Heart of Oak is the official march of the British Royal Navy. Here the singers recall, with no small amount of pride, the many stunning victories of the Royal Navy in 1759. Known to the British as the "Wonderful year," 1759 saw the decisive turning point of the Seven Years' War and paved the way for Britain to solidify itself as the pre-eminent naval power of the next two centuries.
Originally written as part of an opera, the music for Heart of Oak was composed by William Boyce, with the words by David Garrick, in 1760. It is here performed by The Honley Male Voice Choir & The Band of H.M. Royal Marines
Listen to Heart of Oak
Lyrics:
Come, cheer up, my lads, 'tis to glory we steer,
To add something more to this wonderful year.
To honour we call you, not press you like slaves,
For who are so free as the sons of the waves?
Heart of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men,
We always are ready; Steady, boys, steady.
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.
We never see our foes but we wish them to stay,
They never see us but they wish us away.
If they run, why we follow, and run them ashore,
And if they won't fight us, we can do no more.
Heart of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men,
We always are ready; Steady, boys, steady.
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.
Still Britain shall triumph, her ships plough the sea,
Her standard be Justice – her watchword, 'be free.'
Then cheer up, my lads, with one heart let us sing,
Our soldiers, our sailors, our statesmen and king.
Heart of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men,
We always are ready; Steady, boys, steady.
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.
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