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| AN AMERICAN Frigate:—a frigate of fame, | |
| With guns mounting forty, The Richard by name, | |
| Sailed to cruise in the channels of old England, | |
| With a valiant commander, Paul Jones was his name. | |
| Hurrah! Hurrah! Our country forever, Hurrah! | 5 |
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| We had not cruised long, before he espies | |
| A large forty-four, and a twenty likewise; | |
| Well manned with bold seamen, well laid in with stores, | |
| In consort to drive us from Old England’s shores. | |
| Hurrah! Hurrah! Our country forever, Hurrah! | 10 |
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| About twelve at noon, Pearson came alongside, | |
| With a loud speaking trumpet, “Whence came you?” he cried: | |
| “Return me an answer—I hailed you before, | |
| Or if you do not, a broadside I’ll pour.” Hurrah! | |
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| Paul Jones then said to his men, every one, | 15 |
| “Let every true seaman stand firm to his gun! | |
| We’ll receive a broadside from this bold Englishman, | |
| And like true Yankee sailors, return it again.” Hurrah! | |
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| The contest was bloody, both decks ran with gore, | |
| And the sea seemed to blaze, while the cannon did roar. | 20 |
| “Fight on, my brave boys,” then Paul Jones he cried, | |
| “And soon we will humble this Englishman’s pride.” Hurrah! | |
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| “Stand firm to your quarters—your duty don’t shun, | |
| The first one that shrinks, through the body I’ll run, | |
| Though their force is superior, yet they shall know, | 25 |
| What true, brave American seamen can do.” Hurrah! | |
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| The battle rolled on, till bold Pearson cried: | |
| “Have you yet struck your colors? then come alongside!” | |
| But so far from thinking that the battle was won, | |
| Brave Paul Jones replied: “I’ve not yet begun!” Hurrah! | 30 |
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| We fought them eight glasses, eight glasses so hot, | |
| Till seventy bold seamen lay dead on the spot. | |
| And ninety brave seamen lay stretched in their gore, | |
| While the pieces of cannon most fiercely did roar. | |
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| Our gunner, in great fright, to Captain Jones came, | 35 |
| “We gain water quite fast and our side’s in a flame.” | |
| Then Paul Jones said in the height of his pride: | |
| “If we cannot do better, boys, sink alongside!” | |
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| The Alliance bore down, and the Richard did rake, | |
| Which caused the bold hearts of our seamen to ache: | 40 |
| Our shots flew so hot that they could not stand us long, | |
| And the undaunted Union-of-Britain came down. | |
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| To us they did strike and their colors hauled down; | |
| The fame of Paul Jones to the world shall be known, | |
| His name shall rank with the gallant and brave, | 45 |
| Who fought like a hero—our freedom to save. | |
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| Now all valiant seamen where’er you may be, | |
| Who hear of this combat that’s fought on the sea, | |
| May you all do like them when called to do the same, | |
| And your names be enrolled on the pages of fame. | 50 |
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| Your country will boast of her sons that are brave, | |
| And to you she will look from all dangers to save, | |
| She’ll call you dear sons, in her annals you’ll shine, | |
| And the brows of the brave shall green laurels entwine. | |
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| So now my brave boys have we taken a prize— | 55 |
| A large 44 and a 20 likewise! | |
| Then God bless the mother whose doom is to weep | |
| The loss of her sons in the ocean so deep. | |
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