Songs about Nelson or Wellington

Subject: RE: Songs about Nelson or Wellington
From: GUEST,RA
Date: 28 Jul 24 - 12:57 PM

The original version of "Jamie Foyers" (that is, not Ewan MacColl's version) mentions Wellington.

And how about "Th Drummer Boy of Waterloo" as sung by Packie Byrne?

And I've just remembered "Bloody Waterloo" from Willie Scott.

Subject: RE: Songs about Nelson or Wellington
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 29 Jul 24 - 12:42 AM

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2018/10/wellington-lecture.page
Accompanied by Southampton singing students and members of the Southampton University Symphony Orchestra , Professor Owen Norris will explore the multi-faceted musical world of Wellington.

He says: “Even in the cradle, the Duke of Wellington heard his father trying out his compositions. Later, the Duke’s musical interests gave political cartoonists a useful metaphor. Rossini played for him at Apsley, and it was Wellington who escorted Queen Victoria to hear Chopin play. Wellington’s musical world fills in a new aspect of our picture of the man.”

The Duke’s name attached itself to many pieces of music. John Clare’s manuscript book of violin tunes contains a jig entitled Marquis Wellington, while Beethoven’s orchestral piece Wellington’s Victory (after the Battle of Vitoria in 1814) made its composer more money than any other work.

Princess Charlotte of Wales composed Lord Wellington’s March. Its sumptuous gold-leafed manuscript is preserved amongst the papers of the Duke’s valet, held in Special Collections at the University’s Hartley Library. A recording of the piece performed by Professor Owen Norris on Wellington’s own piano at the Duke’s former home of Apsley House will be played at the lecture.

The event will also include a piano sonata inspired by the Battle of Bella Rosa (the Spanish name for Waterloo), The Marquis of Wellington’s Victory at Salamanca by Mathias Holst, great-grandfather of the composer of The Planets and speeches by the Duke, set to music by Owen Norris in his 2015 political oratorio, Turning Points.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2019/18/the-duke-of-wellingtons-playlist

Subject: RE: Songs about Nelson or Wellington
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 29 Jul 24 - 11:45 AM

https://www.heddels.com/2019/02/history-wellington-boots-battlefields-potato-fields/
A painting by James Lonsdale even depicts The Duke wearing a pair of tasseled Hessian boots as he stands victorious at the Battle of Waterloo.
When asked the most important part of a soldier’s equipment, The Duke famously replied: “firstly, a pair of good shoes, second a pair of good shoes, and thirdly a pair of half-soles”. As well as being sturdy enough for battle, these tall, polished leather boots with ornamental details were also formal enough for evening wear.

The Duke of Wellington was so inspired by these German boots that he tasked his shoemaker, George Hoby of St. James’s Street, London, to modify the 18th Century Hessian Boot to bring them up to date. Hoby crafted a Hessian-esque boot from supple calfskin leather treated with wax. The boot’s form was modified to fit more closely around the leg, and the ornamental trims were removed for a more utilitarian look.
The Duke was extremely satisfied, and the boot was christened ‘The Wellington Boot’. Keen to imitate one of Britain’s most respected figures, British gents would sport the Wellington boot as a fashion item, a trend that would continue until the early 1850s.

https://www.heddels.com/2019/02/history-wellington-boots-battlefields-potato-fields/
Billy Connolly - If It Wisnae Fur Yer Wellies - STV Broadcast 1976

Subject: Lyr Add: THE DEATH OF NELSON
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jul 24 - 12:38 PM

From Songs of England. The Book of English Songs, edited by Charles Mackay (London: Houlston & Wright, [1857]), page 193:


THE DEATH OF NELSON.
Words by S. J. Arnold. music by John Braham, from the opera "The Americans"

RECITATIVE.

O'ER Nelson's tomb, with silent grief oppress’d
Britannia mourns her hero now at rest;
But those bright laurels ne'er shall fade with years
Whose leaves are water'd by a nation's tears.

