The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #47907   Message #2055791
Posted By: GUEST,Charmion's brother Andrew
18-May-07 - 03:12 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Regimental Songs
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Regimental Songs
Although Great Big Sea has "poppie" overtones, they do a "Recruiting Sergeant", about the Newfoundland Regiment (then not yet "Royal") in the Great War. The lyrics follow:

Two recruiting sergeants came to the C.L.B.,
For the sons of the merchants, to join the 'Blue Puttees'.
So all the hands enlisted, five hundred young men --
Enlist, ye Newfoundlanders, and come follow me...

They crossed the broad Atlantic in the brave Florizel,
And on the sands of Suvla, they entered into hell
And on those bloody beaches, the first of them fell...
Enlist, ye Newfoundlanders, and come follow me.

CHORUS:
So it's over the mountains, and over the sea
Come, brave Newfoundlanders, and join the 'Blue Puttees';
You'll fight the Hun in Flanders, and at Galipoli
Enlist, ye Newfoundlanders, and come follow me.

The call came from London, for the last July drive
"To the trenches with the regiment, prepare yourselves to die"
The roll call next morning, just a handful survived.
Enlist, ye Newfoundlanders, and come follow me.

CHORUS

The stone men on Water Street still cry for the day
When the pride of the city went marching away.
A thousand men slaughtered, to hear the King say,
'Enlist, ye Newfoundlanders, and come follow me.'

CHORUS (x2)

Enlist, ye Newfoundlanders, and come follow me