Sea and Boat Songs.

'A light boat, and a tight boat, and a boat that rides well,
Though the waves leap around it and the winds blow snell;
A full boat, and a merry boat, will meet any weather,
With a long pull, and a strong pull, and a pull altogether.'

The Author of 'John Halifax.'

SEA AND BOAT SONGS.

A WET SHEET AND A FLOWING SEA.
A WET sheet and a flowing sea,

A wind that follows fast,

And fills the white and rustling sail,
And bends the gallant mast;

And bends the gallant mast, my boys,
While, like the eagle free,

Away the good ship flies, and leaves
Old England on the lee.

Oh for a soft and gentle wind!
I heard a fair one cry;

But give to me the snoring breeze,
And white waves heaving high;
And white waves heaving high, my boys,

The good ship tight and free—

The world of waters is our home,

And merry men are we.

There's tempest in yon hornèd moon,

And lightning in yon cloud;

And hark the music, mariners!

The wind is piping loud;

The wind is piping loud, my boys,
The lightning flashing free-
While the hollow oak our palace is,

Our heritage the sea.

ALLAN CUNNINGHAM.

YE MARINERS OF ENGLAND. YE mariners of England,

That guard our native seas;

Whose flag has braved a thousand years
The battle and the breeze!

Your glorious standard launch again,
To match another foe!

And sweep through the deep,
While the stormy tempests blow;
While the battle rages loud and long,
And the stormy tempests 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;
Where Blake and mighty Nelson fell,
Your manly hearts shall glow,

As ye sweep through the deep,
While the stormy tempests blow;
While the battle rages loud and long,
And the stormy tempests blow.

Britannia needs no bulwarks,
No towers along the steep;

Her march is o'er the mountain waves,
Her home is on the deep.

With thunders from her native oak,
She quells the floods below;
As they roar on the shore,

When the stormy tempests blow;
When the battle rages loud and long,
And the stormy tempests 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 flow

To 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.

CAMPBELL.

THE SAILOR'S LIFE.

MERRILY! merrily on we sail !
The sailor's life is gay!

His hopes are on the fav'ring gale,

And whether it freshen, or whether it fail,
Or whether by night or day,

He recks not, cares not, no! not he,
For his home is ever upon the sea,
And his God is near, his guide and stay!
Then should not the sailor's life be gay?

Merrily! merrily on we go!

The sailor's life is free!

Cares but few his heart may know,

For wherever the breeze that bears him blow,
There still his home shall be :

And by night or by day the darkling deep
Is the same to the Eye that never doth sleep,
And his God is the God that rules the sea;
Then should not the sailor's life be free?

Merrily merrily on we sweep!

The sailor's life is blest!

For he knows the wonders of the deep,
And Who alone his bark can keep

By night or day at rest;

He knows by Whom each breeze is given,

Each calm he feels comes fresh from heaven,

And the thought of his God ever buoys his breast;

Then should not the sailor's life be blest?

Merrily! merrily on we fly !

The sailor's life is dear!
There's not a cloud across the sky,
His throbbing heart is beating high,
For ah! his home is near !
And his eye glistens as he sees
His native vale, its cots and trees,
But the God of comfort dries the tear;

Then should not the sailor's life be dear?

Thus the sailor's life is gay and free,
And it is blest and dear: