Roast Beef Of Old England

When mighty Roast Beef was the Englishman's food
It ennobled our brains and enriched our blood.
Our soldiers were brave and our courtiers were good
Oh! The Roast Beef of old England, And old English Roast Beef!
But since we have learnt from all-vapouring France
To eat their ragouts as well as to dance
We're fed up with nothing but vain complaisance
Oh! The Roast Beef of Old England, And old English Roast Beef!
Our fathers of old were robust, stout, and strong,
And kept open house, with good cheer all day long
Which made their plump tenants rejoice in this song
Oh! The Roast Beef of Old England, And old English Roast Beef!
When good Queen Elizabeth sat on the throne
Ere coffee, or tea, or such slip-slops were known
The world was in terror if e'er she did frown.
Oh! The Roast Beef of Old England, And old English Roast Beef!
In those days, if Fleets did presume on the Main
They seldom, or never, return'd back again
As witness the Vaunting Armada of Spain
Oh! The Roast Beef of Old England, And old English Roast Beef!
Oh! The Roast Beef of Old England, And old English Roast Beef!
Britannia's had tridents still waving on high,
But their tars all be true and their foes all defy
To avenge all their wrongs,
They will conquer or die like brave jolly tars of Ol' England,
The conquering brave British tars!
Now fill up a glass,
While a bumper we have to Howe, Jervis, Duncan and Nelson the Brave
To the bold British tars who now rule on the wave,
Huzzah for the bulwarks of England
And health to each bold British tar!"