Farragut

Farragut, farragut,   Old Heart of Oak, Daring Dave Farragut,   Thunderbolt stroke, Watches the hoary mist   Lift from the bay, Till his flag, glory-kissed,   Greets the young day. Far, by gray Morgan’s walls,   Looms the black fleet. Hark, deck to rampart calls   With the drums’ beat! Buoy your chains overboard,   While the steam hums; Men! to the battlement,   Farragut comes. See, as the hurricane   Hurtles in wrath Squadrons of clouds amain   Back from its path! Back to the parapet,   To the guns’ lips, Thunderbolt Farragut   Hurls the black ships. Now through the battle’s roar   Clear the boy sings, “By the mark fathoms four,”   While his lead swings. Steady the wheelmen five   “Nor’ by East keep her,” “Steady,” but two alive:   How the shells sweep her! Lashed to the mast that sways   Over red decks, Over the flame that plays   Round the torn wrecks, Over the dying lips   Framed for a cheer, Farragut leads his ships,   Guides the line clear. On by heights cannon-browed,   While the spars quiver; Onward still flames the cloud   Where the hulks shiver. See, yon fort’s star is set,   Storm and fire past. Cheer him, lads—Farragut,   Lashed to the mast! Oh! while Atlantic’s breast   Bears a white sail, While the Gulf’s towering crest   Tops a green vale, Men thy bold deeds shall tell,   Old Heart of Oak, Daring Dave Farragut,   Thunderbolt stroke!