Agamemnon
The HMS Agamemnon was a 3rd rate ship-of-the-line that served in the British Royal Navy from 1781 to 1809 and fought with her 64 guns throughout the American Revolutionary, French Revolutionary, and Napoleonic Wars. She was captained for a period of three years (1793-1796) by none other than Horatio Nelson before he became an Admiral. She was notorious for needing constant repair and yet she is remembered as Nelson’s favorite ship. The Agamemnon met her end in the River Plate* (in Uruguay) when she ran aground in June 1809 and could not be refloated.
[Verse 1]
Where is Henry Adams now, that planned the Agamemnon?
Foundered on the River Plate, in Maldonaldos Bay.
Oak and iron blood of her, his fine one, his darling,
Sink him in his hammock boys, he’s gone far away!
Oak and iron blood of her, his fine one, his darling,
Sink him in his hammock boys, he’s gone far away!
[Verse 2]
Where are all the Beaulieu boys, that built the Agamemnon?
Let them lie ‘neath waving grass, contented where they lay.
Saws and swinging riveters, their sounds will not be waking them,
Sink them in their hammocks boys, they’ve gone far away!
Saws and swinging riveters, their sounds will not be waking them,
Sink them in their hammocks boys, they’ve gone far away!
(Verse 3]
Where is Captain Nelson now, that sailed the Agamemnon?
Fought and beat the Spanish crews in Cape St Vincent Bay.
Oak and iron blood of her, his fine one, his darling,
Broach the keg of brandy, boys, and send him far away!
Oak and iron blood of her, his fine one, his darling,
Broach the keg of brandy, boys, and send him far away!
[Verse 4]
Where are all the jolly tars, that crewed the Agamemnon?
Men for whom carronades were less hard work than play.
Oak and iron blood were they, and every girl a darling,
Sink them in their hammocks boys, they’ve gone far away!
Oak and iron blood were they, and every girl a darling,
Sink them in their hammocks boys, they’ve gone far away!
[Verse 5 – Lower voices Unison]
Sing the shanty loud, my boys, we’ll rouse the Agamemnon!
Stamp it round her capstan and her anchor we will weigh.
Where are all the wooden walls, the cloud of sails a-bearing?
They’re foundered, sunk or broken, and they’ve gone far away!
Where are all the wooden walls, the cloud of sails a-bearing?
They’re foundered, sunk or broken, and they’ve gone far away!
[Verse 6 Lower voices drone, upper sing melody.]
Where is Henry Adams now, that planned the Agamemnon?
Foundered on the River Plate, in Maldonaldos Bay.
Oak and iron blood of her, his fine one, his darling,
Sink him in his hammock boys, he’s gone far away!
[NO chorus]