She was finished in the summer, her seasoned wood still fresh and white
Built to run before the wind, built to show her cannon'd might;
Her slender form, her masts' great height -
"This one," they said, "is built to fight."

The day was cold, with a strong north wind, when they took her out to sea
"We'll see how she sails," they said, and the craftsmen rubbed their hands in glee.
"She'll fly, that one," the people bragged. "She's a real beauty."
Her sails were taut; the lines were cut, and the little ship was free.

Her rudder bit the water and her sails were spread -
She tacked to catch the wind and then away she sped!
The people on the quay, in wonder, nodded their heads.
"See how she schoons," they sighed and said.

They called the ship The Eagle for the way she flew;
She was a two-masted ship, ten men were her crew.
She was a smuggler and contraband would pay her dues;
She was built to sail both fast and true.

The Eagle, on her maiden voyage and her sails in proud array,
Rode hull-up and running, with a good strong wind, as she sliced the spray.
The British warship hidden in the mouth of the bay
Hoisted up its anchor as it prepared to catch its prey.

The little American schooner tried to flee the man-of-war,
But the British ship was faster and soon its long-twelves roared.
The schooner turned and bravely fought, but when its strength had worn
The iron balls ripped through its sides, the wood buckled and tore:

The sun winked cruelly on the sea and on the driftwood by the shore.