Seraphim/Hearts of Oak

by David Garrick

For other versions of this work, see Heart of Oak.

HEARTS OF OAK.

Come, cheer up, my lads, 'tis glory we steer
To add something new to this wonderful year;
To honour we call you, not press you like slaves,
For who are so free as the sons of the waves.
Hearts of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men,
⁠We always are ready,
⁠Steady, boys, steady;
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.

We ne'er see our foes but we wish them to stay;
They never see us but they wish us away;
If they run, why we follow, and run them ashore,
For if they wont fight us, what can we do more?
⁠Hearts of oak, &c.

They swear they'll invade us, these terrible foes,
They'll frighten our women, our children, our beaus;
But should their flat bottoms in darkness get o'er,
Still Britons they'll find to receive them ashore,
⁠Hearts of oak, &c.

We'll still make them run, and we'll still make them sweat,
In spite of the devil, or Brussel's gazette;
Then cheer up, my lads, with one voice let us sing,
Our soldiers, our sailors, our statesmen, and king.
⁠Hearts of oak, &c.