Lyrics copied from Richard B. Gillion's web site:


JACK CRAWFORD

1. Jack Crawford was a Sunderland man. He worked on board a keel.
Up and down Wear Valley he knew the river weel;
But then he joined the navy amongst the cannon's blast,
And there became the hero who nailed his colours to the mast.

CHORUS: Nailed his colours to the mast, nailed his colours to the mast,
And there became the hero who nailed his colours to the mast.

2. Jack sailed aboard the 'Venerable', the flagship of the fleet.
They sailed into the channel the Hollanders to meet.
The battle was at Camperdown and shot flew thick and fast,
And that's where Jack Crawford nailed his colours to the mast.

3. Six times the flag was shot away as the chain shot flew like hail,
Till the mast top fell to the deck and the fleet begun to fail.
Jack Crawford picked up the flag and, nimble to the last,
Climbed atop the main and nailed his colours to the mast.

4. Oh, what a cheer was heard that day and the English tars fought back!
The Dutch were torn asunder and the cry went up for Jack.
Admiral Duncan stepped up to him saying, "We've won the day at last,
For Jack Crawford the hero nailed his colours to the mast."

5. Now Jack was called to London, sent for by the king.
He says: "Jack, you're a hero", and the crowd began to sing.
"Here's a pension, thirty pound a year, for you fought them to the last.
Raise a cheer for Jack Crawford who nailed his colours to the mast."

6. So if you go to Sunderland, leave the streets and crowd.
See the statue of him there that stands up so proud.
In the Mowbray Park, pause as you go past,
And remember brave Jack Crawford who nailed his colours to the mast.