From Songs, hymns, and psalms, by Jonas Hanway, p17, 1783.

listen to the tune (midi file)

Roast Beef

 While mighty roast Beef is the Englishmans Food,
 It enobles our Veins and enriches our Blood,
 Our Sailors are brave and our Statesmen are good,
 O the roast Beef of old England
 And O the old English roast Beef.
 
 Our fathers of old, were robust, stout, and strong,
 And oft kept open house with mirth all day long,
 Which made their plump tenants rejoice in this song:
 O the roast beef, &c.
 
 In those days, if fleets did presume on the main,
 They seldom or never return'd back again;
 As witness, the vaunted Armada of Spain:
 O the roast beef, &c.
 
 When good Queen Elizabeth sat on the throne,
 No coffee, or tea, nor such slip-slops were known;
 The world was in terror if e'er she did frown:
 O the roast beef, &c.
 
 And still we have stomachs to eat and to fight,
 And, when wrongs are a-cooking, to do ourselves right;
 And now, my good friends, I wish you good night;
 O the roast beef, &c.