dismal and drear, many did despair
dismal and drear, many did despair that her dissolution was very near;
 she thumped heavy and masts did play that in their obedience to the prow, would jump away.
awful the grinding noise of keel and heel with an unusual motion made the crew to reel, the rudder being most oppressed and bound, but soon it got released and went to ground.
sail first being set to press her o' er the reef, but striking harder without relief twas instantly clewed up and fasted again anew with willingness and zeal by her crew.
anholt reef cont'd at last the deleterious order to prepare to throw the cannon overboard.
 oh what despair! the officer of the third post ventured to state 'oh, noble chieftain, pray hesitate!;
' remember, sire, said this selfsame third, with due submission, pray let me be heard.'
 your own experience of its baleful effects as often tried, and as often made wrecks.'
 
' gun lying on the sand equal to rocks annoy the bottom of the bark, they may soon destroy: and now it's blowing a gale of wind, what hopes impossible to save our lives could we get out the boats.'
 
stand fast',
the bold commander said, 'tis true the wind has shifted for us, set topsails anew.'
 square sails set and braced all aback.
 see hence the wonderful care of almighty providence!
-----------------------------------
frank o keefe also found this song in his family's papers.
 though no date was given, all the other songs wer written and dated 1812, so this probably dates from the same period, or perhaps earlier.
 it is written by a lt.
 walters, whom I imagine lt jackson served with, about the hms courageaux, commanded by a captain wilkinson.
 I don't have the slighteset idea where anhlt reef is! again, without a tune given, I have used an early version of the tune 'the oak and the ash' as setting the time and emotions of the story.