Spanish Ladies

Spanish Ladies←MIDIファイル、クリックで演奏

英国の船乗りの歌としては、古いもののひとつで一番有名かつ愛されている伝承曲。 この曲が生まれたのは、ウインター提督旗下の英国艦隊がスペインのカディスで越冬した1694年～1695年の時ではないかと考えられている。 映画「マスター･アンド･コマンダー」、TV映画「ホーンブロワー２」でも使われていたので、聞いたことのある人は多いと思う。又、TV映画「シャープ」では。ジョン･タム扮するダニエル・ハグマンが替え歌を歌っている。 口承で伝えられてきたので、曲にはさまざまなバリエーションがある。MIDIファイルは一例。 又、歌詞にも様々なバリエーションがある。

Farewell and adieu to you, Spanish ladies, Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain; For we've received orders to sail for old England; We hope in a short time to see you again.

Chorus: We'll rant and we'll roar like true British sailors, We'll rant and we'll roar all on the salt seas, Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England, From Ushant to Scilly ‘tis thirty five leagues.

We hove our ship to with the wind from sou'west, boys, We hove our ship to, for to strike soundings clear; It’s forty-five fathoms with a white sandy bottom; We squared our main yard and up channel did steer.

Chorus: We'll rant and we'll roar like true British sailors, We'll rant and we'll roar all on the salt seas, Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England, From Ushant to Scilly ‘tis thirty five leagues.

Now the first land we sighted it is called the Deadman, Next Ramshead off Plymouth, Start, Portland, and Wight; We sailed on by Beechy, by Fairleigh and Dungeness, And we hove our ship to off the South Foreland Light.

Chorus: We'll rant and we'll roar like true British sailors, We'll rant and we'll roar all on the salt seas, Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England, From Ushant to Scilly ‘tis thirty five leagues.

Then the signal was given for the grand fleet to anchor, And all in the Downs that night for to lie. “Let go your shank-painter, likewise your catstopper, Haul up your clew garnets, let tacks and sheets fly!”

Chorus: We'll rant and we'll roar like true British sailors, We'll rant and we'll roar all on the salt seas, Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England, From Ushant to Scilly ‘tis thirty five leagues.

Now let every man drink off his full bumper And let every man toss off his full glass. We'll sing and be jolly, and drown melancholy, And here's to the health of each true-hearted lass!

Chorus: We'll rant and we'll roar like true British sailors, We'll rant and we'll roar all on the salt seas, Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England, From Ushant to Scilly ‘tis thirty five leagues.

曲を聴きたい人にはこのCDがお薦め