The Ship Builder's Song 1900 'Foxy Quiller'

by James Pitt-Payne, London UK - 16 May 2005

We build the walls of England
the hardy oaken walls
that shall bravely stand,
to defend our land
when tower and fortress falls,
when tower and fortress falls.
We build the walls of England,
and strong and staunch they'll be;
let France and Spain their islands gain,
we Britons rule the sea,
we Britons rule the sea.
I'm not patriotic,
I'm not so rash,
we build said walls,
just for cold, hard cash,
just for cold, hard cash.

Then swing the hammer
and push the plane,
we swing the hammer with might and main;
with a creak and a clang,
with a rasp and a bang,
while the echoes round reply.

Saw and ruler, and vice and blade,
that is the way that the ship is made.

Then swing the hammer
and push the plane,
we swing the hammer with might and main;
with a creak and a clang,
with a rasp and a bang,
while the echoes round reply.

Saw and ruler, and vice and blade,
that is the way that the ship is made.

We make the wealth of England,
for where our vessels roam,
they garner gold,
that the islands hold,
and bring the treasure home,
and bring the treasure home.

We make the fame of England,
and keep our country free;
some may withstand our might on land,
but none upon the sea,
but none upon the sea.
I love to contribute to England's fame,
I may add, I am pretty well paid for the same,
well paid for the same.

Then swing the hammer
and push the plane,
we swing the hammer with might and main;
with a creak and a clang,
with a rasp and a bang,
while the echoes round reply.

Saw and ruler, and vice and blade,
that is the way that the ship is made.

Then swing the hammer
and push the plane,
we swing the hammer with might and main;
with a creak and a clang,
with a rasp and a bang,
while the echoes round reply.

Saw and ruler, and vice and blade,
that is the way that the ship is made.

Soft karaoke
Words
piano 1
piano 2
piano 3
piano 4
lyric
pizz str bass
*
The Ship Builder's Song 1900
Libretto by Harry B. Smith
Music by Reginald de Koven
As Performed by The Klaw & Erlanger Opera Co.
"Foxy Quiller" - A Comic Opera in Three Acts.
© 1900 by Edward Schuberth & Co., 23 Union Square, N.Y.
*
sequence and karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Monday 16 May 2005 at 13.36
in association with Doug Grierson
*