AIR.

'Twas in Trafalgar's bay
We saw the Frenchmen lay;
Each heart was bounding then.
We scorn'd the foreign yoke,
Our ships were British oak,
And hearts of oak our men.

Our Nelson mark'd them on the wave,
Three cheers our gallant seamen gave,
Nor thought of home and beauty.
Along the line this signal ran—
“England expects that every man
This day will do his duty!"

And now the cannons roar
Along the affrighted shore;
Brave Nelson led the way:
His ship the Victory named;
Long be that Victory famed!
For victory crown'd the day.

But dearly was that conquest bought,
Too well the gallant hero fought
For England, home, and beauty.
He cried, as 'midst the fire he ran,
“England shall find that every man
This day will do his duty!"

At last the fatal wound,
Which shed dismay around,
The hero's breast received:
"Heav'n fights on our side;
The day's our own!" he cried:
"Now long enough I've lived.

In honour's cause my life was pass'd,
In honour's cause I fall at last,
For England, home, and beauty!"
Thus ending life as he began:
England confess'd that every man
That day had done his duty.

Subject: RE: Songs about Nelson or Wellington
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 29 Jul 24 - 03:29 PM

The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) – Regimental Association

In 1793 Arthur Wellesley, later to become the 1st Duke of Wellington, joined the 33rd and subsequently commanded it in the Netherlands and India until 1803. He succeeded as Colonel in 1806 and held this post until 1813. The 33rd later fought under his command at the Battle of Waterloo. The Duke of Wellington died in 1852.

The following year, on the 18th of June 1853, the first anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo following his death, the title of “The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment” was conferred on the 33rd Regiment, due to the Duke’s long and close personal connection with the Regiment.

The Regimental Quick March is The Wellesley, reputedly discovered in the papers of the 1st Duke after his death. This was officially approved in 1883, with an additional bugle fanfare (the Seed arrangement) being approved in 1988.

Subject: Lyr Add: NELSON'S GLORIOUS VICTORY
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jul 24 - 05:00 PM

From The Year of Trafalgar by Henry Newbolt (London: John Murray, 1905), page 217:


NELSON'S GLORIOUS VICTORY

COME, all you gallant heroes, and listen unto me,
While I relate a battle was lately fought at sea,
So fierce and hot on every side as plainly it appears
There has not been such a battle fought for many years.

Brave Nelson and brave Collingwood off Cadiz harbour lay,
Watching the French and Spaniards to show them English play.
The nineteenth of October from the Bay they did set sail,
Brave Nelson got intelligence and soon was at their tail.

It was on the twenty-first, my boys, we had them clear in sight,
And on that very day at noon began the bloody fight,
Our fleet forming two columns we broke the enemy's line,
To spare the use of signals was Nelson's bold design.

But now the voice of thunder is heard on every side,
The briny waves like crimson with human blood was dy'd,
The French and Spanish heroes their courage well did show,
But our brave British sailors soon brought their colours low.

For four hours and ten minutes this battle it did hold,
And on the briny ocean men never fought more bold,
But on the point of victory brave Nelson he was slain;
And on the minds of Britons his death will long remain.

Nineteen sail of the enemy's were taken and destroy'd,
You see the rage of Britons is not to be annoy'd.
And ages yet unborn will have this story for to tell,
The twenty-first of October our gallant Nelson fell.

I hope the wives and children will quickly find relief,
For the loss of those brave heroes their hearts filled with grief,
And may our warlike officers aspire to such fame,
And avenge the death of Nelson while we record his name.

- - -
The same song can be found in the Bodleian Ballad Collection, Harding B 16(255a), where it is called:

A SONG,
On the Glorious Victory obtained over the French
and Spaniards, the 21st of October, 1805,
by the English Fleet, under the command of
the gallant Admirals NELSON and
COLLINGWOOD.

