WWI Trench songs

Subject: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Bugsy
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 10:39 PM

I'm startin a bit of a collection of Trench Songs of WW1 (from the British perspective) and would be grateful of any songs, along with background that you may know. I've started of with "(Hanging on) The Old Barbed Wire" which I looked up in the DT. However, I seem to remember that there were a lot more verses than in the version shown here, also that the last verse was "If you want to find the private....".

Thanking you all in advance for any assistance you may be able to give.

Cheers

Bygsy

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Spud Murphy
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 10:51 PM

Mademoiselle from Armentières

Ha-ha. i'm first!!!

Pomme de terre.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Bugsy
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 10:54 PM

Good one Spud! Do you have any lyrics or background on the song?

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: GUEST,Sarah2 (at work, no cookie)
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 11:38 PM

It's a Long, Long Way to Tipperary
(Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and) Smile, Smile, Smile!
Roses of Picardy
Land of Hope and Glory
Keep the Home-Fires Burning
There's a Long, Long Trail

No promise they're all English-written, will have to get home to do some more looking. Meanwhile, others at their reference sources might look these up...?

Sarah

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Amos
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 11:43 PM

They're all English. And then there's the whole sound trrack to "O! What a Lovely War!".

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: GUEST,MEADOW MUSKRAT
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 11:47 PM

Barrand and Roberts, two expatriate Brits living in the US recorded a great war Trilogy on their album A PRESENT FROM THE GENTLEMEN.The afore-mentioned The Old Barbed Wire is sandwiched between The Valley of the Shadow, a more recent song about the Battle of Arras, and There's a Long, Long Trail, a marching song composed in 1913 by Zo Elliot and Stoddard King.I also vaguely remember hearing a song called Roses of No Man's Land, about Red Cross Nurses. For a modern song about a unique event during ww1 check out Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Spud Murphy
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 12:02 AM

Oh,cripes, you had to ask.... here's the best I can do. i know the lyrics were so raunchy my mom wouldn't let my dad sing it around the house. I know somebody else can help with the lyrics when this thread get's going. I'll bet Spaw knows a few of the dum-de dum parts

Madamoiselle from Armintiers, parlez vous,
Madamoiselle from Armintiers, parlez vous,
madamoiselle from Armintiers,
dum-de-dum didy-dum-de-dum,
Hinky, dinky, parlez vous.

When I get my teeth in in a little bit I'll whistle it for you.

Spud

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: GUEST,Sarah2 (at work)
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 12:05 AM

I think that dum-de-dum line, at least the cleaned up version, was "Hasn't been kissed in forty years." The original left to your imagination.

Sarah

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Bugsy
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 12:09 AM

Spud,I remember singing a version as a kid with my mates, "Three German officers crossed the line Parlez vous Shagged the girls and drank the wine...."and so on and so forth.

I wonder it the words are of the same ilk.

Thanks Sarah and Amos, I have them all in mind.

Meadow muskrat, I don't know "The Valley of the Shadow" but have already got John McCutcheon's Christmas in the Trenches on my list of later songs.

CHeers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 12:17 AM

G'day Bugsy,

From the Australian perspective there is Suvla Bay, a song in which a girl (in "an old Australian homestead, with roses round the door") learns of her sweetheart's death at Gallipoli and becomes a nurse - rejecting any other offers of love.

This is alleged (by Bill Scott, at least) to have been banned by the Australian authorities as "detrimental to morale". I can't pick it up in the DigiTrad - or in SuperSearch - so it's not there. I had thought that i might have posted it in another thread, so I will check my complaints about songs not yet harvested. If I can't give you a link, I will post it (next week ... after the Illawarra Folk festival.

The Australians also had Dinky-Di, a song reviling Army staff who polished seats while diggers fought in the trenches, to the tune of Villikins and His Dinah. This is in DigiTrad ... under the spelling Dinky Die. I seem to remember a few more Australian ones listed in the Allens publication World War Songs (mostly from sheet music published during the two World Wars) but they were less well known. I will check when I get home.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Bugsy
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 12:23 AM

Yes Bob, I know Suvla Bay, it was a favourite song of my Father in Law's.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: DougR
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 12:45 AM

"My Buddy."

DougR

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Bugsy
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 12:55 AM

Doug, Tell me more.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Musicman
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 01:10 AM

don't forget... K-K-K-Katy.....

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 02:29 AM

"Christmas in the Trenches" is a parody of "Christmas [Day] in the Workhouse" (or vice versa) (Vice Versa, that's the assistant poet)

Christmas in the workhouse is recited as a poem, usually.

(with heavy london accent, if you can. ) (there I go getting snotty again)

I started to write it in dialect, but I've given up

CHRISTMAS IN THE WORKHOUSE

It were Christmas in the workhouse, the best time of the year.
All them paupers, they were happy, they were full of Christmas cheer.
And, the Master too was happy, as he strode down dismal Halls.
And, he wished them "Merry Christmas", and all them paupers answered, "Balls".
Which made the master angry and he swore by all the Gods,
""YOU'LL GET NO CHRISTMAS PUDDIN' YOU LOUSY LOT OF SODS"
Then up stepped a war scarred veteran who'd stormed the Khyber Pass,
"You can take your Christmas puddin', Mate, and shove it up your .............

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 02:57 AM

The first marine he ate some beans, Parley voo
The second marine he ate some beans, parley-voo
The third marine, he ate some beans and SH.. all over the submarine.
hinky dinky parley voo

Here's an original parody (Paris must be pronounced as we do in English, with a hard "S" at the end)

How you gonna keep them down on the farm,
After they've seen PARIS?
Paris is spelled P-A-R-I-S,
Paree is spelled P-A-R-E-E-, I guess
How you gonna teach your kids how to spell,
AFTER THEY'VE DONE IT IN FRENCH?

The last verse to, "I know where they are" is

If you want to find the infantry, I know where they are,
I know where they are, I know where they are.
If you want to find the Infantry, I know where they are,
HANGING FROM THE OLD BARBED WIRE.
I saw them, I saw them,
Hanging from the old barbed wire,
I saw them, hanging from the old barbed wire.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Bugsy
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 03:57 AM

CRANKY YANKEE, That's a different "Christmas in the Trenches" to John McCutcheon's. Do you Know the words to the poem?

CHeer

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: AndyG
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 08:25 AM

If you can find it get a copy of
The Long Trail
by John Brophy & Eric Partridge.

Also search the forum for Brophy as I've occasionaly posted quotes from this book on various WWI threads. (I can't get a response from the search today or I'd post you a link.)
For what it's worth my WWI songs are here, here & here. Mainly gathered from Oh What a Lovely War and The Long Trail.

AndyG

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Snuffy
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 09:11 AM

Bugsy, we used to sing Three German Officers, but we used the tune of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home", not "Mademoiselle from Armentières"

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 12:56 PM

Bugsy:

Keep the Home-Fires Burning. I was going to mention There's a Long, Long Trail but I've been beaten to the punch. Good luck and let me know how it goes. I'm hunting a publisher for a similar book on U.S. Civil War songs. Kindest regards, Neil

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Mr Red
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 01:08 PM

The Old Barbed Wire.

Roy Palmer's book "What a Lovely War" has several versions one he refers to the reverse order and refers to an American version.

One that I told Roy about was too late for the book. Robert Graves the War poet was filmed singing snippets of it - what he actually sang (give or take what memory does) I videoed the program.

"Do you want to find the Brigadier" is how it starts. A few verses then the last verse. "Do you want to find your sweetheart...". He wasn't gay but there is a question is hovering there is there not?

I will dig out my transcription and post here from home.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Bert
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 01:15 PM

"The Laddies Who Fought and Won" and many others by Harry Lauder.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Anglo
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 01:34 PM

No-one seems to have mentioned When this Bloody War Is Over. I agree the soundtrack to Oh, What a Lovely War would be the place to start. Catalogue all that, and go from there...

And as Mr Red notes above, Roy Palmer's book "What a Lovely War" has a lot of stuff, but it suffers greatly from not having any music.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Jeri
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 01:56 PM

Spud, I grew up hearing my father sing Mademoiselle from Armentières, and thought for years it went:
Daddy's part:
Mademoiselle from Armentières, parlez vous,
Mademoiselle from Armentières, parlez vous,
Mademoiselle from Armentières...
Mommy's part, spoken:
That's enough!!
Daddy again:
Hinky, dinky, parlez vous.

This song seems to have managed to escape the DT so far. Too bad I don't know more of the lyrics.

I learned There's a Long, Long Trail from my dad as well, but only the chorus. The first time I had a chance to hear the whole song was when I bought "A Present From the Gentlemen" by John Roberts and Tony Barrand. It was amazing to me to be able to take my memory of that song out of storage and actually add to it.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Pete M
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 02:45 PM

just from memory, a couple not mentioned so far "The Bells of Hell Go Ting-A-Ling-A-Ling", "I Don't Want to Join the Army" (which caused indignant letters to the Times when a 'gentleman' heard troops singing it on the march. Also if you search the forum for Christmas in the Trenches, there are I think at least a couple of threads about these incidents and the songs of the era.

Pete M

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Bert
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 02:48 PM

Here's a thread about that song Jeri.

Bert.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: GUEST,Alan B
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 04:50 PM

Sarah Mentioned "(Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and) Smile, Smile, Smile!" & "It's a Long, Long Way to Tipperary".

I discovered courtesy of our children's primary school concert that these two songs counterpoint each other perfectly.

The audience was divided into 2, one for each song, with pack up your Troubles starting on the word "Long" in Its a long way to Tipperary.

It was hilarious trying to stick to the song you were allocated, while listening to the other. Try it!

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Bugsy
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 07:34 PM

Thanks Guys! This is all very helpful. There's a lot to go through here, I'll trace the thread and get back to you all as things progress.

In the meantime - KEEP POSTING!

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Bugsy
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 07:35 PM

............Especially with any background information about the songs.

Cheers

B8gsy

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Mike Byers
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 09:17 PM

I thought "The Bells of Hell Go Ting-A-Ling-A-Ling" dated from WWII (it was popular with RAF pilots) but I could be wrong. Anyway, we were still singing it in Laos in 1969. Some songs, for one reason or another, just endure.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: DougR
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 01:56 AM

Bugsy:

Sorry. I thought everybody probably knew the song, "My Buddy." I have to vamp, I'm doing this from memory. Also, I haven't mastered the art of posting lyrics so bear with me.

"My Buddy"

Nights are long, since you went away,
I dream about you all through the day,
my Buddy, my Buddy, no Buddy quite so true.
I miss your voice, the touch of your hand,
just long to know that you understand, my Buddy,
my Buddy, your Buddy misses you.

DougR

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 03:11 AM

It would be helpful if these song lyrics were laid out the way they were submitted instead of one line after the other. in a single paragraph. it's not so easy for an amateur (and some of us pro's)to stick to the metre without each line being a single line. I don't know if I said exactly wht I meant, I hope it's understood.

Anyway, the poem I quoted, "Christmas in the workhouse" is not a parody of John McCutcheon's "Christmas in the Trenches" I'm truly sorry that I got the titles mixed up. The one I was referring to is altogether different, here it is.

CHRISTMAS IN THE HAREM
by A. Nonny Mouse

It were Christmas in the harem, all them eunuchs was hangin round,
And, four and twenty lassies was lyin' on the ground,
when in came the bald, fat sultan from out of his marble halls.
Sayin', "What do you want for Christmas, lads"?
And all them eunuchs answered,
(sung) "TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY, COMFORT AND JOY,
OH TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY".

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 03:32 AM

Dear Irish Sergeant.

Are you an IRISH sergeant or an IRISH AMERICAN sergeant?

If you live in the Southeastern part of the U. S. A. you probably haven't heard the really great "Civil War Songs". Usually, the losing side in a Civil (?) War has all the good songs. Such was not the case in the "War Between the States" This, of course, is only my opinion, you may not agree. I think "Marching Through Georgia", Henry Clay Work's masterpiece, (doesn't get much play in the South) is the best of the lot. However, since Joe Offer rightfully pointed out that one should stick to the subject of each thread, I'll start a new one entitled "American Civil War Songs. See you there Sarge.

