From Songs, hymns, and psalms by Jonas Hanway, p24, 1783.

listen to the tune (midi file)

Hearts of Oak

 Come cheer up my Lads 'tis to Glory we stear,
 To add something more to this wonderfull Year;
 To Honour we call you not press you like Slaves,
 For who are so free as we Sons of the Waves:
 Heart of Oak are our Ships, 
 Heart of Oak are our Men,
 We always are ready
 Steady Boys steady
 We'll Fight and we'll 
 Triumph again and again.
 
 We ne'er see our foes, but we wish them to stay,
 They never see us, but they wish us away'
 If they run, why we follow, and run them on shore,
 For if they won't fight us, we cannot do more.
 Heart of oak, &c.
  
 They swear they'll invade us--these terrible foes!
 They frighten our women, our children, and beaus;
 But should they flat-bottoms in darkness get o'er,
 Still Britons they'll find to receive them on shore.
 Heart of oak, &c.  
 
 We'll still make them run, and we'll still make them sweat,
 In spite of the Devil and Brussels Gazette;
 Then cheer up, my lads, with one heart let us sing,
 Our soldiers, our sailors, our statesmen, and king.
 Heart of oak, &c.