Lyr Req: Grand Old Duke of York

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Grand Old Duke of York
From: CET
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 08:18 PM

Actually, Betty, the song doesn't "show" anything. It's just a song, not evidence of any historical fact.

Talking of historical fact, the Duke of York was anything but a useless twat. He was no battlefield commander, true enough, but as Commander in Chief he was a genuine visionary who created, against incredible odds, an efficient wartime army from the mess that was the post-American Revolution peacetime British Army. This was the army that Wellington led in the Peninsular War and at Waterloo. If it was not for the Duke of York, Arthur Wellesley would never have become the Duke of Wellington.

The rhyme does not, as History teacher suspects, refer to Bunker Hill, but either to the Duke of York's campaigns in Flanders in 1793-94, or possibly to a campaign five years later in Holland.

Edmund

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Grand Old Duke of York
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 08:34 PM

We do it as part of a ceilidh set, especially if it's a family ceilidh with kids there.
And NOT quite the SAME tune as Trelawny methinks tho' similar in parts.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Grand Old Duke of York
From: GUEST,Michigan - USA
Date: 16 Nov 09 - 08:20 AM

The noble Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men,
He marched them to the top of the hill,
And marched them down again.

And when they're up, they're up,
And when they're down, they're down,
And when they're only half way up,
They're neither up nor down.

He marched them to the left
He marched them to the right
He marched them all the way upside down
What a silly sight.

At least 30 years ago the 'nursery rhyme' had evolved into entertainment for a youngster (less than two yrs old) bouncing them on your knees while sitting, on the floor or on a chair. Floor worked best.

Child sits on adult's legs. Adult alternating their legs for 'marching' verse. Then bent knees and knees straight out for the 'up and down' verse. Toddler also has to be light enough to turn upside down. It's got to be a bumpy ride for the toddler with lots of giggles.

Tune is the same as "The Farmer in the Dell" and "A Hunting We Will Go".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Grand Old Duke of York
From: GUEST,no one you know
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 05:48 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Grand Old Duke of York
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 11:23 PM

He marched them around and around and around and he marched them down again

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Grand Old Duke of York
From: GUEST,Geoff Wright
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 01:21 PM

And when they were only half way up
They were in the Rose and Crown

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Grand Old Duke of York
From: GUEST,Trasdan MacGhaid
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 07:29 AM

In the 1980's The Grand Old Duke of York was a very common dance at Ceilidh (dances) in/around Dundee University. I have ever since considered it to be a Scottish Country Dance.