Subject: Lyr Add: GEE MA I WANNA GO HOME
From: GUEST,Bard Judith
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 03:52 AM

Dear Bugsy - not sure if this is a WW1 or WW2 song - and it is already in the Mudcat database - but you might wanna list this under Alternative Lyrics? Note, for example, the area-specific line added in the chorus which pegs this as a Canadian version ... but also note the reference to a Hollywood actress... :)

GEE MA I WANNA GO HOME

They say that in the Army
The food is mighty fine
A bean rolled off the table
And killed a pal of mine!

(Chorus) Oh, I don't want no more of Army life
Gee Ma, I wanna go
Back to Ontario
Gee Ma, I wanna go home!

They say that in the army
The girls are mighty fine
I asked for Betty Grable
They gave me Frankenstein!

(Chorus)

They say that in the army
The booze is mighty fine
I asked for Scotch-n-Soda
They gave me turpentine!

(Chorus)

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 11-Nov-02.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Amos
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 09:24 AM

Risque meant something different back then. The line from "Mademoiselle" I learned at the point where Ma's censorship cut in was "She never washes her underwear".

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Gervase
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 10:10 AM

At school we had a strange version of Mademoiselle from Armentières, not a million miles from the original, singing the praises of flatulence. Maybe this is one for 'Spaw...

Subject: Lyr Add: THE AUSTRALAISE
From: The Walrus
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 11:57 AM

Here are a few "Squaddies' Song" of the Great War for you.

We Are Fred Karno's Army (TUNE: The Church's One Foundation) Just an example of the British Army trait of self mockery (although some would say that's just getting in first)

Aprés La Guerre (TUNE: Sous les Ponts de Paris) A piece in "dog" French

We've Had No Beer (TUNE: Abide With Me) After a long march and no "wet" canteen....

At the Halt on the Left (Form Platoon) (TUNE: Three Cheers for the Red White and Blue)

Yes! And We Can Do It / Breaking Out of Barracks (TUNE: In and Out the Window)

We're 'Ere Because (TUNE: Auld Lang Syne) Authority's motto always seems to be "Hurry Up and Wait"; this was merely "Tommy's" response

Raining/Grousing (TUNE: Holy, Holy, Holy)

When This Lousy War Is Over (TUNE: Take It to the Lord in Prayer)

Old Joe Whip (TUNE: Ballad of Casey Jones)

For a slightly odder one, here is "The Australaise", originally written in 1908 by C. J. Dennis, revised in 1915, dedicated to (and widely distributed among) the A.I.F. (I only have one verse and the chorus. The blanks have been left in.)

THE AUSTRALAISE (TUNE: Onward Christian Soldiers)

Fellers of Australia,
Blokes an' coves an' coots
Shift yer b_____ carcasses,
Move yer b_____ boots.
Gird yer b_____ loins up,
Get a b_____ gun
Shoot the b_____ enemy
And watch the b_____ run.

CHORUS: Get a b_____ move on,
Have some b_____ sense,
Learn the b_____ art of
Self de-b______-fence.

Any use ?

Regards

Walrus

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Auxiris
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 11:58 AM

Bugsy, I found a couple of poems in a WW1 B.E.F. Times facsimile reprint that I bought in a flea market here in France that would probably make good songs if tunes were fitted to them. If you're interested in them, let me know and I'll either post them here or PM them to you. I had already posted at least one of them in another thread, but, unfortunately do not know how to do a blue clicky that would whisk you there instantly.

cheers,

Aux

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 12:03 PM

Mademoiselle from Armentières may have been the best-known WWI song from the infantry, but Bless 'Em All was WWI RAF and Destroyer Song was US Navy. My own pet is Just Behind the Battle, Mother, a parody of a song from the then-recent Civil War.

Check out @WWI in DigiTrad

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Bugsy
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 12:11 PM

This is all coming thick and fast.

I will try to get back to everyone with either a post here or PM whichever is more appropriate, though it will take some time to go through everything.

In the meantime - keep up the good work.

Thanks a million!

CHeers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Bert
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 12:16 PM

Here's a Harry Lauder site

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Micca
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 01:53 PM

Bugsy, you could try finding the reprints of the "Wipers Times" which was a sort of WW1 underground newspaper in "the Salient", I saw a bound set of reprints in a library years ago, in London. It had poems and lyrics of songs in it as I recall.. might be a useful source of background, try here http://www.adam-matthew-publications.co.uk/COLLECT/P119.HTM or try and find this
The Wipers Times. A Complete Facsmile of the Famous World War One Trench Newspaper (London: Peter Davies, 1973). 940.4144 WIP

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: GUEST,Ketil
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 11:32 PM

Here is a brief snippet I learned from a friend who learned it from an ANZAC vet:

(tune Waltzing Matilda of course!)

Fightin' the Kaiser,
Fightin' the Kaiser,
Who'll come a-fightin' the Kaiser with me?
And we'll drink up all 'is beer,
And eat up all 'is sausages.
Who'll come a-fightin' the Kaiser with me?

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Mr Red
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 12:28 PM

Bugsy

Words as transcribed from archive TV interview with Robert Graves.
These words are what he sang in the trenches.

Do you want to find the General?
I know where he is. I know where he is. Oh, I know where he is!
Do you want to find the General? I know where he is!
He's pinning another medal on his chest.
I saw him. I saw him, pinning another medal on his chest.
I saw him, pinning another medal on his chest.

Do you want to find the Captain?
I know where he is. I know where he is. Oh, I know where he is!
Do you want to find the Captain? I know where he is.
He's home again on seven days' leave.
I saw him. I saw him, home again on seven days' leave.
I saw him, home again on seven days leave.

Robert Graves made reference only to more verses. When I now sing this, I fill the intervening verses with the better known verses. e.g.:

Brigadier - Gadding around in Gay Paree.
Quartermaster - Drinking all the company's rum
Sergeant - Dead drunk on the dugout floor
Corporal - Up to his neck in clod

Robert Graves then finished by stating without any hesitation the last verse

Do you want to find your sweetheart?
I know where he is. I know where he is. Oh I know where he is!
Do you want to find your sweetheart? I know where he is.
He's hanging on the front line wire.
I saw him, I saw him, hanging on the front line wire,
I saw him, hanging on the front line wire.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 11-Nov-02.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 03:30 PM

Cranky Yankee: Irish American with Scots,English and Swis german sprinkled in for good measure in real life. I picked Irish Sergeant as my nom de plume because I am a Civil War re-enactor and I portray a son of Erin who came over to the U.S. to get away from the famine. My rank in our Civil War unit is first sergeant. I was going to respond on the Civil War thread but it seems to have disappeared and this one is still here. Happy Saint Patrick's Day to all, Neil (Irish Sergeant)

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Matt_R
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 03:38 PM

My great Uncle Henry (who was blind, and went through WWI holding onto the belt of the guy in front of him) said that "Don't You Laugh As The Hearse Goes By" was a very popular song to sing when he was in the trenches.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 05:22 PM

Bugsy;

How about "Going to Germany", "I'll Tell You Where They Were", "That Crazy War" and "I Want to Go Home"? Most of them seem to be American. I know the last one is and if you can't find the lyrics elsewhere I have them. It just took a little digging. kindest regards, Neil

Subject: Lyr Add: BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A DIME?^^^
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 06:17 PM

BUDDY CAN YOU SPARE A DIME?

SPOKEN PART: They used to tell me I was building a dream
And so I followed the mob
Where there was earth to plow or guns to bear
I was always there right there on the job.
They used to tell me I was building a dream
With peace and glory ahead.
So why am I standing in line
Just waiting for bread?

BEGIN SINGING:
VERSE 1: Once I build a railroad, made it run
Made it race against time
Once I built a railroad, now it's done
Buddy, can you spare a dime?

VERSE 2: Once I built a tower to the sun
Made of brick and mortar and lime
Once I built a tower, now it's done
Buddy, can you spare a dime?

CHORUS: Once in Khaki suits, gee we looked swell
Full of that Yankee Doodly dum.
Half a million boots went slogging through hell
And I was the guy with the drum.

VERSE 3: Hey, don't you remember, they called me Al
It was Al all the time.
Hey, don't you remember, I'm your pal.
Buddy, can you spare a dime?

CHORUS: Once in Khaki suits, gee we looked swell
Full of that Yankee Doodly dum.
Half a million boots went slogging through hell
And I was the guy with the drum.

VERSE 4: Hey, don't you remember, they called me Al?
It was Al all the time.
Hey, don't you remember, I'm your pal?
Buddy, can you spare a dime?
Buddy, can you spare a dime?

Recorded during the height of the depression in 1932, this song recounted the despair of the working men, and particularly the World War 1 Veterans, who found themselves begging on the streets

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 11-Nov-02.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Mr Red
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 07:33 AM

Lonesome EJ

Call me a pedant. Surely "buddy" started out life as "brother".

The first try-outs of the play used "brother".

Broadway impressarios were happy with that lyric but were fearful of a backlash from those who could actually afford tickets then. Hence the change to "buddy".

It was a hard hitting political song and for a political play. They chose to make it well known, so allowed some dilution. The message is still there.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Bugsy
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 08:04 PM

Thanks to everyone who has posted so far, I'm overwhelmed!

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 01:57 PM

Have I missed it, or has no-one posted (Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and) Smile, Smile, Smile!?
Also We Are Fred Karno's Army and Far Far From Wipers. [a.k.a. Sing Me to Sleep]
Soldier on.
Keith.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 03:05 PM

Bugsy: How is the research coming? Irish Sergeant

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: The Walrus
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 07:11 PM

How about, all on the theme, I want to be elsewhere:
"Far, Far from Wipers (I long to be)" - or it's longer version "Sing Me to Sleep"/;"Soldiers' Lullaby"
"Take Me Back to Dear Old Blighty" (The CEF had a version as "Take Me Back to Good Old Canada")
"I Want to Go Home"
The Middle East Lament [a.k.a. The Boys in Palestine] ("We came from Turkey's Mountains to Egypt's burning strand")
On Food:
"When the Stew Is on the Table"
"Jam For Tea" [or Ode to Tickler]
"Tickler's Jam"
"Plum and Apple"

Any Use?

Regards

Walrus

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Bugsy
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 07:50 PM

Irish Sergeant. At the moment, it's not. I am collecting the songs for a workshop I intend to add to my repertoire for festivals. The trouble is that there has been so much response, it will take me some time to get through the postings here and figure out which songs to ask for lyrics and tunes to. However I will get back to everyone as soon as I can find the time to "Get down to it" so to speak.

In the meantime, Thanks to everyone who has posted so far.

CHeers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 12:07 PM

Aww, gee; and I just saw a 1918 sheet-music booklet at an antique store with "For Our Boys In The Trenches" or something like that, with illustration of the brave lads in battle attire clutching their 1903 Springfields on the cover... and I passed it up! They wanted $5 for it, which I considered a bit much. Oh well..

I rather more folow music of the Civil War (1861-5) period, and actually have a "Civil War Musician's" Discussion Forum up on Delphi.

Yoy! That's a looooong one!

Havn't used it much lately (too much time in here!) but it picks up a thread every so often. We keep a few articles around for future refferance, or for the curious to dig around in. Come check it out if any of ye want to diverge a bit into that particular genre.

Uncle Jaque, Fifer, 3rd Maine Volunteer Infantry

Field Music (Fife & Drum Corps)

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Mr Red
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 12:41 PM

"Kiss Me Goodnight, Sergeant Major" Or was that in the Eddy Cantor film about WW1?

Not a trench song but- "Goodbye Dolly I must leave you. Goodbye Dolly Gray" hence - "Hello Dolly"

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: GUEST,Irish Sergeant
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 03:24 PM

Let Me know Bugsy:

Uncle Jaque; If you go to www.geocities.com/the12thus/ A rough draft of the Civil War song book I've been working on is there. I'll be sending it to the publishers tommorow. Kindest reguards, Neil

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From:
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 06:55 PM

Let's not have a sniffle, Let's have a bloody good cry, And always remember, the sooner you live, The sooner you bloody well die.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 07:03 PM

Not a trench song either, but genuinely WW1: Nobody's mentioned Salonika so far.
Then there is Christmas 1914, covering the same ground as Christmas in the Trenches.

Subject: Lyr Add: ISN'T IT GRAND, BOYS^^^
From: GUEST,Irish Sergeant
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 07:42 PM

JcF: That is a great song! It's titled "ISN'T IT GRAND, BOYS" I have a version by the Clancy Brothers and I sing it at Reenactments (After hours)

Look at the Coffin,
With Golden handles.
Isn't it Grand boys, to be bloody well dead?
Let's not have a sniffle,
Let's have a bloody great cry.
And always remember the longer you live,
The sooner you'll bloody well die.

