Call all hands to man the capstan lyrics

1. Up aloft amid the rigging

Swiftly blows the loud favouring gale

Strong as springtime in its blossom,

Filling out each swelling sail

And the waves we leave behind us

Seem to murmur as they rise,

We have tarried here to bear you,

To the land you dearly prize.

(REF)

Rolling home, rolling home,

Rolling home across the sea;

Rolling home to dear old England

Rolling home, dear land to thee!

2. Full ten thousand miles behind us,

And a thousand miles before,

Ancient ocean waves to waft us

To the well-remembered shore.

Cheer up Jack, bright smiles await you

From the fairest of the fair

And her loving eyes will greet you

With kind welcomes everywhere (REF)

3. Call all hands to man the capstan

See the cable run down clear

Heave away and with a will boys

For old England we will steer

And we'll sing in joyful chorus

In the watches of the night

And we'll sight the shores of England

When the grey dawn brings the light (REF)

Call all hands to man the capstan

See the cable flaked down clear.

Heave away, and with a will, boys,

For ol' England we will steer.

Now Australia we are leavin'

For Old England give a cheer,

Fare thee well, ye dark-eyed damsels

Give three cheers for English beer! (REF)

Goodbye Heads, we're bound to leave you

Haul the tow-rope all inboard,

We will leave old Aussie sternward

Clap all sail we can afford.

Round Cape Horn on a winter's morning

Now among the ice and snow,

You will hear our shellbacks singin'

Sheet her home, boys, let 'er go! (REF)

Eighteen months away from England

Only fifty days, no more,

On salt horse and cracker-hash, boys

Boston beans that mke us sore.

Now the Lizard Light's a-shinin'

And we're bound up to the Nore,

With the canvas full an' drawin'

Soon we'll be on England's shore. (REF)