Captain Stratton's Fancy

Oh, some are fond of red wine and some are fond of white,
And some are all for dancing by the pale moonlight,
But rum alone's the tipple and the heart's delight
Of the old, bold mate of Henry Morgan.

Oh, some are fond of Spanish wine and some are fond of French,
And some'll swallow tay and stuff fit only for a wench,
But I'm for right Jamaica till I roll beneath the bench,
Says the old, bold mate of Henry Morgan.

Oh, some are for the lily and some are for the rose,
But I am for the sugar cane that in Jamaica grows,
For it's that that makes the bonny drink to warm my copper nose,
Says the old, bold mate of Henry Morgan.

Oh, some are fond of fiddles and a song well sung
And some are all for music for to lit upon the tongue,
But mouths were made for tankards and for sucking at the bung,
Says the old, bold mate of Henry Morgan.

Oh, some that's good and godly ones they hold that it's a sin
To troll the jolly bowl around and let the dollars spin,
But I'm for toleration and for drinking at an inn,
Says the old, bold mate of Henry Morgan.

by John Masefield (1878-1967) , "Captain Stratton's Fancy", from Ballads and Poems, published 1910

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

by Esmond Bristol , "The old, bold mate", published 1922. [baritone and piano]
by Ivor Gurney (1890-1937) , "Captain Stratton's Fancy", 1914. [voice and piano]
by (Joseph) Deems Taylor (1885-1966) , "Captain Stratton's Fancy", published 1952. [TTBB a cappella]
by Peter Warlock (1894-1930) [pseudonym] , "Captain Stratton's Fancy", 1921, published 1922. [bass, baritone, or tenor and piano]

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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