Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.

The Ship

CHEER up, my gallant band!

Fare thee well, dear native land,

Our pendant waves, the anchor is a-trip;

For free trade and sailors’ rights,

The Columbian seaman fights,

And his watchword—Don’t surrender the ship, &c.

Wide rolls the mountain-wave,

But it frightens not the brave,

With joyous hearts the cables we will slip;

When the boasting foe appears,

Each brave tar his comrade cheers,

And his watchword—Don’t surrender the ship, &c.

A sail! the boatswain cries,

Her proud pendant sweeps the skies!

Perhaps its waving honours we may clip—

Our brave captain draws his sword,

Whilst we echo to the word,

Gallant lads, O!—Don’t surrender the ship, &c.

Now o’er the affrighted deep

How the glowing bullets sweep!

We’ve got the daring vaunters on the hip!

Though their colours nail’d so fast,

Floated proudly on the mast,

Yet full gladly they surrender’d their ship, &c.

The free-born seaman knows

How to spare the fallen foes,

And cheer their souls with friendship’s noble grip,

The high prize for which he fights,

Is free trade and sailors’ rights;

And to tyrants ne’er surrenders his ship, &c.

Now to our native shore

Safe arrived, my lads, once more,

Full bumpers raise to every lip;

To the memory of the brave

Who now sleep beneath the wave,

Who could die—but ne’er surrender the ship.