The Lass That Loves A Sailor
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Lesley Nelson
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This English tune was written by Charles Dibdin (1740-1814).

Charles Dibdin was the eighteenth son of a poor silvermaker. He was born in Southampton in 1740 and died in London in 1814. In 1778 he became resident composer at Covent Garden. In 1803 the British government paid him to write a series of songs to "keep alive the national feelings against the French." (1)

Dibdin's songs were said to be worth ten thousand sailors to the cause of England. His songs were also popular in Canada and America before and during the American Revolution and during the War of 1812.

For other tunes by Charles Dibdin at this site, enter Charles Dibdin in the search engine or see The Contemplator's Short Biography of Charles Dibdin.

The moon on the ocean
Was dimmed by a ripple
Affording a chequered delight;
The gay jolly tars
Passed a word for the tipple,
And the toast -
For 'twas Saturday night:
Some sweetheart or wife
He loved as his life
Each drank, and wished
He could hail her:
But the standing toast
That pleased the most,
Was 'The wind that blows,
The Ship that goes,
And the lass that loves a sailor!'

Some drank 'The Queen,'
And some her brave ships,
And some 'The Constitution';
Some 'May our foes,
And all such rips,
Yield to English resolution!'
That fate might bless
Some Poll or Bess,
And that they soon
Might hail her:
But the standing toast
That pleased the most,
Was 'The wind that blows,
The Ship that goes,
And the lass that loves a sailor!'

Some drank 'The Prince,'
And some 'Our Land,'
This glorious land of freedom!
Some that our tars
May never stand
For heroes brave to lead them!
That she who's in distress may find,
Such friends as ne'er will fail her.
But the standing toast
That pleased the most,
Was 'The wind that blows,
The Ship that goes,
And the lass that loves a sailor!'
Related Links
From Our National Songs and
(1)The National Music of America and Its Sources
See Bibliography for full information.