''The Saucy Arethusa'' is a nautical song () which, although usually considered "traditional", has been attributed to Prince Hoare, a

comic opera Comic opera, sometimes known as light opera, is a sung dramatic work of a light or comic nature, usually with a happy ending and often including spoken dialogue. Forms of comic opera first developed in late 17th-century Italy. By the 1730s, a ne ...

librettist A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major litu ...

, as part of a "musical entertainment" titled ''The Lock and Key'', performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in 1796. The melody to the song has been wrongly attributed to

William Shield William Shield (5 March 1748 – 25 January 1829) was an English composer, violinist and violist. His music earned the respect of Haydn and Beethoven. Life and musical career Shield was born in Swalwell near Gateshead, County Durham, the so ...

, who was the musical arranger of ''The Lock and Key''. It is more rightfully known as a piece by the Irish harper and composer

Turlough O'Carolan Turlough O'Carolan ( ga, Toirdhealbhach Ó Cearbhalláin ; 167025 March 1738) was a blind Celtic harper, composer and singer in Ireland whose great fame is due to his gift for melodic composition. Although not a composer in the classical sense, ...

called ''Miss MacDermott'' or ''The Princess Royal''. The "Arethusa" of the title is a frigate of the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...

, named , which was originally built in 1757 as a French privateer under the name ''Pélerine'', renamed ''Aréthuse'' in early 1758 when purchased for the

French Navy The French Navy (french: Marine nationale, lit=National Navy), informally , is the maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the five military service branches of France. It is among the largest and most powerful naval forces in t ...

, from whom she was captured in 1759. According to

Greek mythology A major branch of classical mythology, Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the ancient Greeks, and a genre of Ancient Greek folklore. These stories concern the origin and nature of the world, the lives and activities ...

, the

nymph A nymph ( grc, νύμφη, nýmphē, el, script=Latn, nímfi, label= Modern Greek; , ) in ancient Greek folklore is a minor female nature deity. Different from Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature, are ...

Arethusa, for whom the ship was named, was transformed by

Artemis In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Artemis (; grc-gre, Ἄρτεμις) is the goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, nature, vegetation, childbirth, care of children, and chastity. She was heavily identified wit ...

into a fountain. The song chronicles an engagement in the English Channel on 17 June 1778 between the ''Arethusa'' and the French frigate, ''Belle Poule''. It opens :''Come all ye jolly sailors bold'' :''Whose hearts are cast in honour's mould'' :''While English glory I unfold'' :''Hurrah for the Arethusa'' :''She is a frigate tight and brave'' :''As ever stemmed the dashing wave'' :''Her men are staunch to their favorite launch'' :''And when the foe shall meet our fire'' :''Sooner than strike we'll all expire'' :''On board of the Arethusa'' :Twas with the spring fleet she went out'' :''The English Channel to cruise about'' :''When four French sail in show so stout'' :''Bore down on the Arethusa'' When Sir Henry Wood wrote his '' Fantasia on British Sea Songs'' in 1905 a version of this song became the third movement. Contrary to popular belief,

The Decemberists The Decemberists are an American indie rock band from Portland, Oregon. The band consists of Colin Meloy (lead vocals, guitar, principal songwriter), Chris Funk (guitar, multi-instrumentalist), Jenny Conlee (piano, keyboards, accordion), Nate ...

' song "Shanty for the Arethusa" has nothing to do with "The Saucy Arethusa" or the battle it describes, being apparently about a completely different trading vessel.

References

External links

Full lyric

The Lock and Key
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saucy Arethusa, The English folk songs Songs about boats Songs about sailors Works about the Royal Navy British patriotic songs Sea shanties Year of song unknown