Look at the Flowers,
All bloody withered,...

Look at the mourners,
Bloody great hypocrites...

Look at the widow,
Bloody great female,...

The third through the last lines get added to each verse. It's a marvelous song. Kindest regards, Neil

HTML line breaks added --JoeClone, 30-Sep-01.

Subject: Lyr Add: MADEMOISELLE FROM ARMENTIERES
From: GUEST,Joe Fineman
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 02:14 PM

Since, astonishingly, I don't see MADEMOISELLE FROM ARMENTIERES in DigiTrad, here are some verses I have happened on over the years:

Mademoiselle from Armentieres
Hadn't been fucked for forty years.

A German officer crossed the Rhine.
He loved the women, he loved the wine.

O farmer, have you a daughter fair
To wash a soldier's underwear?

He took her upstairs and into bed,
And there he cracked her maidenhead.

The first three months and all was well,
But the second three months she began to swell.

The general got the Croix de Guerre --
The son of a bitch was never there.

-- A remarkably insipid song, considering its notoriety.

HTML line breaks added --JoeClone, 30-Sep-01.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: GUEST,Frank Harte
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 04:45 PM

Bugsy.

You mentioned that you have the words to Suvla Bay....It is a long time ago since i first heard it in my father's pub...I have a verse and a chorus of it and i would very much like to have the complete words ....

Frank Harte

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: GUEST,Pete M at work
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 07:34 PM

Just a thought Bugsy, I believe that in the BBC TV series "The Great War" (I think) broadcast in 1964 there was a programme devoted to the songs and music of the troops. A quick squiz through the BBC site does show anything relevant but it may be worth giving them a bell.

Pete M

Subject: RE: MY BUDDY/Trench Songs of WW1
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 11:49 PM

additional lines to My Buddy -

* CLIK TO: OLD MUDCAT POST/MY BUDDY *

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Mr Red
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 08:19 AM

In my experience with the BBC it depends who you contact. It didn't work for me & I had the name of the particular producer to go on.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: GUEST,Frank Harte
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 06:50 PM

To. Bob Bolton,

You mentioned that you had a song called Suvla Bay in your reply to Bugsy, I would very much like to have a copy of the words of it if you could take the time to send them on. It is a very long time ago since I first heard it.

The bits I remember are....

Why do I weep , why do I cry,
My love has gone far far away,
We had to part that Autumn day,
I left my heart on Suvla Bay.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE POWER OF A CIGARETTE
From: bill\sables
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 07:10 PM

THE POWER OF A CIGARETTE

Writen in 1915 by British Soldiers

'Tis Yuletide out in the trenches, the night is cold and drear.
With never a sign from our sturdy line, of the foeman who lurks so near.
Our boys they are staunch and ready, though chilled to the bone and wet,
But their eyes grow bright as they place a light to a Woodbine cigarette.

Merely a pinch of tobacco encased in a paper shell,
But it has a power in the midnight hour the soldier alone can tell
For it whispers of dear old England; of home, and his heart's desire
And it seems to show in its ruddy glow the gleam of a homestead fire.

It brings to his mental vision the faces of those he loves,
And he softly sighs as he clasps his eyes on his tattered and war torn gloves.
It speaks to him too of friendship, and colleagues who ne'er forget
And his heart grows glad as the soldier lad inhales from his cigarette

'Tis Yuletide out in the trenches, the enemy close at hand,
But he quite forgets while his cigarettes whisper softly of Motherland.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 08:20 PM

There is a German Folk music sight that I found a couple of days ago that may very well help also. Has a lot of good stuff. Kindest reguards, Neil

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 09:30 PM

G'day Guest,Frank Harte,

I have the words at home and can easily pop them into Mudcat tonight, if they are not already on the DigiTrad (and if I can squeeze it in between getting Mulga Wire, the Bush Music Club magazine close to printing stage for next Tuesday).

It is a good old weepy ... and I am fascinated about Bill Scott's information that it was banned by the authorities and detrimental to morale!

Regards,

Bob bolton

Subject: Lyr Add: SUVLA BAY
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 07:38 AM

G'day again, Frank Harte,

Here are the words - in their WWI version. The song was recycled in WWII to refer to Suda Bay, in Crete instead of Suvla Bay at Gallipoli.

I have not had a chance to key in the music, so I haven't posted a MIDItext tune to accompany. If you need that, I will do it next week: I still have the Magazine to finish and tomorrow is taken up with a memorial / wake for our premier folksong collector John Meredith. The gathering is down in the Southern Highlands and I won't get back until the Loaded Dog Folk Club starts ...and I still have to finish the magazine ...

Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton

Suvla Bay

Inn an old Australian homestead with roses round the door,
A girl received a letter, just newly from the war.
With her mother's arm around her she gave way to sobs and sighs,
For when she read that letter, the tears came to her eyes.
Chorus:
Why do I weep? Why do I sigh?
My love's asleep so far away.
He played his part that April day
And left my heart in Suvla Bay.

She joined a band of nurses underneath the cross of red
And swore to do her duty to the soldier who lay dead.
Many soldiers came to woo her but were sadly turned away
As to them she told the story of the grave at Suvla Bay,
Chorus:
Why do I weep? Why do I sigh?
My love's asleep so far away.
He played his part that August day
And left my heart in Suvla Bay.

Bill Scott, in The Second Penguin Australian Songbook, says he learned the WWII version ("Suda Bay" and "August day") from an RN sailor in a Navy wet canteen in Brisbane in 1944. He says many older people, including his mother, knew the WWI version.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: GUEST,Frank Harte
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 06:43 PM

Dear Bob,

Thank's for taking the trouble to post the words to Suvla Bay....if yu get time I would very much like to hear the tune. I only have the air to the chorus which does not seem to fit the verses.

Thank's again...........Frank

PS. Is that Penguin Australian Songbook Book still in print and available.??

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: NH Dave
Date: 24 Mar 01 - 05:19 PM

Some years ago there was a book Kiss me Goodnight Sgt Major, with a foreword by Spike Milligan and cartoons by the chap that cartooned The Cloggies. British Catters can probably furnish the name of the person who compiled it from memory, but my recollection followed my copy of the book off the back of a lorry. This was a compilation of British Troop Songs and Poems of WWII, organized by campaign and location.

This book suggests that many of the songs we have noted were popular in WWII as opposed to WWI, but the WWII versions may have been updated versions of the WWI song. For example, I have heard a version of Dinky-Di updated to cover the Vietnam War.

It is my recollection that it had a version of Christmas in the Workhouse, relocated to Christmas in the Mess, with words like Paupers, Workhouse, Master and Veteran changed to Soldiers, Mess, Major, and Corporal.

Then up stepped a sharp young corporal
Small he was but bold as brass,
"You can take your Christmas pudding,
And you shove it up your arse!"

Dave

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: NH Dave
Date: 24 Mar 01 - 06:03 PM

The wonders of the Internet. A quick search of several out of print book sellers reveals that it was collected by Martin Page, illustrated by Bill Tidy, and can be had from $9 US to $25 US depending on where I obtain it.

Dave

Subject: Lyr Add: AND THE BAND PLAYED WALTZING MATILDA
From: gnu
Date: 24 Mar 01 - 07:09 PM

Scanned the thread quickly, so I may have missed this tune and I apologize if it was cited above, but it is my favourite. A buddy of mine, now living in Iqaluit, Nunavut sings a soft, slow version of this tune and I weep every time I hear it. I've got him on tape from a kitchen session and just listened to it again, sob !

THE BAND PLAYED WALTZING MATILDA
(Eric Bogle)

Now when I was a young man I carried me pack
And I lived the free life of the rover.
From the Murry's green basin to the dusty outback,
Well, I waltzed my Matilda all over.
Then in 1915 my country said, "Son,
It's time you stop rambling, there's work to be done."
So they gave me a tin hat and they gave me a gun
And they marched me away to the war.
And the band played Waltzing Matilda,
As the ship pulled away from the quay
And midst all the cheers, flag waving and tears,
We sailed off for Gallipoli

And how well I remember that terrible day,
How our blood stained the sand and the water
And of how in that hell that they called Suvla Bay
We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter.
Johnny Turk, he was ready, he primed himself well.
He showered us with bullets, and he rained us with shells,
And in five minutes flat, he'd blown us all to hell,
Nearly blew us back home to Australia.
(But) And the band played Waltzing Matilda,
As we stopped to bury our slain,
We buried ours, the Turks buried theirs,
Then we started all over again.

And those that were left, well we tried to survive
In that mad world of blood, death and fire.
And for ten weary weeks I kept myself alive
Though around me the corpses piled higher.
Then a big Turkish shell knocked me ass over head
And when I awoke in me hospital bed
And saw what it had done, well I wished I was dead.
Never knew there were worse things than dying.
For I'll go no more Waltzing Matilda,
All around the green bush far and free
To hump tent and pegs, a man needs both legs,
No more waltzing Matilda for me.

So they gathered the crippled, the wounded, and maimed,
And they shipped us back home to Australia.
The legless, the armless, the blind and insane,
Those proud wounded heroes of Suvla.
And when our ship pulled into Circular Quay
I looked at the place where me legs used to be
And I thank Christ there was no body waiting for me
To grieve, to mourn and to pity.
But the Band played Waltzing Matilda
As they carried us down the gangway,
But nobody cheered, they just stood and stared,
Then they turned all their faces away.

So now every April I sit on me porch
And I watch the parade pass before me.
And I see my old comrades, how proudly they march
Reviving old dreams and past glory,
And the old men march slowly, all bone stiff and sore
They're tired old heroes from a forgotten war
And the young people ask "What are they marching for?"
And I ask myself the same question.
But the band plays Waltzing Matilda,
And the old men still answer the call,
But as year follows year, more old men disappear
Someday, no one will march there at all.

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda.
Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me?
And their ghosts may be heard as they march by the billabong
Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me?

Copyright Larrikin Music, Ltd.
@war @soldier @Australia
filename[ BANDPLAY
Tune file : BANDPLAY

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 28 Mar 01 - 10:58 PM

G'day again,

Frank Harte: Sorry that i have not yet got back with tune. Mulga Wire (Bush Music Club Magazine finally off to printers last night ... I can get back to music queries. MIDItext soon!

gnu: Lovely song - but written by Wee Eric in the late '60s ... and Bugsy, being in Australia, has probably heard it 297 times too many to weep, other than out of frustration!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 29 Mar 01 - 09:26 AM

G'day again,

Frank Harte: I did the MIDItext of the tune (Bill Scott's version) ... and decided to post it in its own Lyr Add Suvla Bay (Suda Bay) Australian Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 29 Mar 01 - 12:59 PM

A friend of mine sings a very moving song about a Canadian soldier who survives the war but loses his friends. I can only remember the last line which goes

And I will end my days in Montreal. [Vimy]

If anyone knows that I'd love to know the words-a real tear jerker. Not sure if it was first or second war though.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 29 Mar 01 - 04:54 PM

Please. If you're going to mention a song, a) See if it's already in DigiTrad, and if not, b) post the damn words!

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 29 Mar 01 - 09:27 PM

Err ... G'day Dick,

I take your remark above refers to someone else ... I can't see Suvla Bay in the Digitrad.

(And I can't see anything in DigiTrad that matches Mrs Duck's request.) Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 29 Mar 01 - 09:58 PM

Present correspondent excluded. I was stating a general request.

Subject: Lyr Add: GASSED LAST NIGHT
From: Metchosin
Date: 04 May 01 - 12:35 AM

GASSED LAST NIGHT (Bombed Last Night)
(Chilton)

Gassed last night, and gassed the night before.
Going to get gassed tonight if we never get gassed anymore.
When we're gassed, we're sick as we can be
'Cause phosgene and mustard gas is much too much for me.

They're warning us, they're warning us.
One respirator for the four of us.
Thank your lucky stars the three of us can run
So one of us can use it all alone.

Bombed last night, and bombed the night before.
Going to get bombed tonight if we never get bombed anymore.
When we're bombed, we're scared we can be.
Oh God stop the bombing raids from High Germany.

