 | Sea Songs |  |
15
OLD GROG.
His sailors' name for Admiral Vernon who took and destroyed Porto Bello.
Nov. 21st, 1739.
If you want a yarn, old fellow,
To jot down in your log,
Hear this of Porto Bello,
How 'twas taken by Old Grog;
Ah, lads, but he could do it!
At nothing, boys, he failed;
So with him to win—we knew it—
For Panama we sailed;
I shipped bold Vernon under,
And we set home-folks agog,
Quite mad with joy and wonder
At that deed of brave Old Grog.
To jot down in your log,
Hear this of Porto Bello,
How 'twas taken by Old Grog;
Ah, lads, but he could do it!
At nothing, boys, he failed;
So with him to win—we knew it—
For Panama we sailed;
I shipped bold Vernon under,
And we set home-folks agog,
Quite mad with joy and wonder
At that deed of brave Old Grog.
16
The Dons' pride needed taming;
Our ships and men they'd seized;
Our rulers, England shaming,
Let Spain do as she pleased;
They'd got no taste for powder,
All for peace-mongering then,
So out spoke John Bull louder
Than suited such half men;
To go at Porto Bello
All England was agog;
And Vernon was the fellow;
“I'll take it,” said Old Grog.
Our ships and men they'd seized;
Our rulers, England shaming,
Let Spain do as she pleased;
They'd got no taste for powder,
All for peace-mongering then,
So out spoke John Bull louder
Than suited such half men;
To go at Porto Bello
All England was agog;
And Vernon was the fellow;
“I'll take it,” said Old Grog.
Out, in the House, he thundered,
“But give to me six sail,
I'll take it;” that he'd blundered
They thought; he sure must fail;
Just all he asked, they gave him,
Six sail, the Dons to flog;
They thought no pluck could save him;
They didn't know Old Grog;
He care for odds! old fellow,
He went, all odds, to flog;
Their vaunted Porto Bello
Just suited brave Old Grog.
“But give to me six sail,
I'll take it;” that he'd blundered
They thought; he sure must fail;
Just all he asked, they gave him,
Six sail, the Dons to flog;
They thought no pluck could save him;
They didn't know Old Grog;
He care for odds! old fellow,
He went, all odds, to flog;
Their vaunted Porto Bello
Just suited brave Old Grog.
17
With six good liners sailing
For Panama we went;
We had no thought of failing,
Though to tough work we were sent;
There was our port, snug lying
A mile deep, down its bay,
With three forts, foes defying,
To maul us on our way;
De Ferro's guns, a hundred,
First hid us in their fog;
From Gloria ninety thundered
As in went brave Old Grog.
For Panama we went;
We had no thought of failing,
Though to tough work we were sent;
There was our port, snug lying
A mile deep, down its bay,
With three forts, foes defying,
To maul us on our way;
De Ferro's guns, a hundred,
First hid us in their fog;
From Gloria ninety thundered
As in went brave Old Grog.
We saw no use in wasting
Good time; their castles quick
A dose from us were tasting
That soon their Dons made sick;
We gave them such a warming,
They found it far too hot;
Then, through their gun-ports swarming,
Into their forts we shot;
A twinkle—they were knowing
How Dons and such we flog;
Our flag run up was showing
All right to brave Old Grog.
Good time; their castles quick
A dose from us were tasting
That soon their Dons made sick;
We gave them such a warming,
They found it far too hot;
Then, through their gun-ports swarming,
Into their forts we shot;
A twinkle—they were knowing
How Dons and such we flog;
Our flag run up was showing
All right to brave Old Grog.
18
Our powder, careful fellow,
Their Governor wouldn't waste;
So, out from Porte Bello,
A white flag rowed in haste;
'Twas ours, their hold so vaunted,
Their port we'd vowed to gain;
A prize to hearts, undaunted
By all the Dons of Spain;
Hurrah! a prize we'd won, boys,
With pride we well might log,
And what he'd said, he'd done, boys,
So, here's to brave Old Grog.
Their Governor wouldn't waste;
So, out from Porte Bello,
A white flag rowed in haste;
'Twas ours, their hold so vaunted,
Their port we'd vowed to gain;
A prize to hearts, undaunted
By all the Dons of Spain;
Hurrah! a prize we'd won, boys,
With pride we well might log,
And what he'd said, he'd done, boys,
So, here's to brave Old Grog.
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