For the past twenty-eight years, Geoff Kaufman (geoffkaufman.com) has been … Read Full Bio ↴For the past twenty-eight years, Geoff Kaufman (geoffkaufman.com) has been leading audiences to find truth, humor, and beauty in folk music. Whether singing sailor songs with his quartet, Forebitter; or environmental songs on board the Sloop Clearwater in the Hudson River; or in solo performances at coffeehouses throughout the Northeast United States and festivals in Europe, Geoff has entertained and touched audiences near and far.
Songs of the sea, songs of the earth, songs of the heart and the spirit—all of these are in Geoff Kaufman's ditty bag. Ancient ballads, work songs, and songs of love; poignant songs of people in struggle, humorous glimpses of human foibles, and insights into history—all of these are likely to be woven into one of Geoff's concerts.
Above all, at the core of Geoff's performance is his rich tenor voice and an exuberant love of singing. And part of that love is to entice audiences to sing along, to share in the exhilaration of full-throated vocalization if they wish. In this age of electronic overload and passive media pabulum, Geoff likes to stress the "live" in live performance, promoting participation, be it by voice or heart or mind.
Songs of the sea, songs of the earth, songs of the heart and the spirit—all of these are in Geoff Kaufman's ditty bag. Ancient ballads, work songs, and songs of love; poignant songs of people in struggle, humorous glimpses of human foibles, and insights into history—all of these are likely to be woven into one of Geoff's concerts.
Above all, at the core of Geoff's performance is his rich tenor voice and an exuberant love of singing. And part of that love is to entice audiences to sing along, to share in the exhilaration of full-throated vocalization if they wish. In this age of electronic overload and passive media pabulum, Geoff likes to stress the "live" in live performance, promoting participation, be it by voice or heart or mind.
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The Constitution And Java
Geoff Kaufman Lyrics
No lyrics text found for this track.
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
exarmydoc
From tommi atkins: "It certainly says something when a nation has to brag about a 4th rater beating a 5th."
"The British public was as shocked at the news of the loss of the Guerrière as the American public was delighted. The last time the British flag had been hauled down in a single-ship action was in 1803, and during the intervening nine years British pride had been gratified and inflated by victories innumerable. The press displayed uncalculating annoyance and dismay. There was even a hint of condemnation for Dacres because he had surrendered and had not gone down fighting, even though professional opinion was on his side on that particular point-as one naval officer wrote, “The blood of every forfeited life would have been upon him.
Even the more sober press was startled and disappointed. The measure of the public interest is displayed in the amount of editorial comment devoted to this one frigate action (the loss of the Alert was accepted as one of the inevitable incidents of war) at a moment when events of immense importance were happening elsewhere. Wellington had won his victory of Salamanca and had made his triumphant entry into Madrid. Bonaparte had entered Moscow, and the news that the city had been burned arrived at the same time as Dacres’ report; even though acute guesses were being made that Bonaparte was about to be forced into retreat, that imminent possibility was not regarded as compensation for the loss of the Guerrière. Brock had defeated and captured Hull at Detroit, but that startling military victory did not salve the national irritation over the minor naval defeat."
Forester, C. S. (2012-05-28). The Age of Fighting Sail (Kindle Locations 1145-1157). eNet Press Inc.. Kindle Edition.
It also says something that the nation with the mightiest navy on Earth at the time was so distraught over the defeat of this 5th rate by an American 4th rate.
Roman Empire
It oft-times has been told, that the British seamen bold
Could flog the tars of France so neat and handy, Oh!
But they never met their match, till the Yankees did them catch
Oh, the Yankee boys for fighting are the dandy, Oh.
The Guerriere, a frigate bold, on the foaming ocean rolled
Commanded by proud Dacres, the grandee, Oh!
With as choice a British crew as ever a rammer drew
Could flog the Frenchmen two to one so handy, Oh!
When the frigate hove in view, says proud Dacres to his crew,
"Come clear the ship for action and be handy, Oh!
To the weather-gage, boys, get her." And to make his men fight better
Gave them to drink, gunpowder mixed with brandy, Oh!
Then Dacres loudly cries, "Make this Yankee ship your prize,
You can in thirty minutes, neat and handy, Oh!
Twenty-five's enough, I'm sure, and if you'll do it in a score
I'll treat you to a double share of brandy, Oh!"
The British shot flew hot, Which the Yankees answered not
Till they got within the distrance they called handy, Oh!
"Now," says Hull unto his crew, "Let us see what we can do,
If we take this boasting Briton we're the dandy, Oh!"
The first broadside we poured carried her mainmast by the board
Which made this lofty frigate look abandoned, Oh!
Then Dacres shook his head, and to his officers said,
"Lord! I didn't think those Yankees were so handy, Oh!"
Our secon told so well that their fore and mizzen fell,
Which doused the royal ensign neat and handy, Oh!
"By George!" says he, "We're done!" And they fired a lee gun
While the Yankees struck up Yankee Doodle Dandy, Oh!
Then Dacres came on board to deliver up his sword.
