Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HEART OF OAK, by DAVID GARRICK


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HEART OF OAK, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Come, cheer up, my lads! 'tis to glory we steer
Last Line: Heart of oak etc.
Subject(s): Courage; Navy - Great Britain; Quebec, Battle Of (1759); Valor; Bravery; English Navy


Come, cheer up my lads, 'tis to glory we steer,
To add something more to this wonderful year.
To honour we call you, not press you like slaves,
For who are so free as we sons of the waves?
Heart of oak are our ships, heart of oak are our men;
We always are ready -- steady, boys, steady --
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.
We ne'er see our foes but we wish 'em to stay.
They never see us but they wish us away.
If they run, why, we follow and run 'em ashore,
For if they won't fight us, we cannot do more.
Heart of oak etc.
They swear they'll invade us, these terrible foes.
They frighten our women, our children and beaux.
But should their flat-bottoms in darkness get o'er,
Still Britons they'll find to receive them on shore.
Heart of oak etc.
We'll still make 'em run and we'll still make 'em sweat,
In spite of the devil and Brussels Gazette.
Then cheer up my lads, with one heart let us sing
Our soldiers, our sailors, our statesmen and King.
Heart of oak etc.





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