Alfred Noyes

Song from Drake:  In Devonshire, Now

In Devonshire, now, the Christmas chime

Is carolling over the lea;

And the sexton shovels away the snow

From the old church porch, maybe;

And the waifs with their lanthorns and noses a-glow

Come round for their Christmas fee;

But, as in old England it's Christmas-time,

Why, so is it here at sea,

My lads,

Why, so is it here at sea!


When the ship comes home, from turret to poop

Filled full with Spanish gold,

There'll be many a country dance and joke,

And many a tale to be told;

Every old woman shall have a red cloak

To fend her against the cold;

And every old man shall have a big round stoup

Of jolly good ale and old,

My lads,

Jolly good ale and old!