by Henry Newbolt, Sir (1862 - 1938)
Drake in the North Sea grimly prowling
Language: English
Drake in the North Sea grimly prowling, Treading his dear Revenge's deck, Watch'd, with the sea-dogs round him growling, Galleons drifting wreck by wreck. "Fetter and Faith for England's neck, Faggot and Father, Saint and chain, Yonder the Devil and all go howling, Devon, O Devon, in wind and rain!" Drake at the last off Nombre lying, Knowing the night that toward him crept, Gave to the sea-dogs round him crying This for a sign before he slept: "Pride of the West! What Devon hath kept Devon shall keep on tide or main; Call to the storm and drive them flying, Devon, O Devon, in wind and rain!" Valour of England gaunt and whitening, Far in a Southland brought to bay, Locked in a death-grip all day tight'ning, Waited the end in twilight gray. Battle and storm and the sea-dog's way Drake from his long rest turn'd again, Vict'ry lit thy steel with lightning, Devon, O Devon, in wind and rain!
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Henry Newbolt, Sir (1862 - 1938), "Waggon Hill", appears in The Sailing of the Long-Ships and Other Poems, first published 1902 [author's text not yet checked 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 Charles Villiers Stanford, Sir (1852 - 1924), "Devon, O Devon, in wind and rain", op. 91 no. 3 (1904), published 1904 [baritone, TTBB chorus, and orchestra], from Songs of the Sea, no. 3. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Ted Perry
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 161