Subject: Lyr Add: BRITANNIA'S REVENGE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Jul 24 - 01:07 PM

From Ashburner's New Vocal and Poetic Repository; … by Queery Queerum (pseud.) (Ulverston: George Ashburner, 1807), page 115:


BRITANNIA'S REVENGE.

BRITANNIA musing o'er the deeds
By her brave sons achieved,
In battle, where the valiant bleeds,
And death stalks forth unheeded,
Within her cave the Goddess sat,
And view'd the foaming ocean,
Whose surges high began to beat,
In furious commotion:
When lo! a Triton, from afar,
Came floating in his wat'ry car,
"Haste," he cry'd, "Britannia, rise,
Succour bring, or NELSON dies!"
Rous'd at the name of her favourite she flew
To the scene, where the hero, expos'd to her view,
Alas! was no more!

Frantic with grief, her locks she tore,
And thro' the fleet, engaging,
The direful tale to all she bore,
Amidst the battle's raging:
"Revenge! Revenge!" aloud she cry'd,
"To stimulate your fury,
See yonder deck, how richly dy’d!
Tis Nelson's blood! conjure ye,
By his dear manes, his parting breath,
I charge ye to avenge his death!
Let British thunder go,
Hurl destruction on the foe!
Let not his fall, without something as great,
Be recorded, to mark the lamentable fate,
Of a Hero so great!"

She ceas'd, and now great Nelson's name
From ship to ship resounded,
While France and Spain, enwrapt in flame,
Astonish'd and confounded,
Feeble oppose the vengeful ire
In British hearts excited;
In vain to glory they aspire,
His death must be requited!
Unequal to the conflict's heat,
Tho' greater numbers fill their fleet,
See! they strike, vengeance sweep,
Rushing down th' unfathom'd deep,
Sinks the confed'rates of proud France and Spain,
While the Genius of Albion exulting exclaims
"VICTORY! VICTORY!”

- - -
This song can also be found in The Bodleian Ballad Collection: Harding B 16(38c) where it is called: “Britannia's Revenge for the Loss of her Hero.”

Subject: RE: Songs about Nelson or Wellington
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 30 Jul 24 - 02:01 PM

That 'Nelson's Glorious Victory' is very well written for those that like swashbuckling pieces, Jim. Surprised it doesn't turn up in oral tradition. Could perhaps do with a chorus. It would go very well to The Knickerbocker Line (Grimsby Fishermen's Song).

Subject: Lyr Add: NELSON’S VICTORY AND DEATH
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 31 Jul 24 - 10:58 PM

From Great Nelson's Laurels (London: J. Pitts, 1806), page 3:


NELSON’S VICTORY AND DEATH

Come list, you lads, where’er you be,
Ye staunch lovers of your country,
While I unfold a victory
    Gained by the British squadron.
It was a fleet as bravely mann’d
As e’er an admiral did command.
The fleets combin’d went out to find
’Twas Nelson brave that steer’d each rudder,
Whose very name every soul made shudder
    On board the combined squadrons.

Before Cadiz he cruiz’d about.
The enemy he did starve out.
Three and thirty sail in show so stout
    Did engage the British squadron.
Sure never were two fleets before
So prepar’d to meet each other’s roar.
The signal gave by the hero brave
Was: “England, boys, your country dear
Does expect the duty of all here
    So due to a British squadron.”

While he was contending with his foes,
Was oft implor’d to change his clothes.
“No, no,” said he, “I’ll stand in those
    As the admiral of my squadron.”
As he the captains he addressed,
A ball smote him fatal on the breast
And as he fell he bade farewell
To all the crew and Collingwood.
He gave what he no longer cou’d:
    Command of a British squadron.

Thus fell the hero in glory
Whose name memorial e’er shall be,
For when alive belov’d was he
    By all the British squadron.
Likewise fell many a brave lad
As ever were in true blue clad.
For the foe did fight with all their might,
But soon they from their poops did rear
Their ensigns which replaced were
    By that of the British squadron.

