The Constitution and the Guerriere

Those of you who nodded your heads sarcastically at my posting promises a few days ago were entirely in the right. I did not stick to the writing schedule I planned, and thus have no music post for you today. I beg a thousand pardons.

 

Having obviously not learned my lesson about good intentions gone awry, I will make yet another rash promise and say, in all naïve sincerity,  that I truly do intend to publish the aforementioned post tomorrow. ("Optimistic procrastination" describes me well, eh?)

 

However, for all of you who were eagerly awaiting the arrival of another wonderful MET post {hearty laugh}, I'm sharing yet another poem about Captain Hull's celebrated victory! This poem is certainly written from a different angle than Firstfruits in 1812 - the primary difference here is the decidedly more frequent usage of the word "brandy". The style here is rather overconfident and cocky as compared to the other... still, I like it well enough in its own way. :)

The Constitution and the Guerriere

by Malcolm Laws
                                                                                                

It oft-times has been told,
That the British seamen bold
Could flog the tars of France
So neat and handy, Oh!
But they never met their match,
Till the Yankees did them catch
Oh, the Yankee boys for fighting
Are the dandy, Oh!

The Guerriere, a frigate bold,
On the foaming ocean rolled
Commanded by proud Dacres,
The grandee, Oh!
With as choice a British crew
As ever a rammer drew
Could flog the Frenchmen
Two to one so handy, Oh!

When the frigate hove in view,
Says proud Dacres to his crew,
Come clear the ship for action
And be handy, Oh!
To the weather-gage, boys, get her.
And to make his men fight better
Gave them to drink, gunpowder
Mixed with brandy, Oh!

Then Dacres loudly cries,
Make this Yankee ship your prize,
You can in thirty minutes,
Neat and handy, Oh!
Twenty-five's enough, I'm sure,
And if you'll do it in a score
I'll treat you to a double
Share of brandy, Oh!
 

The British shot flew hot,
Which the Yankees answered not
Till they got within the distance
They called handy, Oh!
Now, says Hull unto his crew,
Let us see what we can do,
If we take this boasting Briton
We're the dandy, Oh!

The first broadside we poured
Carried her mainmast by the board
Which made this lofty frigate
Look abandoned, Oh!
Then Dacres shook his head,
And to his officers said,
Lord! I didn't think those Yankees
Were so handy, Oh!

Our secon told so well
That their fore and mizzen fell,
Which doused the royal ensign
Neat and handy, Oh!
By George! says he, We're done!
And they fired a lee gun
While the Yankees struck up
Yankee Doodle Dandy, Oh!

Then Dacres came on board
To deliver up his sword.
Tho'loth was he to part with it,
It was so handy, Oh!
Oh! Keep your sword, says Hull,
For it only makes you dull,
Cheer up, and let us have
A little brandy, Oh!

Now, fill your glasses full,
And we'll drink to Captain Hull
And so merrily we'll push
Around the brandy, Oh!
Johnny Bull may boast his fill,
Let the world say what it will,
The Yankee boys for fighting
Are the dandy, Oh!