A Life on the Ocean Wave is a song by Henry Russell published in 1838. The song originated from the poet Epes Sargent. One day he and Russell were walking on The Battery in New York City watching the ships enter the harbour. This scene inspired Sargent to write a poem, which Russell then put to music. The song proceeded to become popular in both England and the United States.In 1882, the Deputy Adjutant General Royal Marines requested that the Bandmaster of each Royal Marine Division (Portsmouth, Plymouth, Chatham) submit an arrangement for a new regimental march for the corps, if possible based on a naval song. Kappey, the Bandmaster of the Chatham Division, submitted an arrangement of A Life on the Ocean Wave, with an eight bar trio from The Sea by Sigismund Neukomm, which was authorised for use as the regimental quick march of the Corps of Royal Marines in 1882. In the United States, it is the official march of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The tune, played by the Band of the Royal Marines, is played over the opening credits of the 1992 BBC television film; An Ungentlemanly Act, about the first days of the invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982. I have tried to make the arrangement as close as possible to the original Royal Marines Version! Enjoy!!