Folk and Traditional Song Lyrics:
Chesapeake and Shannon II

Chesapeake and Shannon II

Chesapeake and Shannon II

'Twas on the glorious fourth of June
At ten o'clock in the forenoon
That we sailed out of Boston Bay
That we sailed out of Boston Bay
For to fight the Chesapeake boys.

The Chesapeake mounted forty-nine guns
With four hundred and twenty of Columbia's picked sons,
The Yankees thought they would never run,
The Yankees thought they would never run
They being all picked Yankee heroes.

The Shannon mounted guns the same
With less men but of better fame,
To beat those Yankees it was their aim,
To beat those Yankees it was their aim
To show them, Rule Britannia.

Up spoke our gallant Captain Broke,
To beat those Yanks it is no joke,
Your guns sponge well and make them tell,
For Yankees they don't like the smell
Of British balls and powder.

(The ship engaged in battle and Captain Broke was slain)

Bold Wallis being next in command,
So boldly on the deck did stand,
Saving, "Fire on brave boys, the day's our own,
Since Bunker Hill brought forth a groan,
The Chesapeake is falling. "

But ten minutes work we had to do
While Yankee bullets around us flew,
We boarded her down, her colours drew,
We boarded her down, her colours drew
And stuck her to the Shannon.

DT #748
Laws J21
From Creighton and Senior
Sung by Mrs. Gallagher
(tune in)
SOF
apr97