Our topsails reef'd and filled away,
All snug aloft we know,
Despite the storms we'll still be gay,
Among our friends below.
Come gather round and listen, then,
With spirits warm and true;
Here's a health to all the Norfolk girls,
And Portsmouth maidens, too.
Here's a health to all the Norfolk girls,
And Portsmouth maidens, too,
Here's a health to all the Norfolk girls,
And Portsmouth maidens, too.
May the darksome eye of loveliness,
And that of ocean's ray,
Shed only tears of happiness
Forever and for aye.
Fill up, tho' far away from home,
And foreign scenes we view,
We cherish still the Norfolk girls,
And the Portsmouth maidens, too.
May the cheek whereon reposes
Emotion young and dear,
Still wear the hue of roses
Thro' each succeeding year.
We'll drink to by-past scenes, and hope
Some day again to view,
The lovely girls of Norfolk, and
The Portsmouth maidens, too.
And if we never backward go,
Borne home on ocean's breast,
But find among the caves below
A sailor's place of rest;
Still ere we close our eyes and pass
Beneath the depths of blue,
We'll think of all the Norfolk girls,
And Portsmouth maidens, too.
Should the foe appear before us,
To our guns we'll fondly cling,
While our stars are gleaming o'er us,
Shall their notes of freedom ring.
While life's warm stream is flowing,
Our eager pulses through,
We'll fight for home, the Norfolk girls,
And Portsmouth maidens, too.
Fill up, fill up, yet once again,
Before we say goodnight,
From every glass its sweetness drain,
To friendship's steady light.
May peace around our kindred dwell,
All beings loved and true,
The lovely girls of Norfolk,
And the Portsmouth maidens, too.
Good night, good night, our pillows now
With pleasant thoughts we'll press,
And dream some hand rests on our brow,
Its slumbering to bless.
Amid delightful reveries
That fancy brings to view,
Perhaps we'll meet the Norfolk girls,
And Portsmouth maidens, too.