Admiral Benbow
Michiel Schrey Lyrics


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Come all you seamen bold and draw near and draw near
Come all you seamen bold and draw near
It's of an admiral's fame, brave Benbow was his name
How he sailed upon the main you shall hear, you shall hear

Brave Benbow he set sail for to fight, for to fight
Brave Benbow he set sail for to fight
Brave Benbow he set sail in a keen and pleasant gale
But his captains they turned tail in a fright, in a fright

The surgeon dressed his wounds, Benbow cried, Benbow cried
The surgeon dressed his wounds, Benbow cried:
"Let the cradle now in haste on the quarterdeck be placed




That the enemy I may face 'til I die, 'til I die
And the enemy I may face 'til I die, 'til I die"

Overall Meaning

"Admiral Benbow" is a traditional English ballad that has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Michiel Schrey. The song tells the story of Admiral Benbow, who sets sail to fight in a keen and pleasant gale, only to have his captains turn tail and abandon him in the face of the enemy. Despite being wounded, Benbow refuses to leave the battlefield and orders a cradle to be placed on the quarterdeck so that he can continue to fight until his death.


The lyrics of the song speak to several themes, including bravery, loyalty, and perseverance in the face of adversity. Benbow's refusal to retreat in the face of danger and his willingness to die for his cause symbolize the heroic qualities that are often associated with seafaring legends. At the same time, the song also acknowledges the practical realities of warfare, including the need for medical care and the importance of teamwork in achieving victory.


Line by Line Meaning

Come all you seamen bold and draw near and draw near
All sailors should come and listen carefully to this song


It's of an admiral's fame, brave Benbow was his name
This song is about the famous Admiral Benbow


How he sailed upon the main you shall hear, you shall hear
I'll tell you about how he sailed on the ocean


Brave Benbow he set sail for to fight, for to fight
Admiral Benbow went to sea to fight


Brave Benbow he set sail in a keen and pleasant gale
The weather was nice when Admiral Benbow set sail


But his captains they turned tail in a fright, in a fright
However, his captains were scared and retreated from battle


The surgeon dressed his wounds, Benbow cried, Benbow cried
After being injured in battle, Admiral Benbow cried out for medical attention


Let the cradle now in haste on the quarterdeck be placed
Admiral Benbow ordered for a cradle to be placed on the deck so he could continue fighting


That the enemy I may face 'til I die, 'til I die
He wanted to face the enemy until his death


And the enemy I may face 'til I die, 'til I die
He reaffirmed his desire to fight the enemy with his last breath




Contributed by Colton G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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