Victoria Nautical Song Circle's
May 2003 Song Of The Month


ADMIRAL BENBOW

(Hauling Shanty)
'Tis of an admiral's fame,
O brave Benbow was his name
He fought on the raging main,
You must know.
Oh, the ship rocked up and down,
And the shots were flying round,
The enemy tumbling down,
There they lay, there they lay.
 
Brave Reuben and Benbow
Fought the French, fought the French,
Oh, Reuben and Benbow,
Fought the French.Fought the French
They fought them up and down
'Til the blood came trickling down.
Oh, the blood came trickling down
Where they lay, where they lay.
 
Brave Benbow lost his legs
By chain shot, by chain shot
Brave Benbow lost his legs
By chain shot.
Down on his old stumps he fell,
And so loudly he did call
Fight you on, my English lads
'Tis my lot, 'tis my lot.
 
When the doctor dressed his wounds,
Benbow cried, Benbow cried,
When the doctor dressed his wounds,
Benbow cried,
"Let a bed be fetched in haste
On the quarterdeck be placed,
That the enemy I might face
'Til I die, 'til I die."
 
'Twas Tuesday morning last,
Benbow died, Benbow died,
'Twas Tuesday morning last,
Benbow died
What a shocking sight to see
When Benbow was carried away
He was carried to Kingston church
There he lays, there he lays.

From the singing of Kerry Patriarche at the VNSC Saturday Evening Song Circle


To Victoria Nautical Song Circle main page orPrevious Songs Of The Month List.