by Henry Newbolt, Sir (1862 - 1938)
Translation by Detlev von Liliencron (1844 - 1909)
The Fighting Téméraire
Language: English
It was eight bells ringing, For the morning watch was done, And the gunner's lads were singing As they polished every gun. It was eight bells ringing, And the gunner's lads were singing, For the ship she rode a-swinging As they polished every gun. Oh! to see the linstock lighting, Téméraire! Téméraire! Oh! to hear the round shot biting, Téméraire! Téméraire! Oh! to see the linstock lighting, And to hear the round shot biting, For we're all in love with fighting On the Fighting Téméraire.1 It was noontide ringing, And the battle just begun, When the ship her way was winging As they loaded every gun. It was noontide ringing, When the ship her way was winging, And the gunner's lads were singing As they loaded every gun. There'll be many grim and gory, Téméraire! Téméraire! There'll be few to tell the story, Téméraire! Téméraire! There'll be many grim and gory, There'll be few to tell the story, But we'll all be one in glory With the fighting Téméraire. There's a far bell ringing At the setting of the sun, And a phantom voice is singing Of the great days done. There's a far bell ringing, And a phantom voice is singing Of renown for ever clinging To the great days done. Now the sunset breezes shiver, Téméraire! Téméraire! And she's fading down the river, Téméraire! Téméraire! Now the sunset breezes shiver, And she's fading down the river, But in England's song for ever She's the Fighting Téméraire.
View original text (without footnotes)
1Author's note: The last two stanzas have been misunderstood. It seems, therefore, necessary to state that they are intended to refer to Turner's picture in the National Gallery of "The Fighting Téméraire tugged to her Last Berth."
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
1Author's note: The last two stanzas have been misunderstood. It seems, therefore, necessary to state that they are intended to refer to Turner's picture in the National Gallery of "The Fighting Téméraire tugged to her Last Berth."
Authorship:
- by Henry Newbolt, Sir (1862 - 1938), "The Fighting Téméraire", appears in Admirals All and Other Verses [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Granville Ransome Bantock, Sir (1868 - 1946), "The Fighting Téméraire", published 1927 [TTBB chorus a cappella], from Three Sea Songs, no. 3 [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]
- by Joseph Williams (1847 - 1923), as Florian Pascal, "The Fighting Téméraire", published <<1940 [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Detlev von Liliencron (1844 - 1909) , "Das Schlachtschiff Téméraire. 1796.", subtitle: "Frei nach Henry Newbolt" ; composed by Georg Vollerthun.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-12-06
Line count: 48
Word count: 248
Das Schlachtschiff Téméraire. 1796
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the English
Der Morgenruf will verklingen, Keine Nachtwache legt sich aufs Ohr. Die Blaujacken summen und singen Beim Putzen von Raum und Rohr. Der Morgenruf will verklingen, Das Schiff fährt mit schwellenden Schwingen, Die Blaujacken summen und singen Beim Putzen von Raum und Rohr. Lustig! Laßt die Lunten glimmen, Téméraire! Téméraire! Los, Kartaunen: Löst die Stimmen, Téméraire! Téméraire! Lustig! Laßt die Lunten glimmen, Los, Kartaunen: Löst die Stimmen, Laßt in Liebe uns ergrimmen Für die Fighting Téméraire. Der Mittagsruf will verklingen, Die Schlacht gebar sich schwer, Das Schiff fliegt mit sausenden Schwingen, Sie laden Geschütz und Gewehr. Der Mittagsruf will verklingen, Das Schiff fliegt mit sausenden Schwingen, Die Blaujacken summen und singen Und laden Geschütz und Gewehr. Wut und Weh aus Donnerschlünden, Téméraire! Téméraire! Wer bleibt nach, wer wirds verkünden, Téméraire! Téméraire! Wut und Weh aus Donnerschlünden, Wer bleibt nach, der Welt zu künden, Wie sich Tod und Ruhm verbünden Auf der Fighting Téméraire. Kein Abendruf will erklingen, Die Sonne taucht unter in Blut. Und Geisterstimmen singen Von Lorbeer und Löwenmut. Es breitet die Nacht ihre Schwingen, Kein Abendruf will erklingen, Nur Geisterstimmen singen Von Lorbeer und Löwenmut. Fern im letzten Abendschimmer, Téméraire! Téméraire! Treibt das Schiff im Flutgeflimmer, Téméraire! Téméraire. Fern im letzten Abendschimmer Treibt das Schiff im Flutgeflimmer, Doch in Englands Liedern immer Lebt die Fighting Téméraire.
Authorship:
- by Detlev von Liliencron (1844 - 1909), "Das Schlachtschiff Téméraire. 1796.", subtitle: "Frei nach Henry Newbolt" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Henry Newbolt, Sir (1862 - 1938), "The Fighting Téméraire", appears in Admirals All and Other Verses
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Georg Vollerthun (1876 - 1945), "Das Schlachtschiff Téméraire. 1796", published <<1905 [medium voice and piano], from Gesänge für mittlere Stimme, no. 5, Leipzig, C. F. Kahnt [text not verified]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2015-06-12
Line count: 48
Word count: 217