Days of Oak

When ship met ship in olden days, With battle banners flaunting, From stem to stern the cannon's blaze A fiery challenge vaunting— Then man fought man, as brave men should, To keep those walls of native wood.

When broadsides roaring swept the deck, And crews were madly cheering; When sail and spar were shot to wreck, And ships were swiftly nearing; Then men faced death, as brave men should, Behind their walls of native wood.

When face to face and hand to hand— When boarders' blades were flashing; When bloody pikes made desperate stand, And pistol balls were crashing— Then man fought man, as brave men should, To keep those walls of native wood.

When valiant arms prevailed at last, The foe for quarter crying, The dying seaman eyed the mast, And cheered his colors flying— For men met death, as brave men should, Behind their walls of native wood.