They're over us, they're over us.
One shell hole for just the four of us.
Thank your lucky stars there are no more of us
'Cause one of us can fill it all alone

Subject: Lyr Add: JOE SOAP'S ARMY
From: Metchosin
Date: 04 May 01 - 12:40 AM

JOE SOAP'S ARMY
(Chilton)

Forward Joe Soaps army
Marching without fear
With our old commander
Safely in the rear

He boasts and scapes? from morn til night
And thinks he is so brave
But the men who really did the job
Are dead and in their grave

Forward Joe Soap's
Marching without fear
With our old commander
Safely in the rear
Amen

Sung to the tune of Onward Christian Soldiers, this WWI trench song is from the original cast recording of the 1964 Musical "Oh What a Lovely War".

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Lyndi-loo
Date: 04 May 01 - 04:25 AM

How about

I don't want to be a soldier I don't want to go to war I'd rather hangaround Picadilly underground Living off the earnings of a .........high born lady

Sorry don't know any more verses

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Micca
Date: 04 May 01 - 09:37 AM

Lyndi do you mean this

" I don't want to Join the Army
I dont want to go to war
I'd rather stay at home
around the streets to roam
and live on the earnings
of a Navy Typist

I dont want a bayonet in my belly
I dont want my bollocks shot away
I'd rather stay in England,
in merry merry England
and Forincate my bleeeding life away
There is more, but I will send it PM if you want, its a bit vulgar....

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Lyndi-loo
Date: 04 May 01 - 10:49 AM

That's the one! Yes please a PM would be great (even if it is rude)

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Bugsy
Date: 06 May 01 - 08:36 PM

Please pm me too.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: NSC
Date: 07 May 01 - 12:48 PM

Micca,

it is important to post the whole song despite its "vulgarity". Soldiers who had been deprived of their loved ones company, were bound to be vulgar and despite the vulgarity the song you started is very funny. I have a somewhat different version which I will post later today.

Subject: Lyr Add: I DON'T WANT TO JOIN THE ARMY
From: NSC
Date: 07 May 01 - 12:54 PM

As promised:I DON'T WANT TO JOIN THE ARMY

I don't want to join the army
I don't want to go to war,
I'd rather hang around Picadilly underground,
Living off the earnings of a high born lady.
I don't want a bayonet up my arse hole,
I don't want my bollicks shot away.
I'd rather stay in England, in merry fucking England,
And fornicate my bleeding life away.

Gorblimey.

Monday I touched her on the ankle,
Tuesday I touched her on the Knee,
Wednesday night success, I lifted up her dress,
On Thursday night we went to the pictures.
Friday I laid my hand upon it,
Saturday she gave my balls a tweek,
On Sunday after supper, I rammed the fucker up her,
And now I'm paying thirty bob a week.

Gorblimey

I don't want to join the army,
I don't want to go to war,
I'd rather hang around Picadilly underground,
Living off the earnings of a high born lady.
I don't want a bayoney up my arse hole,
I don't want my bollicks shot away.
I'd rather stay in England, in merry fucking England,
And fornicate my bleeding life away.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 07 May 01 - 05:12 PM

The song I mentionned earlier in this thread is called Vimy and was written recently by a member of the Canadien band Tanglefoot. It refers to a first world war battle but I have not had a chance to transcribe the words yet. I saw the band perform it at Whitby Moor and Coast festival this weekend and they were great!

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Lyndi-loo
Date: 08 May 01 - 10:59 AM

Mrs Duck Vimy ridge was a battle in Northern France near Arras in which huge numbers of young Canadian soldiers died. Today there is a beautiful white limestone memorial inscribed with thousands of names of Canadians whose bodies they never found and around it are acres of graves containing the bodies which were found. A very moving place.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From:
Date: 24 May 01 - 11:09 AM

Dear Bugsy,

I have just discovered your website. In a week's time I am going to publication with a collection of over 150 First World War songs. They are mainly British with a few Canadian, Australian and American. I have a feeling I may have missed some gems that you may have collected. I would be most grateful if you would contact me. Best wishes, Max Arthur

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Bugsy
Date: 25 May 01 - 05:57 PM

[e-mail] - You have Email.

Walrus - You have Email.

CHeers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Genie
Date: 10 Nov 01 - 08:44 PM

Does anyone have any more verses to Mademoiselle from Armentières or the TUNE (MIDI) for Roses of Picardy?

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Amos
Date: 10 Nov 01 - 10:05 PM

No-one seems to have remembered Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition" which I am pretty sure was straight from the the First World War.

"Praise the Lord, and pass the ammunition (3x)
And we'll ALL stay free!!"

A

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: gnomad
Date: 11 Nov 01 - 10:10 AM

Genie: Further verses for Mademoiselle (or are these 2 songs that have got tangled by virtue of using the same tune?) inserted after 3 German officers having crossed the Rhine, repeats omitted for brevity;

They marched up to a wayside inn, Parlez-vous,
Pissed on the mat, and walked right in, Inky-pinky etc.

"Landlord have you a daughter fair?" P-v,
"With lily-white teeth (tits) and golden hair?" I-p, P-v,

"My daughter, Sir, is far too young," P-v,
"To be buggered about by the son of a Hun" I-p, P-v.

"Oh Father, dear, I'm not too young," P-v,
"To get a good shag from anyone." I-p, P-v.

An orphaned verse can be found in Manning's "Her Privates We" :

Mademoiselle, she bought a cow, P-v,
To milk the brute, she didn't know how, P-v,
She pulled the tail instead of the tit,
And covered herself all over with -MILK...

Manning also mentions use of "Here we are again" as a marching song.

Bugsy: In "Goodbye to all that" Graves mentions the troops having a liking for singing mainly comic songs of the day, or hymns. Instances given include Slippery Sam, + I Do Like a S'Nice S'Mince S'Pie.

More obviously war-related songs mentioned are; I Want to Go Home (mentioned earlier in thread) and When we've wound up the watch on the Rhine [or When We Wind Up the Watch on the Rhine(?)].

He also gives the following as being sung about Company QM Sgt Finnegan, to the hymn tune Whiter than the Snow.

Coolness under fire,
Coolness under fire,
Mentioned in dispatches
For pinching the Company rations,
Coolness under fire.

Now he's on the peg,
Now he's on the peg,
Mentioned in dispatches
For drinking up the Company rum,
Now he's on the peg.

Chorus
Whiter than the milky cokernuts,
Whiter than the milky cokernuts,
Wash me in the water
That you wash your dirty daughter in
And I shall be whiter than the milky cokernuts,
Nuts,
Nuts,
Oooooh nuts.

Incidentally there exists somewhere a film clip (saw it on TV some years ago) of Graves singing Hanging from the Old Barbed Wire. Like Dennis Healey's version of D-Day Dodgers the strength of the clip seems to come from his having lived through what he's singing about, quite moving. I'm a bit new at this, but sure someone here will be able to point to likely archive sources for such clips if they are of interest.

In his autobiography "Sagittarius Rising", Cecil Lewis gives one verse of "Hanging from the old barbed wire" as follows:

If you want to find the Sergeant-Major,
We know where he is! We know where he is!
If you want to find the Sergeant-Major, we know where he is!
He's lying on the canteen floor.
We've seen him, we've seen him,
Lying on the canteen floor we've seen him,
Lying on the canteen floor.
Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!
Covered all over with tissue paper, tissue paper,
Marmalade and jam.

The "missing" 3rd line at first suggested faulty memory to me, but he published in 1936 while still aged under 40, and the final 3 lines don't fit the usual tune. Could there be a different tune out there somewhere?

Finally, one or two chroniclers mention the troops as having sung "Aupres de ma blonde" and "Alouette", presumably pinched from their host country, or from the French troops who we sometimes forget were also present in large numbers.

Memo to self: It being 11/11, Remember, and remember that "Dulce et decorum est" is an old lie.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Deda
Date: 11 Nov 01 - 06:39 PM

Do these have to be British songs? George M. Cohan wrote during WWI, including Over There, You're a Grand Old Flag, (I'm a) (I'm a) Yankee Doodle Dandy, and all the music to the movie Yankee Doodle, starring Jimmy Cagney.

A verse that my mom sang to Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning:

Oh boy the minute the war is over
Oh boy the minute the foe is dead
I'll put my uniform away
And move to Phila delphi-ay
And spend
The rest of my life in bed.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 01:19 AM

OK this appears Canadian, but the bottom notes indicate WWI....keep it or throw it out, as you see fit.

North Atlantic Squadron

/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=6759

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Mr Red
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 07:05 AM

Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition

Amos - I have the sheet music for this and SORRY to be a bit pedantic **snigger** but the date is 1940 or 42 and the origin is USA. When first finding the music I mention this to a folkie (who is old enough to know) who was astounded I didn't realise it was WWII.

Unless our old friend trad arr Mr XXXX was active. Actually I think it was a team of 2 Mr XXX & Mr YYY. I could dig out the evidence but it is buried deep.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Amos
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 12:35 PM

I stand correct, Sir Red -- thanks for the arcane knowledge. I coulda sworn it was WW I just from the sentiment.

A.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Amos
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 12:36 PM

That's corrected, sorry.

A.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of WW1
From: Rincon Roy
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 02:00 AM

refresh

Subject: Lyr Add: (PACK UP YOUR...AND) SMILE, SMILE, SMILE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 May 04 - 04:52 PM

Lyrics from The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music:

(PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES IN YOUR OLD KIT BAG AND) SMILE, SMILE, SMILE!
Words, George Asaf. Music, Felix Powell. 1915.

Private Perks is a funny little codger with a smile, a funny smile.
Five feet none, he's an artful little dodger with a smile, a funny smile.
Flush or broke, he'll have his little joke. He can't be suppress'd.
All the other fellows have to grin when he gets this off his chest. Hi!

CHORUS: Pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag and smile, smile, smile.
While you've a lucifer to light your fag, smile, boys; that's the style.
What's the use of worrying? It never was worthwhile;
So pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag and smile, smile, smile.

Private Perks went a-marching into Flanders with his smile, his funny smile.
He was lov'd by the privates and commanders for his smile, his funny smile.
When a throng of Bosches came along with a mighty swing,
Perks yell'd out, "This little bunch is mine! Keep your heads down, boys, and sing. Hi!" CHORUS

Private Perks he came back from Bosche-shooting with his smile, his funny smile.
Round his home he then set about recruiting with his smile, his funny smile.
He told all his pals, the short, the tall, what a time he'd had;
And as each enlisted like a man, Private Perks said, "Now my lad, Hi!" CHORUS

Subject: Lyr Add: PASCHENDALE (from Iron Maiden)
From: s6k
Date: 03 May 04 - 07:05 AM

In a foreign field he lay
Lonely soldier unkown grave
On his dying words he prays
Tell the world of Paschendale

Relive all that he's been through
Last communioun of his soul
Rust your bullets with his tears
Let me tell you 'bout his years

Laying low in a blood filled trench
Kill tim 'til my very own death
On my face I can feel the falling rain
Never see my friends again

In the smoke in the mud and lead
Smell the fear and the feeling of dread
Soon be time to go over the wall
Rapid fire and the end of us all

Whistles, shouts and more gun fire
Lifeless bodies hang on barbed wire
Battlefield nothing but a bloody tomb
Be reunited with my dead friends soon

Many soldiers eighteen years
Drown in mud no more tears
Surely a war no-one can win
Killing time about to begin

Home, far away
From the war, a chance to live again
Home, far away
But the war, no chance to live again

The bodies of ours and our foes
The sea of death it overflows
In no man's kand god only knows
Into jaws of death we go

Crucified as if on a cross
Allied troops they mourn their loss
German war propaganda machine
Such before has never been seen

Swear I heard the angels cry
Pray to god no more may die
So that people know the truth
Tell the tale of Paschendale

Cruelty has a human heart
Everyman does play his part
Terror of the men we kill
The human heart is hungry still

I stand my ground for the very last time
Gun is ready as I stand in line
Nervous wait for the whistle to blow
Rush of blood and over we go

Blood is falling like the rain
It's crimson cloak unveils again
The sound of guns can't hid their shame
And so we die on Paschendale

Dodging shrapnel and barbed wire
Running straight at the cannon fire
Running blind as I hold my breath
Say a prayer symphony of death

As we charge the enemy lines
A burst of fire and we go down
I choke a cry but no-one hears
Fell the blood go down my throat

Home, far away
From the war, a chance to live again
Home, far away
But the war, no chance to live again

See my spirit on the wind
Across the lines beyond the hill
Friend and foe will meet again
Those who died at Paschendale


IRON MAIDEN (yes, its true) - PASCHENDALE

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: LadyJean
Date: 04 May 04 - 12:21 AM

My great uncle John Caldwell was an army surgeon in in WWI. He sang
"If you want to find the privates I know where they are"
"I know where they are"
"I know where they are."
"If you want to find the privates I know where they are."
"They're up to their eyes in mud."

