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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

This famous rousing Victorian ballad celebrates the enduring fame that Drake had (and still has) over the centuries. It is written by P J O'Reilly, with music by Wilfrid Sanderson - and (as it says on the score) sung by Ivor Foster, one of the foremost baritones of his day. Set in the key of C major it was (is) a stirring favourite solo of baritones throughout the century. Our MusicSmiles arrangement has been scored for baritone and unison men's chorus - but don't let this inhibit you, it's a song for everyone really who has a spirit of adventure in their veins and a sense of heroism; so feel free to have go! Marked: Molto allegro marziale. (with much vigour) you get the impression that you can give it a fair amount of welly!! 

But there's also plenty of scope for musical colour and feeling as well - in the words as well as the dramatic key change to C melodic minor and back again; so here goes . . .

Drake Goes West
(Short 6 bar Introduction)

(Solo) Drake is going West, lad,
His ships are in the bay.
Five and twenty sail all told,
Ready for the fray!
Oh! hear it pass from lip to lip
"Drake is off again!"
Aye, Drake's away at break o' day,
To sweep . ., to sweep the Spanish Main¹ . .!

(Chorus) Then here's to the Spanish Main
And here's to the foe!
And here's to Drake and his merry, merry men,
Who'll never come back to Devon again
Till they've laid . . the enemy low . . !
(Short 6 bar Interlude)

(Solo) Drake is going West, lad,
You'd like to go, would you?
Then go you shall to share the fight
And the glory too!
Before our men the foe shall fall
Like the sickled grain,
For Drake is going Westward lad,
To swe..ep to sweep the Spanish main . . .

(Chorus) Then here's to the Spanish Main
And here's to the foe!
And here's to Drake and his merry, merry men,
Who'll never come back to Devon again
Till they've laid . . the enemy low . . !
(Short 6 bar Interlude - and change of key to C minor on bar 75)

(Solo) Some are going West, lad,
Who'll ne'er win home again - 
Some will sleep their long, long sleep,
'Neath the Span . . ish main . . .
(change back to C major key on bar 84)
But what-so-ever be our fate - 
Come what may, say I,
With Drake we'll go for Drake will fight,
With Drake we'll win or die . . .

(Chorus) Then here's to the Spanish Main
And here's to the foe!
And here's to Drake and his merry, merry men,
Who'll never come back to Devon again
Till they've laid . . .
Till they've laid the enemy low . . .!

Cor! It's a humdinger isn't it . . .!! That's worth another shot, surely! Let's pretend we are all Ivor Fosters (the top baritones of our day and . . .

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We thought it was worth framing this 100 years old piano score copy of Drake Goes West for visitors to see. So here are two sections of the copy we have used for arranging the MusicSmiles version of the song. It is very fragile, tattered and torn, and has been 'repaired' numerous times (as you can see from the sellotape marks!). Let's face it, it has been a challenge (but great fun) working from it!!! Click the thumbnails to see the full pictures (in their special frames) then click the 'Back Button' << (top left of screen) to return to this page. 

We dedicate this arrangement to John of The Village Singers, who, together with the full men's chorus gave it their all in one of our concerts . . .

Footnote 1.    The Spanish Main was that mainland area around the Caribbean once claimed as part of the 16th Century Spanish Empire - but Drake had other ideas!! Return to story.

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