The little boats of England,
The little motor boats,
The little penny steamers,
From Lands End to John O'Groats.
The Brighton Belle, the Margate Queen,
The Vigilant, The Lark,
The Saucy Jane, The Gracie Fields,
(Even a Noarh's Arc).
Picked up their country's message
That it's back was to the Wall.
There is danger, there is danger,
Will you answer to the call?
Francis Drake, and Collinwood,
And Nelson of the Nile
Were on their quarterdecks again,
-You should have seen them smile.
When all the little boats pushed out
From Dover to Dunkirk,
To heed their country's message,
That was their job of work.
(Sara Carsley.)
Dunkirk, 1940.
Come listen to me, you gallants so free,
All you that love laughter to hear,
And I will tell you of a bold outlaw
That lived in Nottinghamshire.
As Robin Hood in the forest stood,
Under the greenwood tree,
He saw a young man in scarlet red
Singing a roundelay.
As Robin Hood next morning stood,
Among the leaves so gay,
There he saw the same young man
Come drooping along the way.
The scarlet he wore the day before -
He'd cast it clean away,
At every step he sighed 'Alas!
How wretched I am today!'
Then stepped out brave Little John
And Much the miller's son;
Which made the young man bend his bow,
When he saw them come.
'Stand off, stand off,' the young man said.
'What do you want with me?'
'You must come before our master now,
Under the greenwood tree.'
When he came before their master,
Robin asked him courteously,
'O, have you any money to spare
For my merry men and me?'
'I have no money,' the young man said,
'But five shillings and a ring.
And that I have kept for seven long years,
To have at my wedding.
'Yesterday I should have married a girl,
But she's been taken away
And chosen to be an old knight's delight,
And my poor heart is slain!'
'What is your name?' said Robin Hood.
'My name is Alan-a-dale.'
'How much will you pay if I bring her back
And give her to you without fail?'
'I have no money.' the young man said,
'And that is the truth I tell.
But I will swear to be your man
And ever to serve you well.'
'How many miles to your true-love?
And tell me no lies, I say.'
'By the faith of my body,' the young man said,
'She lives five miles away.'
Then Robin hastened over the fields,
He didn't linger or wait,
Till he came to the church where the wedding was
And rushed in through the gate.
'What's this? What's this?' the bishop said.
'Now tell the truth to me.'
'I'm a bold harper,' said Robin Hood,
'The best in the north country.'
'O welcome, O welcome,' the bishop said.
'That music pleases me.'
'You'll have no music,' said Robin Hood,
'Till the bride and bridegroom I see.'
Just the a wealthy knight came in,
Who was both grave and old,
And after him a dainty lass,
Who shone like glittering gold.
'This is no fit match,' said Robin,
'That you are making here;
And now that we have come to the church,
The bride shall choose her own dear.'
Then Robin put his horn to his mouth
And blew blasts two or three;
And four-and-twenty bowmen brave
Came leaping over the lea.
And when they came to the churchyard,
Marching all in a row,
The first man was Alan-a-dale
To give bold Robin his bow.
'This is your true love,' Robin said,
'Young Alan, as I hear say;
And you shall be married this very hour,
Before we depart away.'
'That shall not be,' the bishop said,
'For your word shall not stand.
They must be asked three times in church -
That's the law of our land.
Robin pulled off the bishop's coat
And put it on Little John.
'By the faith of my body,' Robin said,
'The clothing makes the man.'
When Little John went into the choir,
The people began to laugh;
He asked them seven times in the chursh
Lest three times wasn't enough.
'Who's giving the bride?' said Little John.
'I am.' Up Robin stood.
'The man who takes her from Alan-a-dale
Must reckon with Robin Hood.'
And so the wedding came to an end -
The bride looked fresh as a queen;
And then they returned to the merry green wood
Among the leaves so green.
(Traditional/Folk)
No need for words.