I don't know if this is the American version, or if Uncle John bowdlerized the song for his family.

Mother always figured mud was a substitute for an overused monosyllable meaning excrement.

Subject: Lyr Add: KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN, FRITZIE BOY
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Oct 04 - 10:54 AM

Transcribed from the sheet music at The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music.
A 1918 recording by the American Quartet can be heard at The Virtual Gramophone.

KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN, FRITZIE BOY
Lieutenant Gitz Rice
"Inspired by a Brave Tommy and written at the Battle of Ypres 1915."
Publication: New York: Leo Feist, Inc., 1917.

1. Over in the trenches, up to their eyes in clay,
Billy and Jack and Jimmie and Joe are singing all the day.
When they see a German sticking up his snout,
They give him a chance to get out of France when they all shout:

CHORUS: Keep your head down, Fritzie boy!
Keep your head down, Fritzie boy!
Late last night in the pale moonlight,
I saw you! I saw you!
You were fixing your barbed wire
When we opened rapid fire.
If you want to see your "Vater" in the "Vaterland,"
Keep your head down, Fritzie boy.

2. Soon the Boche got wiser, hearing this ev'ry night.
He sent us a bunch of rifle grenades to give us all a fright,
But he couldn't stop us; we let out a roar:
"We'll give you your fill of old Kaiser Bill and this d----* war!"

[*Printed as shown in the sheet music, but sung as "darned" in the recording.]

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: Lighter
Date: 16 Oct 04 - 11:45 AM

The chorus of "Keep Your Head Down, Fritzie Boy" was widely sung by English-speaking troops in World War I. Robert W. Gordon received several identical texts from U.S. and Canadian veterans when he was writing his "Old Songs" column for "Adventure" magazine in the mid '20s.

Canadian Lt. Gitz Rice was also the author of the even more popular "I Want to Go Home" There is a persistent claim - without evidence - that he also wrote "Mademoiselle from Armentières."

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: Joe_F
Date: 16 Oct 04 - 08:39 PM

The coffee that they serve us
They say is mighty fine.
It's good for cuts and bruises
And tastes like iodine....

*

Keep your shades down, Mary Ann.
Keep your shades down, Mary Ann.
If you want to keep your secrets from your soldier man,
Keep your shades down, Mary Ann.

*

O say, can you -- imagine, mother?
Your boy is in the guardhouse now.

(Takes off from "The Star-Spangled Banner)

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: Lighter
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 11:08 AM

Joe, "Mary Ann" is from WW I, but I'm pretty sure "Gee, Ma, I Wanna Go Home" is from WW II.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 07:47 PM

"Keep Your Head Down, Fritzie Boy"

Reminds me of a 60's "Top of the Pops" -
"Hold Your Hand Out, Naughty Boy"

The lines

"Late last night in the pale moonlight,
I saw you! I saw you!"

are identical.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 05:42 AM

Look through the Squaddie Songs, some are marked (WWI).

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: GUEST,Paul P
Date: 29 Jun 05 - 07:03 AM

I think the Australian version goes:

Madamoiselle from Armentiers, parlez vous
The boys from Wagga and Gundagai, parlez vous
Madamoiselle from Armentiers, hasn't been kissed for 40 years,
Inky Pinky parlez vous...

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: GUEST,Lighter at work
Date: 29 Jun 05 - 09:22 AM

Foolstroupe, "Hold Your Hand Out, Naughty Boy" first appeared about 1913. "Fritzie Boy" is a wartime parody.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: The Walrus
Date: 29 Jun 05 - 02:01 PM

GUEST,Lighter,

"...Foolstroupe, "Hold Your Hand Out, Naughty Boy" first appeared about 1913. "Fritzie Boy" is a wartime parody..."

I think that you will find that "Fritzie Boy" is a slightly later version of the parody (late war) or possibly an American variant.

The earliest vesion of the parody I've come across was:
"Keep your head down Allyman"
('Allyman' derivd from the French for German 'Allemand')
The rest of the chorus is the same (Jim Dixon's post was the first time I'd seen verses for it).

Regards

W

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: GUEST,Lighter at work
Date: 29 Jun 05 - 04:37 PM

Walrus, you may well be right. The "Fritzie Boy" version was sung by Americans in 1918.

The next verse went something like,

Keep your shades down, Mary Ann !
Keep your shades down, Mary Ann !
Late last night,
In the pale moonlight,
We saw you!
We saw you!
You were standing by the chair,
Taking off your underwear.
If you want to keep your secrets from your future man,
Keep your shades down, Mary Ann!

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: GUEST,INKY
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 11:16 AM

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: Gurney
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 01:39 AM

Hanging on the Old Barbed Wire, I've heard a verse:

If you want to find your Colonel, I know where he is,
I know where he is, I know where he is,
if you want to find your Colonel, I know where he is.
He's shagging the Adjutant's wife!

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: Lighter
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 06:31 PM

Tell us when and where you heard that verse, Gurney?

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: GUEST,Barnacle
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 12:24 PM

a new song, but my favourite is Bill Caddick's "The Writing of Tipperary" - a good history lesson too!

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 11:52 PM

Hello! Does anyone know the name of either of these songs??
The lyrics are as such and I don't not know country of origin unfortunately...

1. "Oh we have seen better days, better days." then something about "down by the wayside" (NOT much I know but the words aren't easy to understand on the recording I have. [see She May Have Seen Better Days]

2. "Down in the trench the private dreamed of sailing on the sea, riding the waves, the wind in his face. {A verse that is not understandable then...} But even though his love of the sea was never meant to be, as he sits in his trench you can hear the poor lad sing. Yo Ho Ho! A Sailors life for me, A foggy old trench with a stone for a bench?? is not my cup of tea. Yo Ho Ho Sailing wide and free, if only his ??belly?? agreed."

If anyone can help I know you folks can!

Cal

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: LadyJean
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 12:04 AM

Sometime back in the 1920s, great uncle John Caldwell's son teased my mother with, "Keep your skirts down! Keep your skirts down! keep your skirts down Mary Ann. Just because you have a dimple on your knee. It wasn't put there for the whole world to see."
Mom's name was Mary Ann.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 03:58 PM

Greentrax has issued a fine 2-CD set of music of WWI titled Far, Far From Ypres.
tracklist:
CD1: Your King and Country Need You (Spoken Word - Iain Anderson) * Your King and Country Need You (Song - The Scottish Pals Singers) * Regimental Tunes (The Army School of Piping and Highland Drumming) * The Last Mile Home * It's a Long Way To Tipperary * Mademoiselle From Amenities * Fred Akron's Army * We're Here * Living in a Trench * Raining * Minor Worries * If The Sergeant Steals Your Rum * Oh! It's a Lovely War * Hush! Here Comes The Whizz-bang * Bombed Last Night * Gassed Last Night * Fritz Boy * Forward Joe Soap's Army * Pack Up Your Troubles * Whiter Than Whitewash * Far, Far From Wipers I Long To Be * Take Me Back to Dear Old Blight * I'll Make a Man of You * I Wore a Tunic * Goodbye * When this Bloody War is Over * I Don't Want to be a Soldier * I Want to go Home * The Old Battalion * The Bells of Hell * It's a Long Way to Tipperary * Keep The Home Fires Burning * Sister Suzie Sewing Shirts For Soldiers * The Only Girl in The World * Roses of Peccary (All The Scottish Pals Singers) * Keep Right on to The End of The Road (Harry Lauder) * The Flowers of The Forest (Corporal Neil McNaughton) * The Last Post (John Samson). : : CD2: The Bloody Fields of Flanders Set (The Army School of Piping and Highland Drumming) * In Flanders Fields (Poem - Iain Anderson) * The Green Fields of France / No Man's Land / Willie McBride (The Corries) * Jimmy's Gone Tae Flanders (Jim Malcolm) * Black is The Sun (Steve Palmer) * Mothers, Daughters, Wives (The McCalmans) * Geordie McCrae (Robin Laing) * And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda (Eric Bogle) * In Memorium (Poem - Iain Anderson) * An Eala Bhan (Roddy MacLeod) * Halloween (Sheena Wellington and Karine Polwart) * Why Old Men Cry (Dick Gaughan) * As If He Knows (Eric Bogle) * Jimmy Waddell / Battle of The Somme (Malinky) * Letters From Wilfred (Alan Bell) * Only Remembered (The McCalmans) * Cha Till MacCruemen (Poem - Iain Anderson) / MacCrimmon's Lament (Heather Heywood) / MacCrimmon's Sweeheart (Dougie Pincock).

Available from CAMSCO Music (800/548-FOLK) for $20 + S&H

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN VEREY LIGHTS ARE SHINING
From: Tootler
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 04:33 PM

I know it's a long time since the original thread, but my wife did some searching for WWI Soldiers' songs for a U3A group she belongs to. She found a couple of sites but I extracted the one below and sang it at a U3A meeting along with pack up your troubles when she did a short presentation on what she had found.

I also sang at it [around] Remembrance Day at a local folk club. It's not as vulgar as some, but it does seem to convey some of the soldiers' feelings about their experience of being under attack.

WHEN VEREY LIGHTS ARE SHINING
Tune: When Irish Eyes are Smiling.

When Verey lights are shining,
Sure they're like the morning light
And when the guns begin to thunder
You can hear the angel's shite.
Then the Maxims start to chatter
And trench mortars send a few,
And when Verey lights are shining
'Tis time for a rum issue.

When Very lights are shining
Sure 'tis like the morning dew,
And when shells begin a bursting
It makes you think your times come too.
And when you start advancing
Five nines and gas comes through,
Sure when Verey lights are shining
'Tis rum or lead for you.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: GUEST,Matt_R
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 05:21 PM

In Martin Middlebrook's "First Day on the Somme," he indicates that "Little Grey Home in the West" was a favorite of Kitchener's new army.

It was later altered in the trenches to "My Little Wet Home in the Trench" as seen here.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: Bugsy
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 09:10 PM

That link doesn't seem to work Matt.


CHeers

Bugsy

Subject: Lyr Add: OUI, OUI, MARIE
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 04:11 PM

I'm surprised that no one mentioned "Lili Marlene," the music for which might be older than WWI, but the lyrics, I think, were written around 1915. Wikipedia mentions that and seems to indicate that it was a WWII song more than one for WWI.

It might not be a "trench song" sung by the troops, but there is a song from the era called "OUI, OUI, MARIE." It was sung in the 1947 movie, "When My Baby Smiles at Me," which I saw so many times that I memorized the lyrics, which are very much like this:

Oui oui, Marie
Will you do this for me?
Oui oui, Marie
Then I'll do that for you.
I love your eyes, they make me feel so spoony
You'll drive me loony
Stop teasin' me.
Why don't we parlez-vous
Like other sweethearts do?
I want a kiss or two
From my cherie.
Oui oui, Marie
If you'll do this for me
Then I'll do that for you
Oui oui, Marie.

Oh -- I just googled the song and, among others, this page came up:
   http://www.firstworldwar.com/audio/ouiouimarie.htm

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 05:15 PM

Has anyone mentioned:

Over There
Goodbye, Broadway, Hello, France
(Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and) Smile, Smile, Smile!
America, I Love You
Smiles ("There are smiles that make us happy...")
Oh! Frenchy
Arrah, Go On, I'm Gonna Go Back to Oregon

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: skipy
Date: 18 May 11 - 06:48 PM

Anyone got the chords to "Vimy" as performed by the great Tanglefoot?
Skipy

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: BanjoRay
Date: 18 May 11 - 08:46 PM

My grandfather, an artillery man in WWI, used to sing a song to the tune of "The Old Rugged Cross" that included the lines:

At the cross, at the cross
where the Kaiser lost his 'oss
And the Eagle on his helmet flew away
oh he ran and he ran,
Till he saw the British van
Then he turned around and ran the other way

These are the only words I have, but I'd love to hear the rest. Anyone come across this song?

