Poetry Codex

Restoration & Augustan

Charles Dibdin

1745–1814

Charles Dibdin (1745–1814), born at Southampton, was a singer, composer, actor and dramatist who wrote the words and the music of his own songs. He first won notice at Drury Lane in the late 1760s, and went on to write a long run of comic operas and other pieces for the London stage.

From the late 1780s he gave one-man “table entertainments”, in which he sang his own songs at the keyboard, and the ballads of the sea that he wrote for them made his name. The songs here come from his own 1790 selection, taken from his table entertainments and from songs printed without any stage piece; songs from his operas and other stage pieces are left out.

Poems (120)

  1. 'Tis said we venturous die-hards, when we leave the shore
  2. From prudence let my joys take birth
  3. The spangled green confess'd the morn
  4. Of all sensations pity brings
  5. Go patter to lubbers and swabs d'ye see
  6. What though from Venus Cupid sprung
  7. Smiling grog is the sailor's best hope, his sheet anchor
  8. Yanko he tell, and he no lie
  9. I am a jolly fisherman
  10. Arm'd with javelin, arm'd with dart
  11. Be it known to all those whosoe'er it regards
  12. 'Twas in the good ship Rover
  13. The morning breaks
  14. Come round me and weep, to your hearts take despair
  15. 'TIS true the marks of many years
  16. Come painter, with thy happiest slight
  17. A sailor's life's a life of woe
  18. Away and join the rendezvous
  19. To Bachelor's Hall we good fellows invite
  20. Let bards elate
  21. 'TWAS Saturday night, the twinkling stars
  22. Than marriage and music can ought be more like?
  23. Alas where shall I comfort find?
  24. How much I love thee girl would'st know?
  25. The wind was hush'd, the fleecy wave
  26. Why I be squire Ned of Gobble-hall
  27. Ben Backstay lov'd the gentle Anna
  28. Abergavney is fine, Aberistwith also
  29. Resplendent gleam'd the ample moon
  30. Crown me Bacchus, mighty god
  31. Of the ancients is't speaking my soul you be after
  32. I sail'd from the Downs in the Nancy
  33. Sure 'ent the world a masquerade
  34. Dear Yanko say, and true he say
  35. I'm jolly Dick the lamplighter
  36. Sweet is the dew-drop on the thorn
  37. First chuse a pretty melody
  38. I am the world's epitome
  39. What a plague cried young Colin would Chloe be at?
  40. What thof I be a country clown
  41. To look upon dress, upon shew, upon birth
  42. I was, d'ye see, a waterman
  43. Cotchelin sat all alone
  44. Here, a sheer hulk, lies poor Tom Bowling
  45. I vow I thought you, at first sight
  46. Once on a time to mighty Jove
  47. When last in the Dreadful your honour set sail
  48. Far from strife and love's alarms
  49. I went to sea with heavy heart
  50. The boatswain calls, the wind is fair
  51. Celia's an angel, by her face
  52. The wind blew hard, the sea ran high
  53. Welch Ballad
  54. If, my hearty, you'd not like a lubber appear
  55. In which of all thy various joys
  56. Like a very gallant will I compliment all
  57. If tars of their money are lavish
  58. Would ye know where freedom dwells
  59. Would you hear a sad story of woe
  60. To ask would you come for to go
  61. Except the folks that's fast asleep
  62. We bipeds, made up of frail clay
  63. Patrick O'Row is my name
  64. Adieu, adieu, my only life
  65. I be one of they sailors who thinks 'tis no lie
  66. The sun's descending in the wave
  67. I was the pride of all the Thames
  68. Bold Jack the sailor, here I come
  69. Let bucks and let bloods to praise London agree
  70. Hark the din of distant war
  71. Lovely woman, pride of nature
  72. Two real tars, whom duty called
  73. I'm dashing Dick the dustman
  74. Why don't you know me by my scars?
  75. Avert yon omen, gracious heaven
  76. One Negro, wi my banjer
  77. Bards call themselves a heav'nly race
  78. While whim, and glee, and jest, and song
  79. Since by cutting of trotes all our glories encreafe
  80. To be sure
  81. Shenkin was porn in Glamorganshire
  82. Far removed from noise and smoak
  83. Vauxhall Ballad
  84. Have you heard, my good neighbours, the wonderful news
  85. So sweet I'll dress my Zootka fair
  86. They tell me I'm mad—that to cells and straw bedding
  87. Jack dances and sings, and is always content
  88. Blest Friendship hail! thy gifts possessing
  89. What song shall I chant? while I sing Venus sparrows
  90. But perhaps while thus boldly exposing each elf
  91. Tight lads have I sail'd with, but none e'er so sightly
  92. Beauty I sell, who'll buy? who'll buy?
  93. To the plain, to the plain, hark! hark we are summon'd away
  94. I that once was a ploughman, a sailor am now
  95. The peasant, in his humble cot
  96. Why good people all, at what do you pry?
  97. Sweet sung the lark, high pois'd in air
  98. Dear John prithee tell me, cried Ruth
  99. Let sons of sloth dream time away
  100. Poor Peggy lov'd a soldier lad
  101. Mankind all get drunk, ay and womankind too
  102. I've sail'd round the world without fear or dismay
  103. Dapper Ted Tattoo is my natty name
  104. Ladies and gentlemen I'm a beau
  105. Alas! the battle's lost and won
  106. Adieu my gallant sailor, obey thy duty's call
  107. Spanking Jack was so comely, so pleasant, so jolly
  108. Arrah if 'tis no lie in this world we are living
  109. Bleak was the morn when William left his Nancy
  110. Life's a jest, says the poet, arrah sure 'tis a pun
  111. Who calls?—Who calls?
  112. A MIGHTY sultan once for fun
  113. In the motley feather'd race
  114. Behold two mighty chiefs come on!
  115. When I comes to town with a load of hay
  116. I SING of that life of delight beyond measure
  117. This here's what I does—I, d'ye see, forms a notion
  118. Blow High! Blow Low!
  119. Nongtongpaw
  120. The Sailor's Consolation

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