I've sail'd round the world without fear or dismay

I've sail'd round the world without fear or dismay,
I've seen the wind foul, and I've seen the wind fair,
I've been wounded, and shipwreck'd, and trick'd of my pay,
But a brave British sailor should never despair.

When in a French prison I chanced for to lie;
With no light from the heavens, and scarce any air,
In a dungeon, instead of in battle, to die,
Was dismal I own, but I did not despair.

But Lord this is nothing:—my poor upper works
Got shatter'd, and I was obliged to repair;
I've been shot by the French, and a slave 'mongst the Turks,
But a brave British sailor should never despair.

But for all these misfortunes, I'd yet cut a dash,
Laid snug up my timbers, and never known care,
If the agent had not ran away with the cash,
And so many brave fellows plung'd into despair.

So coming long side of our bold royal tar,
I told him the rights on't, for why should I care,
Of my wrongs and my hardships, and wounds in the wars,
And if how he would right me, I should not despair.

Says his highness, says he, such ill treatment as thine
Is a shame, and henceforward thy fortune's my care,
So now blessings on him sing out me and mine,
And thus British seamen should never despair.

So straightway he got it made into a law,
That each tar of his rhino should have his full share,
And so agents, d'ye see, may coil up their slack jaw,
For the duke is our friend, and we need not despair.

Then push round the grog, though we face the whole world,
Let our royal tar's pennant but fly in the air,
And the sails of our navy again be unfurl'd,
We'll strike wond'ring nations with awe and despair.