A Legend of the Fleet

Since Nelson went to glory
A hundred years ago
(No man can hear the story
But still it makes him glow),
There's lots of old wiseacres.
Longshoremen and headshakers
Who say, "We have none like him —
His like we'll never know!"

And maybe they speak rightly,
For God Himself, you'd say,
Would scarce start making lightly
Another piece of clay
Filled with his high devotions.
His brain, that raced the oceans.
His heart of fire and swiftness
That won Trafalgar Day

Yet on the other hand, sirs.
There's some folks that declare —
Strange stuff to tell on land, sirs.
But sailor men — they'll swear —
When Nelson went to glory.
His heart — for that's their story —
Afire he flung it to the Fleet,
And still it's blazing there!

So when our grim, grey cruisers
Nose out the skulking foe,
And, beggars not being choosers,
Their guns begin to crow,
Though Nelson's gone to glory
'Twill be the same old story —
His heart, his heart will lead us.
And them that doubt will know.