail them all. (Chorus)