7
There’s not been such a battle fought,
no not this many a year.
The eighteenth day of May, brave boys,
from Halifax we set sail,
And up the American coast we did steer,
with a sweet and pleasant gale.
And standing off New York river,
on the twenty second day,
loop of war round Sandy Hook,
a man from our mast head did spy.
We gave her three broadsides,
her colours soon came down,
We sent on board our Master’s mate
with a number of our men.
Standing further to the northward,
being ordered for to go;
And cruising off Boston Bay,
our captain commanded so.
On the twenty-eighth day of May,
off Boston Bay we lay,
We sent a challenge to the Chesapeake,
to engage us in the bay.
Our commander of the Shannon,
gallant Brooks was his name,
Chear up your hearts my seamen bold,
for now she’s bearing down.
And on the first of June, my boys,
the weather being clear,
Bold Lawrence, he soon hove in sight,
as plainly you shall hear.
