The Constitution and the Guerrière

Melody - "A Drop of Brandy-O"

It ofttimes has been told,
That the British seaman bold
Could flog the tars of France
So neat and handy, oh!
But they never found their match,
Till the Yankees did them catch,
O, the Yankee boys for fighting
Are the dandy, oh!

2. The Guerrière, a frigate bold,
On the foaming ocean rolled,
Command by Proud Dacres
The grandee, oh!
With as choice an English crew,
As a rammer ever drew,
Could flog the Frenchmen two
To one so handy, oh!

3. When this frigate hove in view,
Says proud Dacres to his crew,
"Come, clear ship for action
And be handy, oh!
To the weather gage, boys, get her,"
And to make his men fight better,
Gave them to drink, gunpowder
Mixed with brandy, oh!

4. Then Dacres loudly cries,
"Make this Yankee ship your prize,
You can in thirty minutes,
Neat and handy, oh!
Twenty-five's enough I'm sure,
And if you'll do it in a score,
I'll treat you to a double
Share of brandy, oh!

5. The British shot flew hot,
Which the Yankee answered not,
Till they got within the distance
They called handy, oh!
"Now," says Hull unto his crew,
"Boys, let's see what we can do,
If we take this boasting Briton
We're the dandy, oh!

6. The first broadside we poured
Took her mainmast by the board,
Which made this lofty frigate
Look abandoned, oh!
The Dacres shook his head,
And to his officers said,
"Lord! I didn't think those Yankees
Were so handy, oh!

7. Our second told so well,
That their fore and mizzen fell,
Which dous'd the royal ensign
Neat and handy, oh!
"By George," says he, "we're done,"
And they fired a lee gun,
While the Yankees struck up
Yankee Doodle Dandy, oh!

8. Then Dacres came on board,
To deliver up his sword,
Which he was loath to lose,
It was so handy, oh!
"O, keep your sword," says Hull,
"For it only makes you dull,
Cheer up and let us have
A little brandy, oh!"

9. Now fill your glasses full,
And we'll drink to Captain Hull,
And so merrily we'll push
About the brandy, oh!
John Bull may boast his fill,
But let the world say what they will,
The Yankee boys for fighting
Are the dandy, oh!

Now the Chesapeake so bold
Sail'd from Boston I've been told
For to take a British frigate
Neat and handy-o.
The people in the port
All came out to see the sport,
And the bands were playing
'Yankee Doodle Dandy-O!'

The story of how the US frigate Constitution took the British Guerrière was a favourite forecastle ballad in American ships. The words are sung to the tune of 'The Pretty Girl of Derby O!' The British had a musical revenge as well as a naval one. When the Shannon beat the US Chesapeake the same tune was given new words as above:
The song goes on to describe the British victory.