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Loss of the Ramillies 
Loss of the Ramillies 
It happened to be on the first of May While the Ramillies to her anchor lay At twelve o'clock a gale came on And she from her anchor cut and run 
The storm increas-ed more and more The billows was rollong on the shore Our close-reefed tops'ls we quickly spread In hopes to weather the old Ram Head. 
The rain poured down in a dreadful shock While the sea beat over our fore-top She would neither stay nor wear Nor yet gather way enough to steer 
The bosun on the deck did stand He bowed his call and gave command "Launch out the boats, your lives to save Or the sea this night will be your grave" 
Some in one place, some in another Five hundred men they all got smothered There was only four saved to tell the tale How the Ramillies behav-ed in the gale. 
When the news to Plymouth came That the Ramillies was lost and all her men All Plymouth town was flowing in tears To hear the dreadful sad affair 
Come, all you pretty fair maids, weep with me, Who lost your loves on the Ramillies There was only four saved to tell the tale How she behav-ed in the gale. 
DT #554 Laws K1 from MacKenzie, Ballads and Sea Songs from Nova Scotia collected from Richard Hines, Pictou County, Nova Scotia Wrecked off Devon February 15, 1760 
tune (similar words, but with added chorus) from Shantymen and Shantyboys, Doerflinger) 
SOF oct96