As sung by George Dunn

'Twas the twenty-first of October before the rising sun We formed a line for action, my boys, at twelve o'clock begun. Our mast and rigging was shot away Besides some thousands in that fray Were killed and wounded on that day On board a man o' war. From broadside to broadside our cannon balls did fly; Like hailstones the small shot around our deck did lie. Brave Nelson to his men did say, "The Lord has promised us this day. Give them the broadside, fire away, On board the man o' war." And then our brave commander with grief he shook his head: "There is no relief, there is no reprieve, brave Nelson he is dead. It was a fatal musket ball that caused our hero for to fall. Let him die in peace, God bless you all, On board the man o' war."

This original broadside for this song appears related to Brave Nelson (Roud 522). It was printed with the title Nelson’s Death and Victory at some point in the 19th century with a curious mistake - the Battle of Trafalgar is described on August 21 rather than October 21. Here the first line is “Ye sons of Britain in chorus join and sing”.

George Dunn sang his version of Nelson’s Death and Victory on an eponymous album in 1971, correcting the date. This version introduces the repeated chorus “on board the man o’ war”. Peter Bellamy picked up the song for his 1982 Maritime England Suite, adding additional verses from Harry Cox’s rendition of Nelson's Death.