Goto Song - Hearts of Oak; Nancy Lee; Sailing ; Colnel Bogey
A Life on the Ocean Wave
Now used for the leading guard or squad of the Royal Marines. But until the end of the First World War, this song was used as the official tune for the Royal Navy.-
A life on the ocean wave! A home on the rolling deep! Where the scattered waters rave, and the winds their revels keep! A life on the ocean wave! A home on the rolling deep! Where the scattered waters rave, and the winds their revels keep! Like an eagle caged I pine, on this dull unchanging shore. Oh give me the flashing brine! The spray and the tempest roar! A life on the ocean wave! A home on the rolling deep! Where the scattered waters rave, and the winds their revels keep! The winds, the winds, the winds their revels keep! The winds, the winds, the winds their revels keep!
The land is no longer in view, the clouds have begun to frown But with a stout vessel and crew we'll say let the storm come down! The land is no longer in view, the clouds have begun to frown But with a stout vessel and crew we'll say let the storm come down! And the song of our hearts shall be, while the winds and waters rave. A life on the heaving sea! A home on the bounding wave! A life on the ocean wave! A home on the rolling deep! Where the scattered waters rave, and the winds their revels keep! The winds, the winds, the winds their revels keep! The winds, the winds, the winds their revels keep!
Hearts of Oak
Originally written by David Garrick & Composed by William Boyce and first performed by Mr Champnes in Harlequin’s Invasion (1759.)
During the Nelsonic period: The Royal Marine drummer, would use the rhythm of this song to beat to quarters or action. At the finish of the drum roll each man would go to his place of action. It very soon became well known to both lubber and naval officer a like and as such it was very soon adopted as representative of the Royal Navy in general.
At the end of the First World War, this song was adopted by the Royal Navy as its official Marching tune fo Parade Order. As such it replaced its predecessor A Life on the Ocean Wave.
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?
Hearts of oak are our ships, Jolly tars are our men;
[Heart of Oak are our ships, Heart of Oak 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 wish them to stay,
They never see us
But they wish us away,
If they run, why we follow,
And run them ashore,
And if they won't fight us,
We cannot do more.
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.
Our worthy forefathers,
Let's give them a cheer,
To climates unknown,
Did courageously steer.
Through oceans to deserts,
For freedom they came,
And dying, bequeathed us
Their freedom and fame.
Nancy Lee
Written in 1876, by Somerset man, Frederick E Weatherly [1848-1929], with the melody, originating from the pen of Liverpudlian, Stephen Adams (a.k.a. Michael Maybrick) [b.1844], a well known baritone singer during the last quarter of the 19th century.
This song became an instant best seller and from its performance in the Victorian Home palour to the Music Halls, would very soon have become writteninto many a sailors ditty books.
Such evidence being held for its use in the Royal Navy at sea in the c.1880. Ny 1906 it is included in one of the Naval Songsters. That were popular at that time.
Shortly afterwards (c.end WW1) It was appointed as the piece of music to be played, by the band, whenever the order was given to Advance in Review Order. – Each Regimental Unit, having its own ‘review Order’ march.
In those earlier days it would have been in the voice of the sailor, but once it found use in cerimonial situaton, was as quickly dropped
Of all the wives as e'er you know, Yeo ho! lads! ho! Yeo ho! yeo ho!
There's none like Nancy Lee, I trow, Yeo ho! lads! ho! yeo ho!
See, there she stands, an' waves her hands, upon the quay,
An' eve'ry day when I'm away she'll watch for me,
An' whisper low, when tempests blow,
For Jack at sea; Yeo ho! lads! ho! yeo ho!The sailor's wife the sailor's star shall be. Yeo ho! we go across the sea,
The sailor's wife the sailor's star shall be, The sailor's wife his star shall be.The harbour's past, the breeze blow, Yeo ho! lads! ho! Yeo ho! yeo ho!
'Tis long ere we come back, I know, Yeo ho! lads! ho! yeo ho!
But true an' bright, from morn till night, my home will be,
An' all so neat, an' snug an' sweet, for Jack at sea,
An' Nancy's face to bless the place,
An' welcome me; Yeo ho! lads! ho! yeo ho!
The bo's'n pipes the watch below, Yeo ho! lads! ho! Yeo ho! yeo ho!
Then here's a health afore we go, Yeo ho! lads! ho! yeo ho!
A long, long life to my sweet wife, an' mates at sea;
An' keep our bones from Davy Jones, where'er we he,
An' may you meet, a mate as sweet,
As Nancy Lee; Yeo ho! lads! ho! yeo ho!
Sailing
Made popular by the BBC TV series of the same name, portraying HMS Ark Royal in 197.
Later during the Falklands Conflict of 1982, was frequently played by the Royal Marine Bands to herald the departure and arrival of the ships. Consequently it has fast become commonly accepted, as the cerimonial Outward Bound song, played whenever Royal Navy ships depart UK, and a band is employed.
I am Sailing, I am sailing, Home again across the sea,
&c.- o O o-
COLONEL BOGEY
At HMS Ganges in 1940. Each of the boys divisions had their own tune for march-pasts etc. This being Benbow’s division. It is known that as they marched past the dais there was hardly a boy not singing ‘under his breath’ the following parody.
What did the engine driver say,
When the boiler burst?
“Bollox!” “And the same to you.”Does anybody out there know any of the the others?