For finding to conquer was in vain,
They proclaim’d them masters of the main,
And nineteen sail out of the train
    Gave they to the British squadron.
Now we have beat the foe again,
And our hero of heroes slain.
With a sparkling bowlm drink peace to his soul
And all that fell with him that day
In this most glorious tragic fray
    Belonging to either squadron.

- - -
The same publication can be found in the Bodleian Ballad Collection, Curzon b.24(98).

Subject: Lyr Add: NELSON AND VICTORY
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Aug 24 - 04:28 PM

From Nelson's Wreath: Or, British Glory (London: T. Evans, 1812), page 5:


NELSON AND VICTORY.

NELSON the Great he is the man,
When his country call’d to action ran;
Fam’d Nelson here he led the van,
Like a noble tar of Britain;
The haughty Danes lay anchor’d here
Before Copenhagen formed they were.
If smoke and fire is your desire,
You dogs we’ll set you all on fire,
And sink you in the ocean.

The 2d of April was the day,
We here commenc’d this bloody fray;
This hostile fleet at anchor lay,
Protected by their batteries:
For action now we did prepare;
A ship we sent up in the air,
Which made the Danes all quake for fear;
Thro’ smoke and fire we then did steer,
And commenc’d this noble action.

Fam’d Nelson here great courage had,
On board the Elephant rais’d his flag,
Determined to blow them all in rags,
When honour calls to action.
Six sail we brought up in a line,
To execute our grand design,
Before their city that very day,
Our balls so hot aloud did play,
And set them all on fire.

Twelve sail we had to form our line,
Nelson with six came just in time;
Our red-hot shot we play’d so hot,
And made our cannons rattle;
Our bombs and shells aloud did play,
The inhabitants were all dismay’d,
Denmark’s Prince he ran away,
And left his city burning.

Of three and twenty sail, that day,
Seventeen were destroy’d without delay,
Sunk, burnt and ta’en, some ran away,
In action full four hours.
Brave Captain Mosse, that very day,
And Riou too, as I’ve heard say,
In the action they both were slain,
In conquering of those hostile Danes;
A theme for British glory.

Nelson the Great he form’d a plan,
To snatch from death each hostile Dane,
The boats was mann’d without delay,
To save each Danish seaman.
Come fill up this mighty bowl,
And drink to every loyal soul
That scorns by Danes to be controul’d;
Drink Graves, drink Mosse, drink Riou bold,
An Nelson that rules the ocean.

- - -
The same publication can be seen in the Bodleian Ballad Collection: Curzon b.24(99).

Subject: Lyr Add: THE DEATH OF NELSON (T. Dibdin)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Aug 24 - 05:57 PM

The sheet music for this song can be seen in Google Books:


THE DEATH OF NELSON,
on the
Twenty-first of October,
Sung by Mr. Incledon, in the
Interlude of Nelson’s Glory, at the
Theatre Royal Covent Garden.
Written by T. DIBDIN. Price 1/-
London, Printed & sold by Preston at his Wholesale Warehouses, 97, Strand.

CEASE, vain France, ill-manner'd railer,
Fellow freemen, list' to me,
Britons, hear a British sailor
Sing the strains of victory!
Yet, what verse shall tell the story,
What bold tongue speak Nelson's praise!
Whose bright sun has set in glory,
Gilding Ocean with its rays!

Long our Tars had kept their station,
Long insulting foes defied,
Spite of all the Gallic nation,
Dutch bravado, Spanish pride:
To those who swore this land to plunder,
Those who dare our rights despise,
We've once more replied in thunder,
‘While you threaten, we chastise!'

France and Spain, with hopes scarce sober,
Stung with hate of Nelson's fame,
Chose the nineteenth of October,
To immortalize his name.
When he saw their colours flying,
When he saw their fleets combine,
Still methinks I hear him crying,
‘Follow, boys, they all are mine!'

