Debra Cowan - The Rainbow lyrics

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Debra Cowan - The Rainbow

As we were a-sailing down by the Spanish shore

Where the drums they did beat and loud the cannons roared

We spied a lofty army, come bearing down the main

And it caused us to hoist our topmost sails again

Now there was a gallant damsel, a damsel of great fame

She was the Captain's daughter and Nancy was her name

She stood upon the deck me boys and loudly she did call

“O hoist up the colours and load the cannonballs”

“Now”, our captain said, “Be ready, boys, be ready and stand true

To face the Spanish army we lately did pursue

For to face the Spanish army lay along the ocean wide

And without a good protection, boys, we'll take the first broadside.”

Well, it's broadside to broadside these vessels o'er they went

A-sinking one another, it was their full intent

And at the very second broadside, our captain he was slain

And the damsel jumped in his place to fetch command again

O, we fought for nearly four hours, for four hours or more

'Til we had scarce a man on board our gallant ship to steer

'Til we had scarce a man on board to fire off a gun

And the blood on our decks like a river it did run

“O for quarters, for quarters!” these Spanish lads did cry

“You have had the best of quarters,” this damsel did reply

“You have had the best of quarters that e'er we can afford

You must fight, sink, or swim, me boys, or jump overboard”

And now the war is over and we'll take a glass of wine

You can drink to your true love, and I will drink to mine

Here's a health unto that damsel that damsel of great fame

And a health unto that royal ship, the Rainbow was her name