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: GUEST,Buffy marxon - spencer
Date: 19 May 11 - 04:18 AM

Yer can get reprint edition of Wipers time on ebay.

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p4522.m570.l1313&_nkw=wipers+times&_sacat=See-All-Categories

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: Bugsy
Date: 19 May 11 - 08:18 PM

The last survivor of the Great War died recently and will have a naval funeral in Perth today.

The last link is no more

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 11:55 AM

My Grandfather sang with the Dumbells during the war and he used to sing a song Lousy Shirts after the war - does anyone have the lyrics or melody for that song.

Thanks in advance Barbara

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 12:15 PM

Sorry I can't help, but let me ask you this: what version did he sing of "Mademoiselle from Armentières"?

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: GUEST,Chris C
Date: 19 Aug 12 - 05:43 PM

I find it very hard to believe that the Germans didnt have their own trench songs?
Does anyone know of any ?

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: GUEST,ron d
Date: 02 Sep 13 - 04:22 AM

does any one know of a song starting My pals and I were in a public house one night    when the blooming pub caught fire

Subject: Lyr Add: THE OLD DUN COW CAUGHT FIRE (H Champion)
From: Old Grey Wolf
Date: 02 Sep 13 - 05:34 AM

It's called "The Old Dun Cow Caught Fire" by Harry Champion

Some mates and I in a public house
Were playing dominoes last night
When all of a sudden in the pot-man came
With his face all chalky white
"What's up?" says Brown. "Have you seen a ghost?"
"Have you seen your Aunt Mariah?"
"Me Aunt Mariah be blown," said he.
"The bloomin' pub's on fire!"

Oh there was Brown, upside down
Knocking back the whiskey on the floor
"Booze, booze," the firemen cried
As they came knocking at the door
Oh don't let 'em in till it's all mopped up
Somebody shouted "MacIntyre!"
And we all got blue blind paralytic drunk
When the Old Dun Cow caught fire

Old Johnson rushed to the port wine tub
And gave it just a few hard knocks
He started taking off his pantaloons
Likewise his shoes and socks
"Hold on," said Tibbs, "If you want to wash your feet
There's a tub of old ale here
Don't wash your feet in the port wine tub
When we've still got some old stale beer"

Oh there was Brown, upside down
Knocking back the whiskey on the floor
"Booze, booze," the firemen cried
As they came knocking at the door
Oh don't let 'em in till it's all mopped up
Somebody shouted "MacIntyre!"
And we all got blue blind paralytic drunk
When the Old Dun Cow caught fire

instrumental

Just then there came such an awful crash
Half the bloomin' roof gave way
We were doused with a fireman's hose
But still we were all gay.
So we got some sacks, and some old tin tacks
And we bunged ourselves inside
And we all got drinking good old Scotch
'Til we was bleary-eyed

Oh there was Brown, upside down
Knocking back the whiskey on the floor
"Booze, booze," the firemen cried
As they came knocking at the door
Oh don't let 'em in till it's all mopped up
Somebody shouted "MacIntyre!"
And we all got blue blind paralytic drunk
When the Old Dun Cow caught fire

Fire! x8 during instrumental

And we all got blue blind paralytic drunk
When the Old Dun Cow caught fire.

Hope that helps. I don't think it is a trench song though.

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 02 Sep 13 - 02:45 PM

Robert Graves, in Good-Bye to All That, writes about the refrain of "I don't like ham, lamb or jam, and I don't like roly-poly" and the chorus "'s nice, 's nice, 's nice, 's nice, 's nice, 's nice 's pie".

Subject: Lyr Add: I DO LIKE A S'NICE, S'MINCE, S'PIE
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 02 Sep 13 - 02:49 PM

…and indeed, here it is:


I DO LIKE A S'NICE, S'MINCE, S'PIE

I'm so fond of what I like,
And what I like, I like it
Some like this, and some like that
Some like lean, and some like fat
Some like pudding, some like pie
With which to fill their phiz
But there's one thing I like best
I'll tell you what it is

Chorus: Oh I do like s'nice s'pince s'pie
Oh I do like s'nice s'pince s'pie
Don't like lamb, ham or jam
And I don't like roly-poly
But when I see a s'nice s'pince s'pie
Then I ask for a helping twice
For I do like a s'nice s'pince s'pie
'Cos it's s'nice, s'nice, s'nice

I've a sweetheart all my own,
There's no one else would have her
Her face I've not tasted yet
It's so slobbery and so wet
We sat in the Park, last night
She nudged my arm and sighed
'What do you like the best of all?'
I grinned, and then replied

Chorus:

Once I went to Parliament
I'd been sent there to dust it
Found a meeting on inside
One young member loudly cried
'Matters we'll no longer mince
Our country must be led
We can't mince matters' I said 'No
Lets all mince pies instead'

Chorus:

PDF Sheet music (link)

Written and composed by Worton David & Bert Lee - 1914
Performed by Jay Laurier (1879-1969)

Subject: RE: Trench Songs of World War I
From: MartinRyan
Date: 06 Sep 13 - 05:42 PM

This thread has reappeared in nice time for the centenary... Any further contributions? And can anyone point me towards a good general source of WW1 songs - either in print or online?

Regards

Subject: RE: WW1 Trench songs
From: Jack Campin
Date: 07 Sep 13 - 05:07 AM

In another thread I mentioned that there are a great many Turkish songs from WW1, both about Gallipoli and about the Mesopotamian campaign. There is an album of them by Ruhi Su, "Seferberlik Turkuleri" (Songs of Mobilization). And "Burasi Mustur", which I don't think Su recorded, became something of an anthem, covered by many singers, after the US started blasting the hell out of Iraq, because of its historical parallels.

But I can't think of any song from the British side in Mesopotamia. Are there any? You'd think there'd be a song about the Siege of Kut, at least.

Subject: RE: WW1 Trench songs
From: C Stuart Cook
Date: 08 Sep 13 - 02:51 AM

Robert Service, the Yukon poet was an ambulance man in WW1. He published a book of poems from Paris. Certainly one of them 'Back to Blighty' [Going Home?] has been sung by myself.

Subject: Lyr Add: WE ARE FRED KARNO'S ARMY
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 06 Dec 13 - 11:35 PM

This song was mentioned by Keith A of Hertford back on 19 Mar 01 - 01:57 PM:

WE ARE FRED KARNO'S ARMY
Tune: "The Church's One Foundation."
As sung by Fitzrovia Chorus & John Mealing on "Songs from the Great War" (2009)

We are Fred Karno's Army, the ragtime infantry.
We cannot fight; we cannot march; what earthly use are we?
And when we get to Berlin, the Kaiser he will say:
"Hoch! Hoch! mein Gott! What a jolly rotten lot are the ragtime infantry."

We are Fred Karno's Army; a jolly lot are we.
Fred Karno is our Captain, Charlie Chaplin our O.C.
And when we get to Berlin, the Kaiser he will say:
"Hoch! Hoch! mein Gott! What a jolly fine lot are the boys of Company C."

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 07 Dec 13 - 08:50 AM

Thanks Jim.

Subject: Lyr Add: I WANT TO GO HOME (Gitz Rice)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Dec 13 - 01:59 PM

Several people have mentioned a song called I WANT TO GO HOME, but I'm not sure whether they're referring to the following song, or GEE, MA, I WANNA GO HOME (which Bard Judith posted earlier in this thread, but which, I believe, is actually a World War II song), or some other song.

Lyrics copied from the sheet music a the Levy Collection:

I WANT TO GO HOME
Words and music by Lieut. Gitz Rice, 1st Canadian Contingent
"Written at the Battle of Ypres, 1915."
New York: Leo Feist, Inc., ©1917.

1. When first I joined the army, not so very long ago,
I said I'd fight the foe,
And help Sir Douglas Haig, you know.
I've been in France just sixteen months and fighting now as yet,
I haven't seen a German; all I've seen is mud and wet.
Tomorrow when the off'cer asks, "What would you like to do?"
I'm going to stand right up and say, "If it's all the same to you—

CHORUS: I want to go home.
I want to go home.
The whizzbangs and shrapnel around me do roar.
I don't want this old war any more.
Take me far o'er the sea
Where the {allemand/Prussian guard} cannot get me.
Oh, my!
I don't want to die.
I want to go 'ome.

2. From measles I have suffered, and had twelve attacks of flu,
And meningitis too,
But then no one ever knew.
The rain and mud has given me the 'meditus' of the spine.
I get it ev'ry time they ask me to go up the line.
I've got rheumatism of my hair, a dislocated face.
I think it's really, really time that someone should take my place.

Additional lyrics by Percival Knight
Sung with striking success by Percival Knight in the British-Canadian recruiting play "Getting Together"

1. I'm married now for seven years and it don't seem a day.
Since first I went away,
For two years I've been gay.
My missus heard that I was dead and married my pal Jim.
It really is the first time that I've sympathized with him.
I wouldn't be unkind to them and break their lives apart.
I think I'd better stay right here; 'twould be cruel to break her heart.

CHORUS 1: I don't want to go home;
I don't want to go home.
The whizzbangs and shrapnel around me do roar.
I don't want that old face anymore.
Take me over the sea
Where the missus will never get me.
Oh, my!
I'd much rather die;
I don't want to go home.

2. In learning foreign languages I never made advance
Until I got the chance
To study here in France.
I know the French for mustard and can say comme ci, comme car.
I know that every Frenchman eats his patty dees foros grar.
The French for house is maison; a potato's pomme de terre.
Your aunty is a tanty and your father is a pear.

CHORUS 2: Je veux aller home;
Je veux aller home.
Les whizzbangs and shrapnel do sound effrayant,
Je don't want this old war plus longtemps.
Take me over la mer,
Where the Germans can get me nevaire,
Oh, Lor',
I don't want la mort,
Je veux aller home.

3. Now every soldier's got a sense of honor that is dear.
It keeps away the tear,
And keeps away his fear.
I've got a white-haired mother waiting for me 'cross the foam.
Thank God she's never heard me say that I want to go home!
Although I'm dying to see her, and I pray for her each night,
I'm never going home until we've won this blinking fight!

CHORUS 3: Then I'm going home;
Then I'm going home,
But not until Belgium is Belgium again,
And not until France has got Alsace-Lorraine.
When we've got Germany,
And we've dumped her into the sea,
Then when all's well
And we've given them h——,
Then, I'm going home.

[I'd love to hear this song, but recordings are hard to track down, because many other people have written songs with the same title.]

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: Lighter
Date: 07 Dec 13 - 04:48 PM

The chorus of Rice's song, occasionally altered in various small ways, seems to have been one of the best known "trench songs" of the war in the English-speaking armies. It was still being sung in WW2.

Lines 3 and 4 go to a melody very much like that of lines 3 and 4 of "Bless 'em All."

Rice, a post-war vaudeville performer in Canada and the U.S., penned several wartime hits. Testimony and circumstantial evidence strongly suggest that he and E. C. H. Rowland created, but never copyrighted, "Mademoiselle from Armentieres" for a behind-the-lines concert party early in 1915.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BOYS IN PALESTINE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Dec 13 - 06:35 PM

The Walrus above referred to a song he called "The Middle East Lament," but the first line he quoted is nearly like this one:

Lyrics copied from More Tommy's Tunes by F. T. Nettleinghame (London: Erskine Macdonald, Ltd., 1918), page 26:


THE BOYS IN PALESTINE
Tune: "From Greenland's Icy Mountains."

(The following verses were sent by some of the boys, from Richmond and district, who were then fighting in Palestine.)

We came from Turkey's mountains,
    To Egypt's blazing strand,
Where Afric's sunny fountains
    Are mostly choked with sand.
We've seen its ancient river.
    We've seen its palmy plain.
Our greatest hope is never
    To see the place again.

We've climbed up both the pyramids.
    We've fished in the canal.
If we haven't got the sunstroke,
    No doubt in time we shall.
They've placed us near to Suez.
    Our heads are fit to burst,
And we quite agree with Kipling
    That a man can raise a thirst.

We've felt those gentle showers
    Whose very rain is sand.
We've seen, like Joseph's brethren,
    The bareness of the land.
We've tried the plagues of Egypt.
    We've known the flies and lice,
And we sympathise with Pharaoh,
    Who hadn't any ice.

What though the spicy breezes
    Blow soft o'er Ceylon's isle,
They ain't much good to us blokes
    Who sweat beside the Nile.
In vain with lavish kindness
    They issue Tickler's jam.
We're blinking with sun-blindness
    And no one cares a damn.

