Here's a Christmas song to the tune of "Hearts of Oak" (ommitting the "steady, boys, steady" in the chorus) which was written by a sailor named Richard Cotten, who served in various RN ships in the 19th century. It was probably composed between 1883 and his leaving the navy in 1886.


Come rouse ye, my lads, though no land we are near
we've Old Christmas aboard us to give us good cheer.
We've our salt beef and grog, lads, and plum duff galore,
and a right gallant captain; what can men want more?

CH    For our ship is our home, though it floats on the main.
      Your glasses fill ready, and drink to Old England again and again.

The landsman may boast when he hails Christmas Day,
he can call friends around him to dance and be gay,
but though lone on the ocean our hearts they are true
to the lasses that love us, for we love them too.

Now lads, join with me and a bumper fill high
to those who most miss us when Christmas draws nigh,
to the darling old mother and father so grey
who will think of their loved ones at sea, lads, today.

Then messmates be merry - we'll dance and we'll sing
and scrape the old fiddle till we crack every string.
Though his ship bears him fast to his home that's afar
Christmas tide cheers the heart of a brave British tar.