Billy Blue by Unknown Artist Lyrics

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.”