Never mind the why and wherefore,
Love can level ranks, and therefore,
Though his lordship's station's mighty,
Though stupendous be his brain,
Though her tastes are mean and flighty
And her fortune poor and plain,
Ring the merry bells on board-ship,
Rend the air with warbling wild,
For the union of his/my lordship
With a humble captain's child!
For a humble captain's daughter
For a gallant captain's daughter
And a lord who rules the water
And a tar who ploughs the water!
Let the air with joy be laden,
Rend with songs the air above,
For the union of a maiden
With the man who owns her love!
Never mind the why and wherefore,
Love can level ranks, and therefore,
Though your nautical relation
In my set could scarcely pass,
Though you occupy a station
In the lower middle class
Ring the merry bells on board-ship,
Rend the air with warbling wild,
For the union of his/my lordship
With a humble captain's child!
For a humble captain's daughter
For a gallant captain's daughter
And a lord who rules the water
And a tar who ploughs the water!
Let the air with joy be laden,
Rend with songs the air above,
For the union of a maiden
With the man who owns her love!
Never mind the why and wherefore,
Love can level ranks, and therefore
I admit the jurisdiction;
Ably have you played your part;
You have carried firm conviction
To my hesitating heart.
Ring the merry bells on board-ship,
Rend the air with warbling wild,
For the union of his/my lordship
With a humble captain's child!
For a humble captain's daughter
For a gallant captain's daughter
And a lord who rules the water
And a tar who ploughs the water!
Let the air with joy be laden.
Ring the merry bells on board-ship,
For the union of a maiden
For her union with his lordship.
Rend with songs the air above,
For the man who owns her love!
Rend with songs the air above,
For the man who owns her love!