NEPTUNE'S RAGING FURY; or The Gallant Seaman's Sufferings
(Martin Parker)

Being a Relation of the Perils and Dangers, and of the extraordinary
Hazards they undergo in their noble Adventures. Together with their undaunted Valour and rare Constancy in all their Extremities: and the manner of their Rejoycing on shore, at their return home. Tune of, When the Stormy Winds do blow, &c.

1
You Gentlemen of England,
that lives at home at ease,
Full little do you think upon
the Dangers of the Seas;
Give ear unto the Marriners,
and they will plainly show,
The cares and the fears
When the stormy winds do blow.
2
All you that would be Seamen,
must bear a valiant heart,
For when you come upon the Seas,
you must not think to start:
Not once to be faint hearted,
in hail, rain, or snow,
Nor to shrink, nor to shrink,
When the stormy winds do blow.
3
The bitter storms and tempests
poor Seamen must endure,
Both day and night, with many a fright,
we seldom rest secure;
Our sleep it is disturbed
with visions strange to know,
And with dreams, on the Streams,
When the stormy winds do blow.
4
In claps of roaring thunder,
which darkness doth enforce,
We often find our Ships to stray
beyond our wonted course;
Which causeth great distractions,
and sinks our hearts full low,
'Tis in vain to complain
When the stormy winds do blow.
5
Sonetimes on Neptune's bosom,
Our Ship is lost in waves,
And every man expecting
the Sea to be their graves;
Then, up aloft she mounteth,
and down again so low,
'Tis with waves, O with waves,
When the stormy winds do blow.
6
Then down again we fall to prayer;
with all our might and thought,
When refuge all doth fail us,
'tis that must bear us out;
To God we call for succour,
for He it is we know,
That must aid us and save us,
When the stormy winds do blow.
7
The Lawyer and the Usurer,
that sits in gowns of Fur,
In closets warm, can take no harm,
abroad they need not stir;
When winter fierce, with cold doth pierce,
and beats with hail and snow,
We are sure to endure
When the stormy winds do blow.
8
We bring home costly merchandize,
and Jewels of great price,
To serve our English Gallantry
with many a rare device;
To please the English Gallantry
our pains we freely show,
For we toyl, and we moile
When the stormy winds do blow.
9
We sometimes sail to the Indies
to fetch home spices rare,
Sometimes 'gain, to France and Spain
for wines beyond compare;
While gallants are carrousing
in Taverns on a row,
Then we sweep o'er the deep,
When the stormy winds do blow.
10
When tempests are blown over,
and greatest fears are past,
Ay, weather fair and temperate air,
we straight lye down to rest;
But, when the billows tumble,
and waves do furious grow,
Then we rouse, up we rouse,
When the stormy winds do blow.
11
If enemies oppose us,
when England is at wars
With any foreign Nations,
we fear not wounds and scars;
Our roaring guns shall teach 'em
our Valour for to know,
Whilst they reel, in the Keel,
When the stormy winds do blow.
12
We are no cowardly shrinkers,
but Englishmen true bred,
We'll play our parts like valiant hearts,
and never fly for dread;
We'll ply our business nimbly,
where'er we come or go,
With our Mates to the Straights,
When the stormy winds do blow.
13
Then courage, all brave Marriners,
and never be dismaid,
Whilst we have bold adventures,
we ne'er shall want a trade;
Our Merchants will imploy us
To etch them wealth, I know,
Then be bold, work for gold,
When the stormy winds do blow.
14
When we return in safety,
with wages for our pains,
The Tapster and the Vintner
will help to share our gains;
We'll call for liquor roundly,
and pay before we go,
Then we'll roar, on the shore,
When the stormy winds do blow.

From "Sea Songs and Ballads," selected by Christopher Stone, with an Introduction by Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge, G. C. B. Oxford, 1906.

The introduction at the beginning is from a broadside, printed by C. Brown and T. Norris, London, c. 1695-1707; Douce Ballads 2(167b), Bodleian Collection, with the same lyrics.