Debra Cowan - The Rainbow lyrics

As we were a-sailing down by the Spanish shore Where the drums they did beat and loud the cannons roared We spied a lofty army, come bearing down the main And it caused us to hoist our topmost sails again Now there was a gallant damsel, a damsel of great fame She was the Captain's daughter and Nancy was her name She stood upon the deck me boys and loudly she did call “O hoist up the colours and load the cannonballs” “Now”, our captain said, “Be ready, boys, be ready and stand true To face the Spanish army we lately did pursue For to face the Spanish army lay along the ocean wide And without a good protection, boys, we'll take the first broadside.” Well, it's broadside to broadside these vessels o'er they went A-sinking one another, it was their full intent And at the very second broadside, our captain he was slain And the damsel jumped in his place to fetch command again O, we fought for nearly four hours, for four hours or more 'Til we had scarce a man on board our gallant ship to steer 'Til we had scarce a man on board to fire off a gun And the blood on our decks like a river it did run “O for quarters, for quarters!” these Spanish lads did cry “You have had the best of quarters,” this damsel did reply “You have had the best of quarters that e'er we can afford You must fight, sink, or swim, me boys, or jump overboard” And now the war is over and we'll take a gla** of wine You can drink to your true love, and I will drink to mine Here's a health unto that damsel that damsel of great fame And a health unto that royal ship, the Rainbow was her name