Talk:Heart of Oak

New Lyrics???
I'll sign my comment at a later date - bloody system crashed on me again....

I just wanted to state, that, as far as I know, the lyrics by Garrick are and always were the official (and only) lyrics to Heart of Oak. I therefore find it highly confusing to use the term "New Lyrics" for some eager amateur's attempt to update them. I would also question if these "other" lyrics that have so recently found their way into the article are not taking up too dominant a space in the article, seeing that the fact of their existence is, as I understand it, merely a piece of miscellani. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 95.208.30.24 (talk) 22:36, 4 January 2012 (UTC)

Prize more than all to an Englishman dear?
When I was in the Canadian Student Naval Reserve in the early 1970's, the base commander was fond of this song. We may have been taught some words then, or perhaps I found them in a paper song book at some later date.

As at http://www.axma75.dsl.pipex.com/files/Shantys/Hearts_of_Oak.htm the starting line I learned was

"Come cheer up, my lads, 'tis to glory we steer, the prize more than all to an Englishman dear".

Is there any documentation of the chronology of that version?

--SportWagon (talk) 19:36, 12 August 2012 (UTC)

Freemen not slaves
I understood from my late father (ex RN) thet this phrase was comparing free English sailors with the slaves needed to row galleys. Can anyone confirm or deny, and if the former perhaps the page should reflect this? Martin of Sheffield (talk) 19:50, 23 April 2016 (UTC)
 * I have heard, e.g. []
 * To honour we call you, not press you like slaves,
 * For who are so free as the sons of the waves?
 * That always seemed to me a somewhat ironic downplaying of the notion of press gangs. So, sorry, with all due respect, I think your father's comment is just an embellishment of that.  As in, "you will not be slaves because you won't be chained to your seat in the galley".  If you see what I mean.  That is to say, the song is partially propaganda.  And your father's comment is in a sense right as it is an interpretation, but it's not clear the interpretation was clearly intended by the (multiple?) authors.--SportWagon (talk) 16:37, 6 May 2016 (UTC)


 * Perhaps you are applying a 21st century mindset to the words? They were written for a London audience in 1760.  Given the invasion fear of the previous year until Quiberon Bay; I think that rather than "propaganda",  "jingoistic" might be nearer the mark.  The people who attended Garrick's pantomime were unlikely to be the victims of press gangs.  Press gangs were only permitted to impress seamen, landsmen were exempt.  They also tended to operate in major ports like Bristol or Chatham rather than London.  About half the Navy's manpower was volunteer, half impressed.  At the time there was a real fear of enslavement by Barbary pirates who raided the West country and Wales (and, I expect, Ireland).  Whether the Spanish galleys were slave powered I don't know, but certainly the North African ones were. Martin of Sheffield (talk) 22:23, 6 May 2016 (UTC)

The Libery Song (American)
Following up on we find The Liberty Song. There is a wikipedia article The Liberty Song. Which further directs us to an Irish song Here's a Health, although it's not clear if that is the same tune or just one with compatible scansion. Something about the Heart of Oak tune encourages the writing of compatible lyrics.--SportWagon (talk) 17:01, 6 May 2016 (UTC)

Harlequins Invasion?
Curious as to the location of the song lyrics in the libretto of Harlequins invasion. Couldn't see anything flicking through the version at Archive.org, but might have missed it. Also searched for the song title in Eighteenth Century Collections Online, but no mention of Garrick.--Lmstearn (talk) 10:41, 6 August 2018 (UTC)