Yet the foe, with hesitation,
Linger'd till the twenty-first,
As if, with dread anticipation,
These vaunting heroes fear'd the worst;
The twenty-first of March had told 'em,
What our boys on land can be:
Another twenty-first, behold 'em
Bending to our lads at sea!

Hush!—They've join'd—the battle rages,
Expectation holds her breath!
Britain for her right engages,
France for plunder, war, and death!
Thirty-three our Chief opposing,
Twenty-seven the British line;
‘They strike!' he cries, while life is closing,
‘Heaven! the praise is only thine.’

- - -
The text can also be found at Neil's Pocket Melodist, or Vocal Repository, No. 22 (London: A. Neil, 1805), page 96.

and in the Bodleian Ballad Collection, Curzon b.24(98).

Subject: RE: Songs about Nelson or Wellington
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 02 Aug 24 - 01:38 PM

Thomas Dibdin (1771-1841), who wrote The Death of Nelson, was the son of Charles Dibdin, a song-writer and theatre manager. [Thomas] ran away to join a company of country players. From 1789 to 1795 he played all sorts of parts. He worked as a scene painter at Liverpool in 1791. And during this period he composed more than 1,000 songs.

He returned to London in 1795. From this time he contributed a very large number of comedies, operas, farces, et cetera, to the public entertainment. His last years were passed in comparative poverty. And at the time of his death he was preparing an edition of his father's sea songs, for which a small sum was allowed him weekly by the Lords of the Admiralty. Prabook

His father, Charles Dibdin (1745-1814) was an English composer, musician, dramatist, novelist, singer and actor. With over 600 songs to his name (a conservative estimate!), for many of which he wrote both the lyrics and the music and performed them himself. He was in his time the most prolific English singer-songwriter. He is best known as the composer of "Tom Bowling", one of his many sea songs, which often features at the Last Night of the Proms.

In 1803 he was induced by Pitt's government, with a pension of £200 a year (equivalent to £23,100 in 2023), to abandon provincial engagements to compose and sing 'War Songs' to keep up the ferment of popular feeling against France. He embarked on a project to construct the Royal Circus for mixed entertainments of various kinds. He is credited with coining the term "circus". Wikipedia

Subject: Lyr Add: NELSON AND VICTORY or TOM SPLICE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Aug 24 - 02:21 PM

Found at Neil's Pocket Melodist, or Vocal Repository, No. 22 (London: A. Neil, 1805), page 64.



NELSON AND VICTORY
Written by Mr. E. Craig.--Tune “True Courage."

TOM Splice was a tar in whose bosom was blended
The feelings of virtue, and bravery too,
Who oft under Nelson our land had defended,
And made each proud foe for their mercy to sue.
At Calvi, Aboukir, or Teneriffe, fighting,
Tom car'd not, might he near brave Nelson be found,
For Tom thought no watch-word was half so inviting
As “Nelson for ever, with victory crown'd!”

At last off Trafalgar his glory completing,
Brave Nelson!--ah! drop to his mem'ry a tear--
The Armada combin'd whilst with glory defeating,
Lost his life, to Old England so precious, so dear!
And there o'er his Admiral, tenderly sighing,
Supporting the vet'ran, Tom met his death wound;
Yet still, while his soul from its mansion was flying,
Cry'd "Nelson for ever, with victory crown'd!"

I am but a sailor, but yet I'm true-hearted,
And tho' Tom's sad story I weep to relate,
Yet the salt tear that falls for his spirit departed
Is lost in the flood shed for Nelson's sad fate;
But leave grief's pearly drop to the fair cheek of beauty;
Let direful revenge in our bosoms be found.
Let us hope, that as here he was true to his duty.
Death's conqueror now he with glory is crown'd.

- - -
Lyrics are also in Fairburn's Naval Songster (London: John Fairburn, 1806), page 23, where it is called “Tom Splice.”
and in Great Nelson's Laurels (London: J. Pitts, 1806), page 3, where it is called “Nelson and Victory.”
The last publication can also be found in the Bodleian Ballad Collection, Curzon b.24(98).