From Sidi Bishr to Kubri,
    From Suez to El Shatt,
There's nothing here but niggers,
    Each blacker than your hat.
The sun has scorched our noses,
    And our idea of bliss
Is for another Moses
    To take us out of this. Amen.


[For the tune, see Franklin Square Song Collection, No. 2 by J. P. McCaskey (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1884), page 115.

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN THE STEW IS ON THE TABLE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Dec 13 - 07:25 PM

The Walrus also mentioned this one:

From The Long Trail: What the British Soldier Sang and Said in the Great War of 1914-1918 by John Brophy & Eric Partridge (A. Deutsch, 1965), page 57:

WHEN THE STEW IS ON THE TABLE
Tune: "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder"

When the stew is on the table,
When the stew is on the table,
When the stew is on the table,
When the stew is on the table, I'll be there.

When the beer is in the tankard,
When the beer is in the tankard,
When the beer is in the tankard,
When the beer is in the tankard, I'll be there.

Subject: Lyr Add: ODE TO TICKLER
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Dec 13 - 09:54 PM

I suppose this is the song that The Walrus referred to as "Jam for Tea."

Lyrics and footnotes copied from Tommy's Tunes by F. T. Nettleingham (London: E. Macdonald, 1917), page 27:

ODE TO TICKLER.*
Tune: "Sweet Genevieve."

Oh, jam for tea! Oh, jam for tea,
I'm jolly sure it don't suit me;
I've tried for years, and now in tears,
I'll sing it to you mournfully.

Oh, jam for tea! Oh, jam for tea!
The world knows how you've tortured me;
I've frills and squills, you've made me bills,
And filled the dentists' empty tills.

Oh, jam for tea! Oh, jam for tea!
Fried bully** and Maconochie;***
But when we get back to Blighte-e-e-e....
We will have ham and lamb for tea.

* Jam maker to the Army.
** Bully beef—otherwise corned beef.
*** The maker's name: a tinned food issued to Tommy, consisting usually of tinned tomatoes, haricots, potatoes, some sort of meat, usually fat, and some shiny stuff that might be gravy or jelly.

Subject: Lyr Add: TICKLER'S JAM(?)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Dec 13 - 10:28 PM

This song, without a title, is quoted in Hunting the Hun by Capt. James Belton & Lt. E. G. Odell (New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1918), page 207. I suspect it is the one The Walrus referred to as "Tickler's Jam":

Tickler's Jam, Tickler's Jam,
How I love old Tickler's Jam;
Sent from England in one pound pots,
Tracked it is in ten ton lots;
Every night when I'm asleep,
I'm dreaming that I am
Forcing my way through the Dardanelles,
With a pot of Tickler's Jam.

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 08 Dec 13 - 06:06 AM

Posted by Lighter 26 Mar 09 - 06:23 PM
Far, Far From Wipers, or Sing Me To Sleep.
British Army parody from World War I:

Sing me to sleep where bullets fall,
Let me forget the war and all;
Damp is my dug-out, cold my feet,
Nothing but bully and biscuits to eat.
Over the sandbags helmets you'll find
Corpses in front and corpses behind.

CHORUS: Far, far from Ypres I long to be,
Where German snipers can't get at me,
Think of me crouching where the worms creep,
Waiting for the sergeant to sing me to sleep.

Sing me to sleep in some old shed,
The rats all running around my head,
Stretched out upon my waterproof,
Dodging the raindrops through the roof,
Dreaming of home and nights in the West,
Somebody's overseas boots on my chest.

Patrick McGill published this in his "Soldier Songs" (1917). He ascribed authorship to Anonymous. Other, briefer versions exist.

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 08 Dec 13 - 06:09 AM

In my head the chorus ends,

Damp is my dug out,
Wet are my feet,
Waiting for whiz-bangs
To sing me to sleep.

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: Lighter
Date: 08 Dec 13 - 08:45 AM

The humorous satire of such soldier-made songs differs enormously from both the fake sentimental cheerfulness and/or jingoism of the pop songs - and the sincere, but equally contrived, tear-jerking of a much later,retrospective generation.

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Dec 13 - 11:34 AM

Another version of "Sing Me To Sleep," from Nettleington, 1917, Tommy's Tunes, 1917, posted in thread "Songs about World War 1."
(Sing me to sleep where Very lights fall...)

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Dec 13 - 12:37 PM

Lyr. Add: OUR LITTLE WET TRENCH IN THE WEST
Tune: Little grey Home in the West

In a little wet trench in the west,
Where the Germans cannot get at me,
It's not very grand, and we most of us stand,
And the only good thing is our tea.
Over there where the big shells fall,
The Huns are afraid of us- lest
We should bayonet them with British phlegm,
Should they visit our home in the west.

There are hands that will welcome them out,
There are guns that are waiting to fire,
There are eyes that look out for a chance of a bout,
Though we're up to our eyes in the mire.
It's a hell upon earth for us all,
But we mean to be first on the ball.
When the kick-off takes place, we'll be first in the race,
From our little wet trench in the west.

There are dug-outs and other things new,
Funk-holes, trench mortars, bombs and grenades,
The only thing hot is our ration of stew,
Don't we wish we were back at our trades?
Never mind- we're out on the job,
Though we're not paid at Union Rates,
Oh! we shan't rest content till we've made a big dent
In another wet tranch in the west.

Flanders, 1914. Nettleingham makes no comment about this song, which probably was never sung to any extent.

F. T. Nettleingham, 1917, "Tommy's Tunes," p. 29.

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Dec 13 - 01:08 PM

Lyr. Add: NEVER MIND
Tommy's version

Though your heart may ache awhile, never mind,
Though your heart may ache awhile, never mind,
You'll forget about it soon,
When you've had a good old spoon,
And your heart, it aches no more, never mind.

If the Sergeant's pinched your rum- never mind
If the Sergeant's on the bum- never mind.
If he collars all your fags, and you've nothing on but rags,
It's his affair- not yours- so never mind.
If the Swergeant says you're daft- never mind,
Maybe you are- who knows?- never mind.
It's no use to answer back, 'cos he won't stand any slack,
So if he says you're daft- then you are.

Many verses.
If the Sergeant's lost your bread- never mind
If he sticks it round a side car- never mind
And even if it's messed- he did it for the best,
For he's the Sergeant- dontcherknow- so never mind.
(Sung about a Sergeant RFC who fetched rations in a sidecar, bread tied around the sides and back. When he arrived at the unit, the bread was *"napoo"

* Il n'y a plus- no more, gone, spoiled, "Vamoosed."

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 08 Dec 13 - 02:52 PM

If the sergeant steals your rum, never mind,
If the sergeant steals your rum, never mind,
Though he's just a greedy sot,
Let him take the bleedin' lot
If the sergeant steals your rum, never mind.

If the Jeri shells your trench, never mind,
If the sergeant steals your rum, never mind,
Though the bleedin' sandbags fly;
You have only once to die,
If the sergeant steals your rum, never mind.

If you get caught on the wire, never mind,
If you get caught on the wire, never mind,
Though the light's as broad as day,
When you die they stop your pay,
If you get caught on the wire, never mind.

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN WE WIND UP THE WATCH ON THE RHINE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 08 Dec 13 - 05:22 PM

This might be the song that gnomad referred to back on 11 Nov 01 – 10:10 am—but note the difference in verb tense: "When we wind up..." rather than "When we've wound up...". Also, see the footnotes.

From the sheet music at The Levy Collection:


WHEN WE WIND UP THE WATCH ON THE RHINE
Words by Gordon V. Thompson, music by Gordon V. Thompson and William Davis.
New York: Leo Feist, Inc., 1917.

1. Now we must part,
Heart of my heart.
I can hear the bugle sounding with a call so clear.
Till I return,
My heart will yearn
For the girl I leave behind me in the homeland dear

CHORUS: When we wind up the watch on the Rhine,
And we grind up the Kaiser's last line,
When the war is done and the victory won,
I'll come back to the girl that I call mine.
When we wind up the watch on the Rhine,
We will bind up two hearts that entwine.
Wedding bells will be ringing.
"Home Sweet Home" we'll be singing,
When we wind up the watch on the Rhine.

2. Just one short line,
Sweetheart of mine:
I am battling for my country far from home tonight.
Though foes assail,
Right must prevail,
So keep knitting still and smiling till we win our fight.


[The title is a punning reference to a German patriotic anthem Die Wacht am Rhine (tr. The Watch on the Rhine).]

The National Library of Australia has sheet music described thus (but it is not viewable online):

WHEN WE'VE WOUND UP THE WATCH ON THE RHINE
Words by F. W. Mark, music by H. E. Darewski
Melbourne & London: Allan & Co. Pty. Ltd.; Francis, Day & Hunter ©1914.
"Sung by Jack Cannot in the Tivoli Follies. Also by Sydney James and the Royal Strollers"

The British Library has sheet music described thus (but it is not viewable online):

WHEN WE'VE WOUND UP THE WATCH ON THE RHINE
by J. Urquhart Ireland
Winnipeg & Toronto: Whaley, Royce & Co., ©1916.

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: Lighter
Date: 08 Dec 13 - 08:01 PM

In my castle on the river Rhine,
I'm gonna have one hell of a time!
Inlaid pretzels on the floor,
Kaiser Bill to open the door!
My cook'll be Princess Hohenzollerin,
She'll bring me Christmas dinner from the town of Berlin.
I'll hang my pants on the Hindenburg Line,
In my castle on the river!
Castle on the river!
Castle on the river Rhine!


(Parody of "My Castle on the River Nile," by Robert Cole, James Weldon Johnson, and J. Rosamund Johnson [1902].)

Subject: Lyr Add: GOOD-BYE BROADWAY, HELLO FRANCE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Dec 13 - 11:50 PM

A guest mentioned this song back at 30 Jul 10 - 05:15 PM. These words are from the sheet music at The University of Mississippi; Click for a PDF.

"Big song hit of 'Passing Show of 1917' at N.Y. Winter Garden"
GOOD-BYE BROADWAY, HELLO FRANCE
Words by C. Francis Reisner and Benny Davis; music by Billy Baskette.
New York: Leo. Feist, Inc., ©1917.

1. Goodbye, New York town! Goodbye, Miss Liberty!
Your light of freedom will guide us across the sea,
Ev'ry soldier's sweetheart bidding goodbye,
Ev'ry soldier's mother drying her eye.
Cheer up! We'll soon be there,
Singing this Yankee air:

CHORUS: Goodbye, Broadway! Hello, France! We're ten million strong.
Goodbye, sweethearts, wives, and mothers. It won't take us long.
Don't you worry while we're there. It's for you we're fighting too,
So goodbye, Broadway! Hello, France! We're going to square our debt to you.

2. "Vive Pershing!" is the cry across the sea.
We're united in this fight for liberty.
France sent us a soldier, brave Lafayette,
Whose deeds and fame we cannot forget.
Now that we have the chance,
We'll pay our debt to France   

CHORUS 2: Goodbye, Broadway! Hello, France! We're ten million strong.
Goodbye, sweethearts, wives, and mothers. It won't take us long.
Don't you worry while we're there. It's you we're fighting for.
So goodbye, Broadway! Hello, France! We're going to help you win this war.

Subject: Lyr Add: "In the night they let us wander...."
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Dec 13 - 06:58 PM

On 15 Apr 12 - 11:55 AM above, guest Barbara said her grandfather sang a song called LOUSY SHIRTS, so I went looking with Google for "lousy shirts." I found the following song which contains the phrase "lousy shirts," but not so prominently, I think, that one would take it for the title.

From Lieutenant Owen William Steele of the Newfoundland Regiment by David R. Facey-Crowther, (McGill-Queen's University Press, 2002), page 66, at the head of a chapter titled "Suvla Bay (19 September 1915 – 5 December 1915)." I don't think the title of the chapter is meant to be the title of the song, but no other title is given.

In the night they let us wander.
There was no one sent to meet
Till we found some empty dugouts
Where to rest our weary feet.

Airplanes dropped bombs upon us.
Shells went screeching overhead.
Shelter from the rain was asked for.
"There is none," the staff all said.

Then the order came to dress up,
To get picks and shovels from HQ.
They brought back no bloody shovels
And I fear the story is true,
For they raided and stole puddings,
Pinched the general's turkey too,
And of Christmas cheer they gave us
Bulley beef and biscuits few.
No tobacco, rum or pudding.
Did we grumble?—Wouldn't you?

