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Title
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Captain Brooks and his gallant crew
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Singer
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Roberts, Edwin
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Notes
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Note 1
Williams, Alfred: Ms: 'An old sea song, description of a fight between the British frigate 'Shannon' and the American frigate 'Chesapeake' at the time of the American War of Independence [actually the War of 1812 - CDW]. The incident also gave rise to another song, one verse and the chorus of which I give below.
Williams, Alfred: WGS: 'An old sea song, descriptive of a fight between the British frigate 'Shannon' and the American frigate 'Chesapeake' at the time of the American War of Independence [actually the War of 1812 - CDW]. The incident also gave rise to another song, one verse and the chorus of which I give below.
Verse 1
The Chesapeake so bold, out of Boston, I am told,
Came to take a British frigate neat and handy O!
The people of the port came out to see the sport,
With their music playing Yankee doodle dandy O!
Chorus
Yankee doodle, Yankee doodle dandy O!
The people of the port came out to see the sport,
With their music playing Yankee doodle dandy O!
It will be seen that our version is more nearly in line with the folk ballad. I obtained the piece of Edward Roberts, Siddington, Gloucestershire, and he learnt it of an old sailor, who took part in the bombardment of Alexandria.'
Note 2
In Verse 1 Line 1 the original text read:
Off Boston Light we stood my boys, on the twenty ninth of May
In Verse 3 Line 3 the original text read:
Was not fire a gun till all was well, and then the fight began.
In Verse 5 Line 1 the original text read:
Our Captain went to the ship's side to see how she did lie,
In Verse 6 Line 1 the original text read:
Like lions then we rushed on board and fought them hand to hand,
In Verse 8 Line 1 the original text read:
Come all you true born Englishmen, that wear the jackets blue,
Transcribed and edited by Chris Wildridge, 2010.
