Songs for Sailors :: :: University of Virginia Library

Two nations? pshaw! nonsense! two peoples? we're one,
By our subject the sea tied together;
Through all time, through the future, beneath every sun,
Storm and sunshine, united, we'll weather;
The greatness of each shall be gladness to both;
One, our language, our glory, our freedom;
If any would part us, for one, I'll be loath
To own either England could breed 'em;
So, glory to her who our glory shall be,
Our motherland's mightiest daughter!
Every ill may she shun! every good may she see,
Our great England over the water.

They say, we grow weaker, more tame than of old,
You and I, you know, don't quite conceive it;
We're not to take in all the nonsense we're told,
Whoever may will to believe it;
But if ever, as 'twill not, the croak could come true,
Though, like good wine, the older we're stronger,
In the youth of the West, we our youth shall renew,
The mightier as we live the longer.
Then here's might to her, in whose might ours re-lives,
Our freedom, that we here have taught her!
What a future of greatness to us, boys, she gives,
Our grand England over the water!

What, if we've had squabbles! the nearest in blood
Show, by tiffs, best their love for each other;
But they're fools who on such things are given to brood,
And let coldness divide child and mother;
The quarrels of kinsmen should love but renew,
By the contrast but make it the clearer;
So, if we've our tiffs, may they be far and few,
Let them make each to each but the dearer!
Happier, mightier, wiser, each age, may both be,
Old England, and this her dear daughter;
Hand in hand, may they on, England this side the sea
And our great England over the water.