Heart of Oak
Encyclopedia
"Heart of Oak" is the official march
of the Royal Navy
of the United Kingdom
. It is also the official march of several Commonwealth navies including the Royal Canadian Navy
, the Royal Australian Navy
and the Royal New Zealand Navy
.
The music was composed by Dr William Boyce, and the words were written by the 18th Century English actor David Garrick
. Heart of Oak was originally written as an opera. It first saw the light of day on New Year's Eve 1759 sung by Samuel Thomas Champnes
, grandson of John Weldon
in one of the first pantomimes "Harlequin's Invasion" at the Garrick Theatre
.
The "wonderful year" referenced in the first verse is 1759-60, during which British forces were victorious in several significant battles: the Battle of Minden
on 1st of August 1759, the Battle of Lagos
on 19 August 1759, the battle of Quebec City
on 13 September 1759 and the Battle of Quiberon Bay
on 20 November 1759, foiling a French invasion project
. These were followed a few months later by the Battle of Wandiwash
in India on 22 January 1760. Britain's continued success in the war
boosted the song's popularity.
Royal Canadian Sea Cadets now make it a popular tradition to sing Heart of Oak during days of their parades.
The oak
in the song's title refers to the wood from which British warship
s were traditionally made in the age of sail
. The phrase "hearts of oak" appears in English translations of the Aeneid
.
To add something more to this wonderful year;
To honour we call you, as freemen not slaves,
For who are so free as the sons of the waves
(Chorus sung once...)
Heart of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men,
we always are ready; Steady, boys, steady!
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.
We ne'er see our foes but we wish them to stay,
They never see us but they wish us away;
If they run,why we follow and run them ashore,
And if they won't fight us, what cannot do more.
(Chorus sung once...)
we still make them feel and we still make them flee,
and drub them at shore as we drub them at sea,
so cheer up me lads with one heart let us sing,
oh soldiers and sailors, our statesmen and king.
(Chorus sung once...)
WHEN Alfred
, our King, drove the Dane from this land,
He planted an oak with his own royal hand;
And he pray'd for Heaven's blessing to hallow the tree,
As a sceptre for England, the queen of the sea.
(Chorus sung once...)
Hearts of oak are our ships, hearts of oak are our men,
We always are ready, steady boys, steady,
To charge and to conquer again and again.
The sapling shot up and stuck firm to the ground;
It defied every tempest that bellow'd around;
And still was it seen with fresh vigour to shoot,
When the blood of our martyrs had moisten'd its root.
(Chorus sung once...)
But the worms of corruption had eaten their way
Through its bark; till a Wardle has swept them away,
He has sworn, no such reptiles our tree shall infest,
And our patriots soon shall extirpate the nest.
(Chorus sung once...)
Yon tyrant, whose rule abject Europe bemoans —
Yon brood of usurpers who sit on her thrones —
Shall look on our country, and tremble with awe,
Where a son of the Monarch has bow'd to the law,
(Chorus sung once...)
Now long live the Briton, who dar'd to revive
The spirit which Britons scarce felt was alive;
His name shall be carv'd, while of freedom we sing,
On the oak' that was planted by Alfred our King.
(Chorus sung once...)
March (music)
A march, as a musical genre, is a piece of music with a strong regular rhythm which in origin was expressly written for marching to and most frequently performed by a military band. In mood, marches range from the moving death march in Wagner's Götterdämmerung to the brisk military marches of John...
of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is also the official march of several Commonwealth navies including the Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
, the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
and the Royal New Zealand Navy
Royal New Zealand Navy
The Royal New Zealand Navy is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
.
The music was composed by Dr William Boyce, and the words were written by the 18th Century English actor David Garrick
David Garrick
David Garrick was an English actor, playwright, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of theatrical practice throughout the 18th century and was a pupil and friend of Dr Samuel Johnson...
. Heart of Oak was originally written as an opera. It first saw the light of day on New Year's Eve 1759 sung by Samuel Thomas Champnes
Samuel Thomas Champnes
Samuel Thomas Champnes was the first person to sing "Heart of Oak" in Harlequin's Invasion at the Garrick Theatre in Drury lane. A former Westminster Chorister, probably owing to his maternal Grandfather being John Weldon an apprentice to Purcell and a Royal Organist at St George's Chapel...
, grandson of John Weldon
John Weldon
John Weldon may refer to:* John Weldon , British musician* John Weldon , Academy Award-winning National Film Board of Canada animator-See also:* Brinsley MacNamara , Irish writer, born John Weldon...
in one of the first pantomimes "Harlequin's Invasion" at the Garrick Theatre
Garrick Theatre
The Garrick Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Charing Cross Road, in the City of Westminster. It opened on 24 April 1889 with The Profligate, a play by Arthur Wing Pinero. In its early years, it appears to have specialised in the performance of melodrama, and today the theatre is a...
.
