Lyr Req: Captain Strachan

Subject: Lyr Add: CAPTAIN STRACHAN
From: GEST
Date: 26 Oct 05 - 02:29 PM

I came here 5-1/2 years later looking for an answer to the same question, Fergus. As long as I'm here I might as well leave the lyrics in hopes they may also serve to jog someone's memory.... :-)

Captain Strachan

Here's a health to Captain Strachan, my b'ys, and his experienced men;
One day as he was sailing three leagues from Alladin,
He spied a lofty frigate out of Marseilles came,
Guns mounted thirty-six, b'ys, almost five hundred men.
He spied a lofty frigate out of Marseilles came,
Guns mounted thirty-six, b'ys, almost five hundred men.

"Oh, come all hands to quarters," our captain he replied,
"And get all clear for fighting before she comes 'long side."
"Cast off your quarter-seasons," our gunner he did say,
"For never 'twill be said, b'ys, that we will run away."
"Cast off your quarter-seasons," our gunner he did say,
"For never 'twill be said, b'ys, that we will run away."

"Oh, come lieutenant Crockett; come steward, serve the wine,
Come bear a hand, brave fellow, since we have no time to dine."
The fiddler he played up a tune, we drinked the merry pint,
No sooner in our bellies, b'ys, we begin the bloody fight.
The fiddler he played up a tune, we drinked the merry pint,
No sooner in our bellies, b'ys, we begin the bloody fight.

We hauled our helm to wind'ard to keep her close 'long shore,
With our great guns and small arms like thunder they did roar,
Till 365 was killed and wounded on the decks then they did lie;
"Well done," cries our bold commander, "we'll board her immediately."
Till 365 was killed and wounded on the decks then they did lie;
"Well done," cries our bold commander, "we'll board her immediately."

No sooner the words was spoken we board' the proud Moselle,
We hauled them down the hatch-way until the decks was clear;
We hoist up English colours, the French cried out, "Mon Dieu,
We are all prisoners taken, good Lord, what shall we do?"
We hoist up English colours, the French cried out, "Mon Dieu,
We are all prisoners taken, good Lord, what shall we do?"

"Oh, now the prize we've won, b'ys, we'll way to Gibraltar sing,
With a rattlin' bowl of punch, b'ys, we'll make the tavern ring;
With the pretty girls all on our knees, b'ys, we'll drive all care to hell,
By the rogue he might be hung, b'ys, but for fear of the proud Moselle.
With the pretty girls all on our knees, b'ys, we'll drive all care to hell,
By the rogue he might be hung, b'ys, but for fear of the proud Moselle.

####.... Author unknown ....####

Collected in 1958 from Freeman Bennett of St. Paul's, NL, by Ken Peacock and published in Songs Of The Newfoundland Outports, Volume 3, pp.990-991, by the National Museum of Canada (1965) Crown Copyrights Reserved.

Archived at GEST Songs Of Newfoundland And Labrador

Subject: RE: Song about Captain Strachan
From: GUEST,Fergus O'Byrne
Date: 02 May 00 - 07:12 AM

Just a reminder to see if anyone out there can help with this query.

Subject: Song about Captain Strachan
From:
Date: 22 Apr 00 - 08:09 PM

Does anyone have any leads on a song about a Captain Strachan (besides the Peacock Collection - Songs of the Newfoundland Outports) 1st line is "Here's a health to Captain Strachan, my boys, and his experienced men"

The gist of the song is that he and his lads board and capture a frigate out of Marseilles called the "Moselle", with the usual amount of bravado attributed to one and all. Thanks