Unknown Artist — Billy Blue

1 “'Tis a terrible time for Englishmen; All tyrants do abhor them; Every one of them hath to fight with ten And the Lord alone is for them But the Lord hath given the strong right hand And the courage to face the thunder; If a Frenchman treads this English land He shall find his grave thereunder CHORUS Britannia is the Ocean-Queen, and she standeth staunch and true With Nelson for her faulchion keen, and her buckler Billy Blue 2 “They are mustering on yon Gallic coasts You can see them from this high land The biggest of all the outlandish hosts That ever devoured an island There are steeds that have scoured the Continent Ere ever one might say, 'Whoa, there!' And ships that would fill the Thames and Trent If we would let them go there CHORUS But England is the Ocean-Queen, and it shall be hard to do; Not a Frenchman shall skulk in between herself and her Billy Blue 3 “From the smiling bays of Devonshire To the frowning cliffs of Filey Leaps forth every son of an English sire To fight for his native isley He hath drawn the sword of his father now From the rusty sheath it rattled in; And Dobbin, who dragged the peaceful plough Is neighing for the battle-din CHORUS For Albion still is Ocean-Queen, and though her sons be few They challenge the world with a dauntless mien, and the flag of Billy Blue 4 “Then pledge me your English palm, my lad; Keep the knuckles for Sir Frenchman; No slave can you be till you change your dad And no son of yours a henchman The fight is to come; and we will not brag Nor expect whatever we sigh for But stand as the rock that bears the flag Our duty is to die for CHORUS For Englishmen confront serene whatever them betideth; And England shall be Ocean's Queen as long as the world abideth.”