All our lousy shirts and jam tins,
O'er the parapet did throw.
Did the staff complain about it?
No! They chucked it long ago.

Capt. Wilson says we are dirty.
Armstrong's views are just the same,
So we are never downhearted.
What is dirt compared to fame?

Song composed for the Dardanelles Companies
(Tune: What a Friend We Have in Jesus)

Subject: Lyr Add: GOING HOME (Robert W. Service)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Dec 13 - 09:28 PM

C. Stuart Cook, on 08 Sept 13 – 02:51, mentions having sung a song called "Back to Blighty" by Robert Service. I don't find a song with that exact title, but I find this one, which I suspect is what he meant:

From Rhymes of a Red Cross Man by Robert W. Service (New York: Barse & Hopkins, 1916), page 90:

GOING HOME
Robert W. Service

I'm goin' 'ome to Blighty — ain't I glad to 'ave the chance!
I'm loaded up wiv fightin', and I've 'ad my fill o' France;
I'm feelin' so excited-like, I want to sing and dance,
For I'm goin' 'ome to Blighty in the mawnin'.

I'm goin' 'ome to Blighty: can you wonder as I'm gay?
I've got a wound I wouldn't sell for 'alf a year o' pay;
A harm that's mashed to jelly in the nicest sort o' way,
For it takes me 'ome to Blighty in the mawnin'.

'Ow everlastin' keen I was on gettin' to the front!
I'd ginger for a dozen, and I 'elped to bear the brunt;
But Cheese and Crust! I'm crazy, now I've done me little stunt,
To sniff the air of Blighty in the mawnin'.

I've looked upon the wine that's white, and on the wine that's red;
I've looked on cider flowin', till it fairly turned me 'ead;
But oh, the finest scoff will be, when all is done and said,
A pint o' Bass in Blighty in the mawnin'.

I'm goin' back to Blighty, which I left to strafe the 'Un;
I've fought in bloody battles, and I've 'ad a 'eap of fun;
But now me flipper's busted, and I think me dooty's done,
And I'll kiss me gel in Blighty in the mawnin'.

Oh, there be furrin' lands to see, and some of 'em be fine;
And there be furrin' gels to kiss, and scented furrin' wine;
But there's no land like England, and no other gel like mine:
Thank Gawd for dear old Blighty in the mawnin'.

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 11 Dec 13 - 03:11 AM

In the style of Danny Deever by Kipling.

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: GUEST,John from "Elsie`s Band"
Date: 11 Dec 13 - 05:29 AM

I recall a record from my grandmother`s collection with the song "They Were Only Playing Leapfrog" sung to the tune of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic". This song is well and truly covered on the Internet and was used in the film "Oh What a Lovely War."

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Dec 13 - 07:06 PM

Lyr. Add: WHEN THE GUNS ARE ROLLING YONDER
Tune- When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder.

Every soldier leaves behind, oh, a girl that's true and kind,
But you'll never see your sweetheart any more.
To the war you'll be away, just a little while to stay,
Oh, you'll never see your sweetheart any more.

Chorus-
When the guns are rolling yonder,
When the guns are rolling yonder,
When the guns are rolling yonder,
When the guns are rolling yonder,
We'll be there.

2
You'll be marching up to battle where those damned machine-guns rattle,
But you'll never see your sweetheart any more.
When you're hanging on the wire under heavy hostile fire,
Oh, you'll never see your sweetheart any more.
3
When your lungs are filled with gas, you'll be thinking of a lass,
But you'll never see your sweetheart any more.
Lying in the mud and rain, with a shrapnel in your brain,
Oh, you'll never see your sweetheart any more.
4
When the charge is made at last, you'll be riding hard and fast, And you'll never see your sweetheart any more.
And the poppies they will nod when you bite the blooming sod,
Oh, you'll never see your sweetheart any more.
5
When the colonel says "G-- d--- it, get that battery to the front,"
And you'll never see your sweetheart any more.
When the Huns get your deflection, you'll be absent at inspection,
And you'll never see your sweetheart any more.
6
There will be no more to tell, when you stop a screaming shell,
And you'll never see your sweetheart any more.
For you'll wear a wooden jacket when the enemy gets your bracket,
Oh, you'll never see your sweetheart any more.
7
Still, you may come back to find the girl you left behind
Doesn't want to see her sweetheart any more,
For you were across the sea, she acquired a family.
Oh, you'll never see your sweetheart any more.
8
Let us love while yet we may, for perhaps there'll come a day
When you'll never see your sweetheart any more.
For the jackal and the crow said 'twas ever, ever so-
Oh, you'll never see your sweetheart any more.

With musical score, pp. 131-133.
From The Bearcat Hymn Book," 76th Field Artillery.

E. A. Dolph, 1929, 1942, "Sound Off," Soldier Songs from the Revolution to World War II," Farrar & Rinehart.

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: GUEST,Carl Eby
Date: 29 Mar 17 - 11:58 PM

Has anyone ever encountered the following bawdy piece of WWI doggerel?

Vive le cast iron steel the pilot's best friend
For who would have his cock and balls shot free
So that he could no proper part of England be
No progeny and wealth acquire
Some Fokker having blasted his desire.
Come celebrate with me the thin steel sheet
Where languidly we park our meat
Thus shielding England's tools and seed
Against our country's future need.

It pops up in a Hemingway manuscript where the character is a former WWI pilot, but I haven't been able to track down the source. If anyone could help it would be much appreciated!

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: Lighter
Date: 30 Mar 17 - 01:10 PM

I've read a *lot* abut WW1 songs and poems, memoirs of the war and books by and about Hemingway, and I've never seen this before or anything that resembles it.

It doesn't sound to me like a Hemingway original, for what that's worth.

What manuscript is it from? You mean there are still unpublished Hemingway mss.?

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: GUEST,Carl Eby
Date: 30 Mar 17 - 11:25 PM

Thanks so much for the reply! It's from an unpublished portion of Hemingway's posthumously published novel The Garden of Eden. Only about half of the manuscript was ever published, and I'm currently writing a book about the full manuscript. (For what it's worth, there are still a few unpublished stories--some not too bad, though none of them great.)

The passage with these verses also mentions Ernst Udet, who flew a Fokker. It also alludes to the French (post-WWI) pilot Michael Detroyat and mentions Archibald MacLeish's brother Kenny, who was a pilot who died in the war.

I agree about the authorship of the lines. I don't think the verse is a Hemingway original. Hemingway knew WWI aces like Billy Bishop and Udet, but this sounds more like an RAF song. Hemingway covered the RAF as a journalist very briefly in WWII, and he knew a young Roald Dahl when he was in the RAF, but I doubt anyone would have been repeating an old WWI verse like that in 1944. That said, Hemingway was a pretty meticulous researcher and I almost never check a detail in his work without pinning it down in something significant (although when writing first drafts his memory could be a imperfect).

I could be that the verses are authentic but just so bad that no one else ever bothered to write them down.... If anyone can shed light on them I'd appreciate it!

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: GUEST,Mac
Date: 08 Apr 20 - 10:05 PM

Anyone remember a Glasgow soldiers song which finished with " An his wee baggy breeks were needin mendin,afore they send im to the Dardanelles .... My dad used to sing it before WW11... Many thanks for any info....regards...Mac

Subject: Lyr Add: The Moon Shines Bright on Charlie Chaplin
From: cnd
Date: 08 Apr 20 - 10:46 PM

Mac, see https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=105065&messages=29#4044771

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: Jack Campin
Date: 09 Apr 20 - 07:00 AM

I got a copy of a song sheet recently from a local history/nostalgia forum - it was written by a Scottish soldier who fought at Gallipoli and died shortly after. I doubt it's ever been reprinted - it's a longwinded description of the battle as his regiment experienced it, capped with a few gung-ho cliches, nowhere near in the same artistic league as "Çanakkale içinde", but still of historical interest.

I've only got it as a picture on this iPhone 4S, and have no other access to the Internet, which makes transcribing it impossibly difficult. I can send it to anyone with better technology - many of you can find me on Facebook or know my email address.

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: rich-joy
Date: 10 Apr 20 - 12:59 AM

I was rather fond of the Zo Elliot & Stoddard King composition "There's a Long, Long Trail" and so my partner and I learnt it from the John Roberts & Tony Barrand version, mentioned above in March 2001 by Meadow Muskrat.

We sang it for my late Mum on a visit home to Perth and she promptly burst into tears!
She explained that her Mother had told her "It was your Father's favourite song!" He had died in 1926 from the TB he had caught as an Aussie Medical Orderly in WWI.

I sure wish I had known him .......

R-J
Down Under

Subject: Lyr Add: The 7th Scottish Rifles Glorious Charge
From: cnd
Date: 10 Apr 20 - 10:02 AM

Thanks to Jack for emailing me the picture, here are the lyrics to "The 7th Scottish Rifles Glorious Charge", written by "Private James Floyd -- Killed in Action at the Dardenelles." It does not include the year of publication. Just under the attribution is the word "FLOOD" which I assume is the publisher? I have typed it up exactly as printed.

The 7th Scottish Rifles Glorious Charge
(Pvt. James Floyd)

It was on June the Twenty-Seventh,
Just at the close of day,
We paraded at our rest camp,
Prepared to move away.

We all moved off in single file,
Eager to take our spell,
Up in the British firing-line,
Under shot and shell.

Next morning just at Eight o'clock,
The roar of a mighty gun,
Was the signal to us all,
The bombardment had begun.

We hurried with our breakfast,
And soon we were all ready,
With bayonets fixed we all stood,
And every man was steady,

The Artillery and the Navy,
Set all their guns to work,
And did some awful damage,
To poor old John the Turk.

Of course the Turks they shelled us,
And did it very badly,
And for the name of King and Country,
We all stood it gladly.

But soon this work did tell its tale,
For on the ground were lying,
Some poor lads who had been struck,
And some of them were dying.

This kept up for hours,
And we knew full well,
We had the great experience,
To have the glimpse of hell.

Just at Eleven to a minute,
Our hearts were growing large,
For we knew the next thing was,
To have a gallant charge.

Just then we leapt the parapet,
To meet a hail of fire,
From the Turkish rifles,
But we would not retire.

When we got the first Turkish trench,
They then threw bombs to perfection,
Lance Corporal Ross won his D. C. M.,
By saving the lives of his section.

The Colonel and Adjutant,
And two platoons of men,
Were looked for all along the line,
But found to be missing then.

We held the trenches we had gained,
With all our main and might,
And the word was passed along,
We'd be relieved at night.

We got back to our rest camp,
Very tired and sore,
We knew we had done our work,
Our first great charge was o'er.

Early the next morning,
When we called the roll,
It was then we realized,
We had paid a heavy toll.

We lost a lot of comrades,
Very true and brave,
Away out there in Turkey,
In their lonely graves,

We are sorry for their mothers,
Wife, comrade, or friend,
Of the wounded fellows.
And those who met their end.

We like the work we've got to do,
Because our fears diminished,
And hope that we will get revenge,
Before the war is finished.

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: robomatic
Date: 10 Apr 20 - 08:02 PM

There's a memorable sci-fi story from the 40s where a researcher in a long dead town hears some pitiful creatures living in the leftover sewers. They are singing an old song:

Balasamo, balasamo Sarnocorpano!
Binomosha, sadarosha!
Chu mila balasamo!

At the end of the tale the researcher is dying in the ruins and he realizes the singers were once human, and are reciting almost ritualistically the words:

Bless 'em all, bless 'em all, sergeants and corporals all!
There'll be no promotion this side of the ocean,
So cheer up my lads, bless 'em all.

He knows he is in London, after the Ten Minutes War.

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: Jack Campin
Date: 10 Apr 20 - 08:07 PM

Flood was the soldier's real name - the printer got it wrong. The FB poster was a descendant, also a Flood.

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: cnd
Date: 10 Apr 20 - 10:53 PM

Thanks for clearing that up for me, Jack. And thanks, robo, an interesting story about a sort of version of the folk song process

Subject: RE: WWI Trench songs
From: Jack Campin
Date: 11 Apr 20 - 05:22 AM

...and thanks for typing all that in! I'd guess there are details in there you won't find in a regimental history, so the unsingable length does have compensations. I wonder what other productiins like that survive?