The Saucy Arethusa
The Saucy Arethusa is a sea shanty which although usually considered 'traditional' was possibly written by 'Prince Hoare'[1], a comic opera librettist, in around 1832.
The Arethusa of the title is a frigate of the Royal Navy, named HMS Arethusa, which was captured from the French Navy in 1759. According to Greek mythology, the nymph Arethusa, for whom the ship was named, was transformed by Artemis into a fountain.
It opens
- Come all ye jolly sailors bold
- Whose hearts are cast in honour's mould
- While English glory I unfold
- Hurrah for the Arethusa
- She is a frigate tight and brave
- As ever stemmed the dashing wave
- Her men are staunch to their favorite launch
- And when the foe shall meet our fire
- Sooner than strike we'll all expire
- On board of the Arethusa
- 'Twas with the spring fleet she went out
- The English Channel to cruise about
- When four French sail in show so stout
- Bore down on the Arethusa
When Sir Henry Wood wrote his Fantasia on British Sea Songs in 1905 a version of this shanty became the third movement.
This shanty and the story of the ship is also the basis of a Decemberists song, entitled "Shanty for the Arethusa".