A Drop of Nelson’s Blood
Have you ever been to Trafalgar Square in London? Lots of pigeons, also lions, and a bloody great column with a statue of Admiral Horatio Nelson on top. Nelson died in an epic naval battle against the combined forces of the French and Spanish navies, off the south-west coast of Spain, in 1805.
Admiral Horatio Nelson
Lacking refrigeration in those days, Nelson’s body was preserved in a casket of brandy for the journey back to London for a state funeral in his honour.
Sailors being sailors, however, the purser in charge of the casket found that the level of spirit kept having to be topped up over the course of the voyage….
And so A Drop of Nelson’s Blood is slang for whatever booze is to be had, by hook or by crook.
Nelson’s Column - Trafalgar Square, London, England
Singing notes:
This is a rollicking, repetitive, call and response shanty, with heaps of room for improvisation—anything with around 7 syllables will do for a verse (“And a Pfizer vaccination wouldn’t do us any harm”!), while the rough deep harmonies on the extended syllables of the chorus are a delight.
Drinking notes:
Goes well with brandy infused with the dying juices of an Admiral.
A DROP OF NELSON’S BLOOD
Well a drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm
And a drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm
And a drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm
CHORUS
And we'll roll the old chariot along
And we'll roll the old chariot along
And we'll roll the old chariot along
And we'll all hang on behind!
Oh, we'd be alright if the wind was in our sails (3x)
CHORUS
And a plate of Irish stew wouldn't do us any harm (3x)
CHORUS
And a night on the town wouldn’t do us any harm (3x)
CHORUS
And a big fat bosun wouldn't do us any harm (3x)
CHORUS
Oh, we'd be alright if we make it round the Horn (3x)
CHORUS
And a roll in the clover wouldn't do us any harm (3x)
CHORUS
And a pint from the landlord wouldn't do us any harm (3x)
CHORUS
