True Blue (Song For Music) Poem by Cicely Fox Smith

On the scroll of our island's proud story,
Where brave deeds shine brightly as stars,
You may read of the power and the glory
We owe to our gallant Jack Tars.
Of slander Britannia's no lover:
She can give a brave foeman his due:
But there is not a force the world over
To match with old England's True Blue!

Then here's to each ship and each crew;
To the flag that they float under too;
May the brave and the free ever rule o'er the sea,
And here's to old England's True Blue!

Long ago, all the force unavailing
Of the vaunted Armada of Spain,
From the harbour of Cadiz forth sailing
To conquer us came o'er the main.
In the roar of the battle's commotion
They soon learnt their rashness to rue:
Their fleet fled afar o'er the ocean,
When they met with old England's True Blue!

Then here's to each ship and each crew;
To the flag that they float under too;
May the brave and the free ever rule o'er the sea,
And here's to old England's True Blue!

Tho' departed is Nelson the fearless,
And wooden walls guard us no more,
Our sons on the sea are still peerless,
As they were in the days that are o'er.
And if to the power of our nation
You are seeking a tangible clue,
You may find it without hesitation,
In the ranks of old England's True Blue!

Then here's to each ship and each crew;
To the flag that they fought under too!
May we never forget all the glorious debt
We owe to old England's True Blue!