Lyrics The Royal Oak - June Tabor

As we was sailing all on the salt sea
We hadn't sailed months past two or three
Long before we saw ten sail of Turk
All men-o'-war full as big as we

"Pull down your colours, you English dogs!
Pull down your colours, do not refuse
Oh, pull down your colours, you English dogs
Or else your precious life you'll lose!"

And our captain being a valiant man
And a well-bespoken young man was he
"Oh, it never shall be said that we died like dogs
But we will fight them manfully!"

"Go up, you lofty cabin boys
And mount the mainmast topsail high
For to spread abroad to our noble fleet
We'll run the risk or else we'll die!"

The fight begun 'bout six in the morning
And unto the setting of the sun
Oh, and at the rising of the very next morning
Out of ten ships could not see but one

Oh, three we sank and three we burned
Three we caused to run away
And one we brought into Portsmouth harbour
For to let them know we had won the day

And if anyone then should enquire
Or want to know our captain's name
Captain Wellfounder is our chief commander
But the Royal Oak is our ship by name