Robbie T. Hutchison                      SA1974.11.12   

This well known Royal Navy song was originally sung (so Roy Palmer tells us – p. 125), on ships homeward bound from the Mediterranean but it was later adopted by other seamen, including whaling men, as a capstan shanty. Roud. no. 687.

Farewell and adieu to you Spanish ladies;
Farewell and adieu all you ladies of Spain,
For it’s we have received orders to return to old England,
But we hope in a short time to see you again.

For we’ll rant and we’ll rove like true British sailors;
We’ll rant and we’ll rove across the salt sea
Until we strike soundings in the Channel of old England;
From  Ushant to the Scillies is thirty-five leagues.

Oh we hove our ship to with the wind at sou’west, boys;
We hove our ship to and good soundings got we;
We had forty-five fathoms and a white sandy bottom;
Then we squared our main-yards and up channel bore we.

For we’ll rant and we’ll roar…

Oh the first land we made it was called The Deadman;
Then Rames Head off Plymouth, Start Point,  Portland and  Wigh’;
Then we sailed on by Beachy, by Fairlee and Dungeness,
Then we squared her away for the North Foreland light.

For we’ll rant and we’ll roar…

Then the signal was made for the grand fleet to anchor
All in the Downs, boys, that night for to see.
Now it’s stand by your stoppers, and see clear your shank-painters,
Haul up all your clew garnets, let go tack and sheet. 

For we’ll rant and we’ll roar…

Now come every man drink up his full bumper;
And let every man drink up his full bowl,
For we will be jovial and to drink melancholy;
Here’s a  health to every true-hearted British soul.

For we’ll rant and we’ll roar…