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William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.

The Seven Naval Victories

JOHN BULL, in a passion, once stoutly resolved

That he’d settle accounts, in dispute long involved:

For John had found out by his books, it appears,

That Jonathan owed him a grudge for some years.
Derry down, &c.

This Jonathan was a great dealer in ware,

Who imported the notions that Johnny could spare;

Whom he thought his best friend, until time had betray’d

He’d deceived him in orders, in counsel, and trade.
Derry down, &c.

When John first came out in a warrior’s attire,

His crest triple-plumed, his mouth foaming with ire;

He challenged his customer boldly to fight,

To prove by a combat his balance was right.
Derry down, &c.

Friend Jonathan was not a lover of strife,

He loved money well, but much better his life;

And John vainly thought he had not to do more

Than to kick and to cuff him as oft he’d before,
Derry down, &c.

When Jonathan heard of John’s bluster, the while,

His anger was kindled, his blood it did boil:

Quoth he, “Mr. Bull, I’ll soon make it appear

You have taken this time the wrong sow by the ear.”
Derry down, &c.

The battle commenced and with fury was tried;

Whilst John on his skill and experience relied,

Poor Johnny, untutor’d, on bottom did rest,

He’d a strong Constitution—his pluck was the best.
Derry down, &c.

John sparr’d at a distance, right sure of success,

Till Jonathan closed with a furious press;

And, breaking one half of his ribs at a blow,

In forty-five minutes, John cried, “Stop, Hull-O!”
Derry down, &c.

The battle concluded, John scarcely could rest,

His feelings were wounded, his spirits depress’d;

So, says he, “By the way of drowning all pain,

I’ll get drunk in a Frolic, and fight him again.”
Derry down, &c.

This insolent threat, under shameful defeat,

Raised Jonathan’s choler, and Jonathan’s feet;

Like a Wasp he flew at him, and, changing his tones,

John cried out peccavi to old Davy Jones.
Derry down, &c.

John having revived from his desperate wo,

And gaining fresh courage from every fresh blow;

Macedonian madness, like Aleck the great,

Involved him in wars—in black eyes—broken pate.
Derry down, &c.

For John, in the course of the rolling of time,

Had changed his retirement, his country and clime;

And in the United States was again met

By Jonathan, who drubb’d him into a sweat.
Derry down, &c.

John, stung with disaster and threefold disgrace,

In India’s fair climes sought for safety and peace;

But Jonathan chanced to go there in pursuit,

He met him in Java, and flogg’d him to boot.
Derry down, &c.

John, finding that he had to do with a wight

Who was too much his match in a rough fisty fight;

Resolved a few lessons to learn, ere ’twas late,

At Crib’s or at Molineux’s next royal bait.
Derry down, &c.

Now John, who for boasting could ne’er be outdone,

Had a bird which, for splendour, would rival the sun:

A bird which, he said, that, when pitted to fight,

Was as certain of conquest as valorous knight.
Derry down, &c.

His Peacock he placed in the care of a friend,

But, the bird being silly, soon came to its end:

For, approaching too near to a dangerous nest,

A Hornet attacked and soon buzz’d him to rest.
Derry down, &c.

Jack having acquired the pugical art,

And priding himself on his muscles and heart;

Left home in the character, novel and rare,

Of a Boxer profess’d in the “art militaire.”
Derry down, &c.

When Jonathan saw him first flourish his fists,

The gauntlet was thrown, and they enter’d the lists,

For Jonathan’s Enterprise boldly defies

Broken ribs, bloody nose, or a pair of black eyes.
Derry down, &c.

The ring was now form’d—the first round was severe;

John dealt his opponent a blow on the ear,

Which had well nigh proved fatal to Johnny, alack!

Had he not been supported by friends at his back.
Derry down, &c.

The second round alter’d the state of the fight;

John was knock’d down in turn, and the dust made to bite,

Which decided, right quickly, the fate of the day,

For John cried “enough,” and was straight led away.
Derry down, &c.

To Jonathan’s carried, his wounds were bound up,

And John, when recruited, requested a sup

Of cider or whisky, his strength to repair,

So Jonathan gave him the “juice of a pear.”
Derry down, &c.

The taste of the liquor well pleased Mr. Bull,

Who, having quaff’d potently, till he was full,

In a style of importance turn’d round to his host,

And told him he’d take all his Perry at cost.
Derry down, &c.

Now Jonathan was a right humorous wag;

He order’d the liquor—the jug did not flag;

And John got his dose of the exquisite stuff;

For the Perry o’ercame him—he cried “I’ve enough!”
Derry down, &c.

When John became sober and thought of his state,

Says he, “Chance is against me, as well as my fate:

I’ve been seven times conquer’d, and now I at length

Think it time to walk off, to recover my strength.”
Derry down, &c.