Death of Nelson

Richard Grainger salvaged a variation of this song around about 1970 from a version collected from George Dunn - published in an EFDSS Journal. However the song can also be found without the refrain in a book of traditional songs collected by Roy Palmer published by Cambridge University Press in 1973.  

The Death of Nelson (On Board the Man o' War)

On the Twenty-First of October, before the rising sun,
We formed a line for battle and at twelve o clock begun.
Old Nelson to his men did say:
“The lord will prosper us this day.
Set fire the broadside, fire away.”
On board a man of war.

Let him die in peace, God bless you all,
On board a man of war.
Let him die in peace, God bless you all,
On board a man of war.

From broadside to broadside the cannon balls did fly,
Like hailstone the small shot across our decks did fly.
Our main mast was blown away;
Besides some hundreds on that day
Were killed or wounded in the fray
On board a man of war.

And then our great commander, with grief he shook his head:
There's no reprieve, no relief, old Nelson he is dead.
It was a fateful musket-ball
That caused old Nelson for to fall.
Let him die in peace, god bless you all
On board a man of war