The "wonderful year" referenced in the first verse is 1759-60, during which British forces were victorious in several significant battles: the Battle of Minden
Battle of Minden
The Battle of Minden—or Thonhausen—was fought on 1 August 1759, during the Seven Years' War. An army fielded by the Anglo-German alliance commanded by Field Marshal Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick, defeated a French army commanded by Marshal of France Louis, Marquis de Contades...
on 1st of August 1759, the Battle of Lagos
Battle of Lagos
The naval Battle of Lagos between Britain and France took place on August 19, 1759 during the Seven Years' War off the coasts of Spain and Portugal, and is named after Lagos, Portugal. For the British, it was part of the Annus Mirabilis of 1759.-Origins:...
on 19 August 1759, the battle of Quebec City
Battle of the Plains of Abraham
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, also known as the Battle of Quebec, was a pivotal battle in the Seven Years' War...
on 13 September 1759 and the Battle of Quiberon Bay
Battle of Quiberon Bay
The naval Battle of Quiberon Bay took place on 20 November 1759 during the Seven Years' War in Quiberon Bay, off the coast of France near St. Nazaire...
on 20 November 1759, foiling a French invasion project
Planned French Invasion of Britain (1759)
A French invasion of Great Britain was planned to take place in 1759 during the Seven Years' War, but due to various factors including naval defeats at the Battle of Lagos and the Battle of Quiberon Bay was never launched. The French planned to land 100,000 French soldiers in Britain to end British...
. These were followed a few months later by the Battle of Wandiwash
Battle of Wandiwash
The Battle of Wandiwash was a decisive battle in India during the Seven Years' War. The Count de Lally's army, burdened by a lack of naval support and funds, attempted to regain the fort at Vandavasi near Pondicherry. He was attacked by Sir Eyre Coote's forces and decisively defeated...
in India on 22 January 1760. Britain's continued success in the war
Great Britain in the Seven Years War
The Kingdom of Great Britain was one of the major participants in the Seven Years' War which lasted between 1756 and 1763. Britain emerged from the war as the world's leading colonial power having gained a number of new territories at the Treaty of Paris in 1763 and established itself as the...
boosted the song's popularity.
Royal Canadian Sea Cadets now make it a popular tradition to sing Heart of Oak during days of their parades.
The oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
in the song's title refers to the wood from which British warship
Warship
A warship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for combat. Warships are usually built in a completely different way from merchant ships. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and more maneuvrable than merchant ships...
s were traditionally made in the age of sail
Age of Sail
The Age of Sail was the period in which international trade and naval warfare were dominated by sailing ships, lasting from the 16th to the mid 19th century...
. The phrase "hearts of oak" appears in English translations of the Aeneid
Aeneid
The Aeneid is a Latin epic poem, written by Virgil between 29 and 19 BC, that tells the legendary story of Aeneas, a Trojan who travelled to Italy, where he became the ancestor of the Romans. It is composed of roughly 10,000 lines in dactylic hexameter...
.
Lyrics
Come, cheer up, my lads, 'tis to glory we steer,To add something more to this wonderful year;
To honour we call you, as freemen not slaves,
For who are so free as the sons of the waves
(Chorus sung once...)
Heart of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men,
we always are ready; Steady, boys, steady!
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.
We ne'er see our foes but we wish them to stay,
They never see us but they wish us away;
If they run,why we follow and run them ashore,
And if they won't fight us, what cannot do more.
(Chorus sung once...)
we still make them feel and we still make them flee,
and drub them at shore as we drub them at sea,
so cheer up me lads with one heart let us sing,
oh soldiers and sailors, our statesmen and king.
(Chorus sung once...)
New Lyrics
A new version was presented on 16 April 1809 and published in the Spirit of the public Journals, vol XIII, p.75 by Reverend Rylance.WHEN Alfred
Alfred the Great
Alfred the Great was King of Wessex from 871 to 899.Alfred is noted for his defence of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of southern England against the Vikings, becoming the only English monarch still to be accorded the epithet "the Great". Alfred was the first King of the West Saxons to style himself...
, our King, drove the Dane from this land,
He planted an oak with his own royal hand;
And he pray'd for Heaven's blessing to hallow the tree,
As a sceptre for England, the queen of the sea.
(Chorus sung once...)
Hearts of oak are our ships, hearts of oak are our men,
We always are ready, steady boys, steady,
To charge and to conquer again and again.
The sapling shot up and stuck firm to the ground;
It defied every tempest that bellow'd around;
And still was it seen with fresh vigour to shoot,
When the blood of our martyrs had moisten'd its root.
(Chorus sung once...)
But the worms of corruption had eaten their way
Through its bark; till a Wardle has swept them away,
He has sworn, no such reptiles our tree shall infest,
And our patriots soon shall extirpate the nest.
(Chorus sung once...)
Yon tyrant, whose rule abject Europe bemoans —
Yon brood of usurpers who sit on her thrones —
Shall look on our country, and tremble with awe,
Where a son of the Monarch has bow'd to the law,
(Chorus sung once...)
Now long live the Briton, who dar'd to revive
The spirit which Britons scarce felt was alive;
His name shall be carv'd, while of freedom we sing,
On the oak' that was planted by Alfred our King.
(Chorus sung once...)