Rivington published this New Ballad in his Royal Gazette in the year 1779. The initial publication of the verses was without the phrase: "Derry down down, hey derry down". It is possible that initially the verses were not associated with any tune. Perhaps, after it was discovered that they could be sung to the tune of Derry Down, they were then set to that tune.
Rouse, Britons! at length, And put forth your strength, Perfidious France to resist,
Ten Frenchmen will fly, To shun a black eye, If an Englishman doubles his fist.
Derry down, down, hey derry down.
But if they feel stout, Why let them turn out, With their maws stuff 'd with frogs, soups, and jellies;
Brave Hardy's sea thunder, Shall strike them with wonder, And make the frogs leap in their bellies!
For their Dons and their ships, We care not three skips Of a flea - and their threats turn into jest, O!
We'll bang their bare ribs, For the infamous fibs, Cramm'd into their fine manifesto.
Our brethren so frantic, Across the Atlantic, Who quit their old friends in a huff;
In spite of their airs, Are at their last prayers, And of fighting have had quantum suff.
Then if powers at a distance, Should offer assistance, Say boldly, "we want none, we thank ye,"
Old England's a match, And more for old scratch, A Frenchman, a Spaniard, a Yankee!
A short time after this song was published in America, the following verses were spontaneously appended to the original.
Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Catawbas, Are all engaged to fight us;
Keep off you Mynheers with your yaws, And England's gun shall right us.
We don't mind Monsieur's copper lace, Nor solemn Don in cloak;
Once let us meet them face to face, And fighting is no joke.
Three cheers for England's weal we give, And pour the broadside in;
The wretch that is not fit to live, To kill can be no sin.
