> Peter Bellamy > Songs > The British Man of War

The British Man of War

[ Roud 372 ; Ballad Index FSC013 ; trad.]

Peter Bellamy sang The British Man of War unaccompanied in 1975 on his American LP Peter Bellamy and later in 1982 on the privately issued cassette The Maritime England Suite. He commented in the first album's notes:

In the early 1840's, Britain was engaged in the shameful “Opium Wars” with China, and it seems probable that this song dates from that time. This particular version of the seldom-collected piece comes from Walter Pardon; the tune is closely related to High Germany.

Walter Pardon's version of A British Man o' War can be found on his Leader Records LP of 1975, A Proper Sort, and in an alternate take on Topic Records' Walter Pardon anthology, A World Without Horses.

The Halliard recorded British Man of War in 2005 for their CD Broadside Songs.

Lyrics

Walter Pardon sings A British Man o' War

As I walked out one morning, so careless I did stray,
I overheard a sailor bold to his young lady say:
“Oh, Susan, lovely Susan, I soon must leave the shore
To cross the briney ocean on a British man o' war.”

Pretty Susan fell a-weeping and this to him did say:
“How can you be so venturesome to throw yourself away?
For 'tis when I am twenty-one I shall receive my store,
Jolly sailor, do not venture on a British man o' war.”

“Oh, Susan, lovely Susan, the truth to you I'll tell:
The British flag insulted is; Old England knows it well.
I may be crowned with laurels but, like a jolly tar,
I'll face the wars of China on a British man o' war.”

Young Henry took his handkerchief and cut it fair in two,
Said he, “One half you keep for me; the same I'll do for you.
Though the bullets may surround me and cannons loudly roar,
I'll fight for fame and Susan on this British man o' war.”

“Oh, Susan, lovely Susan, the time will quickly pass,
Let's go down to the ferry house and take a parting glass.
My shipmates they are waiting to row me from the shore,
For 'tis old England's glory on a British man o' war.”

A few more words were spoken, then her love let go her hand;
The jovial crew they launched the boat so merrily from land.
Young Henry waved his handkerchief while far away from shore,
Pretty Susan blessed her sailor on a British man o' war.

Peter Bellamy sings The British Man of War

As I walked out one morning, so careless I did stray,
I overheard a sailor bold say to his lady gay:
“Oh, Susan, lovely Susan, I soon must leave this shore
To cross the briney ocean on a British man of war.”

Young Susan fell a-weeping and this to him did say:
“How can you be so venturesome to throw yourself away?
For 'tis when I am twenty-one I shall receive my store,
Jolly sailor, do not venture on a British man of war.”

“Oh, Susan, lovely Susan, the truth to you I'll tell:
The British flag insulted is; Old England knows it well.
Well, I may be crowned with laurels, love, but like a jolly tar
I will face the wars of China on a British man of war.”

Then young Henry took his handkerchief, he cut it clean in two,
Says he, “One half you keep for me; I'll do the same for you.
I may be crowned with laurels, love, but like a jolly tar
I will fight for fame and Susan on a British man of war.”

“Oh, Susan, lovely Susan, the time will quickly pass,
So let's go down to the ferry house and share a parting glass.
For my shipmates they are waiting there to row me from the shore,
'Tis for old England's glory and a British man of war.”

So a few more words were spoken, then her love let go her hand;
The jovial crew they rowed the boat so merrily from land.
And young Henry waved his handkerchief when far away from shore,
Pretty Susan blessed her sailor on the British man of war.

Oh as I walked out one morning, right careless I did stray,
I overheard a sailor bold say to his lady gay:
“Oh, Susan, lovely Susan, I soon must leave this shore
For to cross the briney ocean on a British man of war.”