Tho'loth was he to part with it, it was so handy, Oh!
"Oh! Keep your sword," says Hull, "For it only makes you dull,
Cheer up, and let us have a little brandy, Oh!
Now, fill your glasses full, and we'll drink to captain hull
And so merrily we'll push around the brandy, Oh!
Johnny Bull may boast his fill, let the world say what it will,
The Yankee boys for fighting are the dandy, Oh!
Captain Ryusugi
USS Constitution should inspire every American heart. While other warships have come and gone, the Constitution has always been here, like our Constitution.itself.
G. Jacob Laubach
Britannia may have ruled the waves, but Columbia was the gem of the ocean!
exarmydoc
From tommi atkins: "It certainly says something when a nation has to brag about a 4th rater beating a 5th."
"The British public was as shocked at the news of the loss of the Guerrière as the American public was delighted. The last time the British flag had been hauled down in a single-ship action was in 1803, and during the intervening nine years British pride had been gratified and inflated by victories innumerable. The press displayed uncalculating annoyance and dismay. There was even a hint of condemnation for Dacres because he had surrendered and had not gone down fighting, even though professional opinion was on his side on that particular point-as one naval officer wrote, “The blood of every forfeited life would have been upon him.
Even the more sober press was startled and disappointed. The measure of the public interest is displayed in the amount of editorial comment devoted to this one frigate action (the loss of the Alert was accepted as one of the inevitable incidents of war) at a moment when events of immense importance were happening elsewhere. Wellington had won his victory of Salamanca and had made his triumphant entry into Madrid. Bonaparte had entered Moscow, and the news that the city had been burned arrived at the same time as Dacres’ report; even though acute guesses were being made that Bonaparte was about to be forced into retreat, that imminent possibility was not regarded as compensation for the loss of the Guerrière. Brock had defeated and captured Hull at Detroit, but that startling military victory did not salve the national irritation over the minor naval defeat."
Forester, C. S. (2012-05-28). The Age of Fighting Sail (Kindle Locations 1145-1157). eNet Press Inc.. Kindle Edition.
It also says something that the nation with the mightiest navy on Earth at the time was so distraught over the defeat of this 5th rate by an American 4th rate.
tommi atkins
I missed the reply! Yep, we were used to winning of course, but even a mighty name like Forrester errs here. Berwick, Calcutter, Swiftsure, Seagul, Tigress, Carnation, Alert, Minx, Junon, Grinder, Nerandi, Alban, little belt, safeguard, manly, attack....
The Royal Navy was not Invincible. Just better than anyone else.
The USN needed to brag about any Victory to build its Legacy
HMS invincible
HMS victory
HMS legacy.
daver8521
In the War of 1812, the British simply could not fight the Americans when the ships were evenly matched.
Edmund Gennings
The ships were not evenly matched. The Consitution was about 40% larger and the Guerriere was crucially old and in disrepair.
Brian Gourley
Wrong, we got lucky
Robert Ortiz-Wilson
Love it
Roman Empire
It oft-times has been told, that the British seamen bold
Could flog the tars of France so neat and handy, Oh!
But they never met their match, till the Yankees did them catch
Oh, the Yankee boys for fighting are the dandy, Oh.
The Guerriere, a frigate bold, on the foaming ocean rolled
Commanded by proud Dacres, the grandee, Oh!
With as choice a British crew as ever a rammer drew
Could flog the Frenchmen two to one so handy, Oh!
When the frigate hove in view, says proud Dacres to his crew,
"Come clear the ship for action and be handy, Oh!
To the weather-gage, boys, get her." And to make his men fight better
Gave them to drink, gunpowder mixed with brandy, Oh!
Then Dacres loudly cries, "Make this Yankee ship your prize,
You can in thirty minutes, neat and handy, Oh!
Twenty-five's enough, I'm sure, and if you'll do it in a score
I'll treat you to a double share of brandy, Oh!"
The British shot flew hot, Which the Yankees answered not
Till they got within the distrance they called handy, Oh!
"Now," says Hull unto his crew, "Let us see what we can do,
If we take this boasting Briton we're the dandy, Oh!"
The first broadside we poured carried her mainmast by the board
Which made this lofty frigate look abandoned, Oh!
Then Dacres shook his head, and to his officers said,
"Lord! I didn't think those Yankees were so handy, Oh!"
Our secon told so well that their fore and mizzen fell,
Which doused the royal ensign neat and handy, Oh!
"By George!" says he, "We're done!" And they fired a lee gun
While the Yankees struck up Yankee Doodle Dandy, Oh!
Then Dacres came on board to deliver up his sword.
Tho'loth was he to part with it, it was so handy, Oh!
"Oh! Keep your sword," says Hull, "For it only makes you dull,
Cheer up, and let us have a little brandy, Oh!
Now, fill your glasses full, and we'll drink to captain hull
And so merrily we'll push around the brandy, Oh!
Johnny Bull may boast his fill, let the world say what it will,
The Yankee boys for fighting are the dandy, Oh!
Joseph Anderson
Great song! Who was this song originally written by?