Four Scottish songs/Battle of the Nile

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3322898Four Scottish songs — Battle of the Nile


Battle of the Nile.

Twas on the forenoon, the first day of August,
One thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight,
We had a long pursuit after the Toulen fleet,
And soon we let them know that we came to fight,
We tried their skill, it was sore against their will,
They knew not what to think of our fleet for a while,
But before the fray began, we resolved to a man,
For to conquer or to die at the mouth of the Nile.

When our guns began to play, with many a loud huzza,
Resolving to conquer, or die like a man,
And when our sails were bending, Old England was depending,
Waiting our return from the Mediterranean.
Our bull-dogs they did roar, & into them did pour,
With rattling broadsides made brave Nelson to smile.
Gallant Nelson gave command, although he'd but one hand,
British sailor's jump'd for joy at the mouth of the Nile.

Night drew on we formed a plan,
To set fire to one hundred and twenty guns,
We selected them with skill, and into them drill,
We secured all our shipping, and laughed at the fun,
About ten o'clock at night it was a broiling sight,
Which caused us to muzzle our bull-dogs for a while,
The L'Orient blew up, and round went the cup,
To the glorious memorandum at the mouth of the Nile.

Kind Providence protected us each minute of the night,
It's more than tongue can tell, or yet a pen to write,
For 'mongst the jolly tars, brave Nelson got a scar,
But Providence protected him through that cruel fight.
The French may repine, we took nine sail of the line,
Burnt and sunk all but two, which escaped for a while;
Brave Nelson gave command, although he'd but one hand,
British sailors fought like lions at the mouth of the Nile.

But now the battle's o'er, and Toulon fleet's no more,
Great news we shall send unto George our King,
All the kingdoms in Europe will join us in chorus,

The bells they shall ring, and bonefires they shall blaze,
Rule Britannia shall be sung through country and town,
While sailors hand in hand round the can doth sing
Buonaparte got the pledge of Egypt for his wage,
And he'll ne'er forget bold Nelson at the mouth of the Nile.



This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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