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The Twenty Fourth of February 
The Twenty Fourth of February 
On the twenty fourth of February The weather being clear, We spied sev'n sail of Turkish men o' war, Be longing to Algier. 
cho: With my right fol-lea-ther-ol, right fol-lea-ther-ol, Right fol-lea-ther-ol day, Roddle diddle di Roddle diddle day A right fol-leather-ol day. 
Pull down your colours, you English dogs Pull 'em down do not refuse, Pull down your colours, you English dogs Or your precious lives you'll lose. 
Our captain being a valiant man And well-bespoken he; "It never shall be said that we died like dogs, So we'll fight 'em manfully." 
The first that came to our ship's side It was the Pink so clear Commanded by the big Bashaw And belonging to Algier. 
And the next that came to our ship's side It was the Rose and Crown, But we fired into her a good broadside And we quickly sent her down. 
Now two we took and two we sunk And the rest they run away, And one we brought to old England's shore Just to show we'd won the day. 
If anyone should then enquire To know our captain's name, Captain Mansfield was our chief commander From Bristol town he came. 
note: The battle described occurred on December 29, 1669. The names of the Turkish ships seem odd, but memory fades in 300 or so years. 
From Sea Songs and Shanties, Whall oct96