The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #68519   Message #2983318
Posted By: GUEST,A Michigan Ranger
09-Sep-10 - 02:36 PM
Thread Name: Ranger Fight song
Subject: RE: Ranger Fight song
OK, now I think I have it pretty well sorted out. First of all, Tim and Terry Todish did not write this song. Believe me, I know. However, they both have handwritten copies from one of the writers.

Next, Joey Hall did not write any or all of this song. Joey first heard it at Meadowcroft Village in PA in 1978. I was there when he heard it the first time. Joey has done a great job of popularizing it, and many other traditional and traditional-type songs, but he didn't write this one.

I am now pretty certain Sam Hilt is, or at least could be, telling the truth. After the previous exchanges, I spoke with the aforementioned ranger from Michigan, and he added some details.

He (the ranger from Michigan) had gone to the 200th reenactment of Bunker Hill in 1975. When he got there, he said "everyone" was singing the "Murder..." verse and the chorus, and he picked up on it. This is probably what Sam Hilt had written. The ranger had no idea who had written it, and still doesn't.

After the event, he drove back to Michigan. A few months later, he headed back to the east coast to take part in some other reenactments, including Arnold's March to Quebec. During his drive from Michigan to the east, he wrote the second and third verses ("With torch and sword..." and "Ye who follow the paths of glory...").

Anyway, to correct the info I previously submitted, the ranger from Michigan wasn't involved in the initial writing of the song, he just added to what someone else (Sam HIt?) had started.

Since then, others have added more and different verses, including some that are specifically Rev War era. I even found a Hogwarts version at some filk song site one time.