COME, all you gallant heroes, and listen unto me, While I relate a battle was lately fought at sea, So fierce and hot on every side as plainly it appears There has not been such a battle fought for many years.
Brave Nelson and brave Collingwood off Cadiz harbour lay, Watching the French and Spaniards to show them English play. The nineteenth of October from the Bay they did set sail, Brave Nelson got intelligence and soon was at their tail.
It was on the twenty-first, my boys, we had them clear in sight, And on that very day at noon began the bloody fight, Our fleet forming two columns we broke the enemy's line, To spare the use of signals was Nelson's bold design.
But now the voice of thunder is heard on every side, The briny waves like crimson with human blood was dy'd, The French and Spanish heroes their courage well did show, But our brave British sailors soon brought their colours low.
For four hours and ten minutes this battle it did hold, And on the briny ocean men never fought more bold, But on the point of victory brave Nelson he was slain; And on the minds of Britons his death will long remain.
Nineteen sail of the enemy's were taken and destroy'd, You see the rage of Britons is not to be annoy'd. And ages yet unborn will have this story for to tell, The twenty-first of October our gallant Nelson fell.
I hope the wives and children will quickly find relief, For the loss of those brave heroes their hearts filled with grief, And may our warlike officers aspire to such fame, And avenge the death of Nelson while we record his name.
- - - The same song can be found in the Bodleian Ballad Collection, Harding B 16(255a), where it is called:
A SONG, On the Glorious Victory obtained over the French and Spaniards, the 21st of October, 1805, by the English Fleet, under the command of the gallant Admirals NELSON and COLLINGWOOD.