Lyrics

Farewell and adieu, to you Spanish Ladies,
Farewell and adieu, to you ladies of Spain;
For we’ve received orders for to sail for ol’ England,
But we hope in a short time to see you again.

(Chorus)
We’ll 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.

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, with a white sandy bottom,
So we squared our main yard and up channel did make. (Chorus)

We’ll 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. (Chorus)

The first land we sighted was call-ed the Dodman,
Next Rame Head off Plymouth, off Portsmouth the Wight;
We sailed by Beachy, by Fairlight and Dover,
And then we bore up for the South Foreland light. (Chorus)

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, cut loose your cat stopper!
Haul up your clew garnets, let tack and sheets fly! (Chorus)

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.

We’ll 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.

From Ushant to Scilly is thirty five leagues.