as ye sweep through the deep, while the stormy winds do blow; while the battle rages loud and long and the stormy winds do blow.
the spirits of your fathers shall start from every wave-for the deck it was their field of fame, and ocean was their grave:
1 flag has braved: the red cross flag of st. george has lived through war and tempest.
where blake1 and mighty nelson2 fell your manly hearts shall glow,as ye sweep through the deep, while the stormy winds do blow; while the battle rages loud and long and the stormy winds do blow.
britannia needs no bulwarks3, no towers along the steep;her march is o"er the mountain-waves, her home is on the deep.
with thunders from her native oak4
she quells the floods below-
a dreadnought
as they roar on the shore,
1 blake (1599-1657): a famous english admiral of the commonwealth period. 2 nelson (1758-1805): the greatest english admiral, the hero of trafalgar.
3bulwarks: walls of defence.
4native oak: warships of old were built of oak.
when the stormy winds do blow; when the battle rages loud and long and the stormy winds do blow.
the meteor-flag of england shall yet terrific burn;till danger"s troubled night depart and the star of peace return. then, then, ye ocean-warriors! our song and feast shall flowto the fame of your name,when the storm has ceased to blow; when the fiery fight is heard no more, and the storm has ceased to blow.
-t. campbell
