As we was sailing all on the salt sea,

We hadn't been gone months but two or three,

Not before we saw ten sail, ten sail of Turk,

All men-o'-war full as big as we.



"Haul down your colours, you English dogs!

Haul down your colours, do not refuse.

Oh, haul down your colours, you English dogs

Or else your precious life you'll lose!"



Our captain being a valiant man,

And a well-bespoken young man were he:

"Oh, it never shall be said that we died like dogs,

But we shall fight them most manfully!"



"Go up, you lofty cabin boys,

And mount the mainmast topsail high,

For to spread the news to King George's fleet

That we'll run the risk or else we'll die!"



The fight begun 'bout six in the morning,

And on to the setting of the sun.

Oh, and at the rising of the next dawn,

Out of ten ships we couldn't see but one.



Oh, three we sank and three we burned,

And three we caused to run away,

And one we towed into Portsmouth harbour,

For to let them know we had won the day.



If anyone then should enquire

as our gallent captain's name,

Oh, Captain Wellfounder's our chief commander

But the Royal Oak is our ship by name.