Historical Recordings's video: Heart of Oak - Song of the Royal Navy Recorded 1915

Support the Channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Feldmarschall_Friedrich This is a 1915 recording of "Heart of Oak" performed by the Canadian Cecilian Male Quartet. “Heart of Oak” is the official song of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. It is also used by several Commonwealth navies including the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy. The music was composed by William Boyce. Lyrics were composed by the 18th-century English actor David Garrick. "Heart of Oak" was originally written as part of an opera. It was first played publicly on New Year's Eve of 1760 and was sung by sung by Samuel Thomas Champnes, a favorite soloist of Handel. The song celebrates the year 1759, which is referred to as the "wonderful year in British history. That year, British forces were victorious in several significant battles: the Battle of Minden, the Battle of Lagos, the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, and the Battle of Quiberon Bay, and the Battle of Wandiwash in India The oak in the song's title refers to the wood from which British warships were generally made during the age of sail. Lyrics (English): Come, cheer up, my lads, 'tis to glory we steer, To add something more to this wonderful year; To honour we call you, as freemen not slaves, For who are so free as the sons of the waves? Chorus: 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 ne'er 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, For if they won't fight us, what can we do more? (Chorus) They say they'll invade us these terrible foe, They frighten our women, our children, our beaus, But if should their flat-bottoms, in darkness set oar, Still Britons they'll find to receive them on shore. (Chorus) We still make them fear and we still make them flee, And drub them ashore as we drub them at sea, Then cheer up me lads with one heart let us sing, Our soldiers and sailors, our statesmen and king. (Chorus X2)