The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #81115 Message #4206217
Posted By: Jim Dixon
29-Jul-24 - 12:38 PM
Thread Name: Songs about Nelson or Wellington
Subject: Lyr Add: THE DEATH OF NELSON
THE DEATH OF NELSON. Words by S. J. Arnold. music by John Braham, from the opera "The Americans"
RECITATIVE.
O'ER Nelson's tomb, with silent grief oppress’d Britannia mourns her hero now at rest; But those bright laurels ne'er shall fade with years Whose leaves are water'd by a nation's tears.
AIR.
'Twas in Trafalgar's bay We saw the Frenchmen lay; Each heart was bounding then. We scorn'd the foreign yoke, Our ships were British oak, And hearts of oak our men.
Our Nelson mark'd them on the wave, Three cheers our gallant seamen gave, Nor thought of home and beauty. Along the line this signal ran— “England expects that every man This day will do his duty!"
And now the cannons roar Along the affrighted shore; Brave Nelson led the way: His ship the Victory named; Long be that Victory famed! For victory crown'd the day.
But dearly was that conquest bought, Too well the gallant hero fought For England, home, and beauty. He cried, as 'midst the fire he ran, “England shall find that every man This day will do his duty!"
At last the fatal wound, Which shed dismay around, The hero's breast received: "Heav'n fights on our side; The day's our own!" he cried: "Now long enough I've lived.
In honour's cause my life was pass'd, In honour's cause I fall at last, For England, home, and beauty!" Thus ending life as he began: England confess'd that every man That day had done his duty.