Joe asked me to post the words to this broadside ballad after hearing it on the Mudcat Singaround last Monday (07.09.20). So here are the words! For information there is no reference to John Betjeman and his poem. This is well covered elsewhere on Mudcat! Hope you enjoy. I was unable to remember where I originally found the words so any help with identifying its source would be appreciated.

Bold Captain Webb




                About Captain Boyton a lot has been said,
                But we’re jolly well proud of our own Captain Webb;
                he needs no cork dresses to soothe his alarms,
                But swims like a fish with his good legs and arms!

                        Captain Boyton’s defeated you’ll see at a glance
                        By Captain Webb Swimming from England to France!

                Captain Boyton came over to take us all in,
                Cork life dresses to sell and the orders to win;
                But now he is done for cork dresses and all,
                For Webb’s done the journey with no dress at all!

                        Chorus

                At the dawn of the day he leapt off Dover Pier,
                He leapt in the water without any fear.
                The fish were astonished to see his legs go!
                First they bobbed up above then they bobbed down below!

                        Chorus

                And as the bold Captain through the Channel did fly,
                He stuck his big toe in a mackerel’s eye.
                And in their own language the poor fishes said,
                “Here’s a strange looking whale knocking us on the head!”

                        Chorus

                For 22 hours he stuck to his task,
                Until by success he was rewarded at last.
                Although he was tired he was not done o’er
                And the Frenchmen all cheered as he waded ashore.

                        Chorus

                So here’s to the Captain so brave and so bold
                We trust that his memory never grows cold.
                We trust that his glad eye will never grow dim
                Until every boy in the country can swim!

                        Chorus