Celtic Underground - Spanish Ladies lyrics

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Farewell and adieu, to ye fair Spanish Ladies,

Farewell and adieu, ye ladies of Spain;

For we've received orders to sail for ol' England,

But we hope that it's short-lived, to see you again.

[Chorus}:

We will rant and we'll roar like true British sailors,

We'll rant and we'll rave across 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 at sou'west, boys

We hove our ship to, for it takes soundings clear;

At fifty-five fathoms, with a fine sandy bottom,

We filled our main topsail up channel did steer.

The the signal was made for the grand fleet to anchor,

We put up our topsail and struck tacks and sheets;

We stood by our stoppers and bridled and spankered,

And anchored ahead of the noblest fleet.

Let every man here drink up his full bumper,

Let every man here drink up his full bow;

And we will be jolly and drown melancholy,

Drink a health to each jovial of each true-hearted

Soul.

Extra verses:

The first land we sighted was called 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.

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, let go your cat stopper!

Haul up your clewgarnets, let tacks and sheets fly!