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| Failures Make
History Too |
| Oh, the Captain of the Gaspee Was a valiant man of the world, And he sailed full-rigged with courage With the British flag unfurled. Now he knew the seas and currents, And he thought he knew the shoals, But his chase of colonial smugglers Brought an end to his ship's patrols. As his full-rigged British cutter --Hit Rhode Island's sandy shore, The colonists swarmed aboard her, And the captain screamed and swore. But the Gaspee then was captured And the torch put to her mast; No more smugglers would she capture As in days of her glorious past. |
Oh, the Captain of the Gaspee Was a failure, now disgraced, But a place was his in history Even though to his distaste. For 'twas Sam Adams of Boston Who took up his mighty pen, And sent word to all committees Of the Gaspee's fiery end. But the Captain of the Gaspee Had made history without fame, And was known through all the seaboard As old Captain What's-his-name. As we read of deeds of long ago, And of history's rendezvous, Let us recall with fairness That failures make history too. |
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