Songs for St Georges Day

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: GUEST,Mike Daniels
Date: 24 Mar 17 - 11:24 AM

"Surely not A Place Called England since it is so unflattering and unkind to the dear old place"

You haven't really listened to the song then. It's one of the most touching and poignant songs about patriotism ever written. You can be a patriot without being jingoistic.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Brakn
Date: 23 Mar 17 - 07:19 PM

What does s.c.u.m. mean?

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Mar 17 - 11:17 AM

Oh, and I am NOT the Guest at 07:50

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Mar 17 - 10:58 AM

Oh England My Lionheart by Kate Bush., Lovely song.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Mar 17 - 07:50 AM

And we need to make a really big show of our strength and culture on that day this year. The religious s.c.u.m. will NOT win.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 23 Mar 17 - 07:11 AM

Arthur Conan-Doyle's 'Song of the Bow'.

What of the bow?
    The bow was made in England:
Of true wood, of yew-wood,
    The wood of English bows;
         So men who are free
         Love the old yew-tree
And the land where the yew-tree grows.

What of the cord?
    The cord was made in England:
A rough cord, a tough cord,
    A cord that bowmen love;
         And so we will sing
         Of the hempen string
And the land where the cord was wove.

What of the shaft?
    The shaft was cut in England:
A long shaft, a strong shaft,
    Barbed and trim and true;
         So we'll drink all together
         To the grey goose-feather
And the land where the grey goose flew.

What of the mark?
    Ah, seek it not in England,
A bold mark, our old mark
    Is waiting over-sea.
         When the strings harp in chorus,
         And the lion flag is o'er us,
It is there that our mark will be.

What of the men?
    The men were bred in England:
The bowmen—the yeomen,
    The lads of dale and fell.
         Here's to you—and to you!
         To the hearts that are true
And the land where the true hearts dwell.

Make up your own tune :-)

DtG

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: GUEST,The English Rose
Date: 23 Mar 17 - 06:32 AM

Jerusalem
Land of Hope & Glory
I vow to thee my country

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 16 Apr 16 - 09:28 AM

John K on acid!

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 16 Apr 16 - 06:02 AM

John Kirkpatrick

Saint George from Make No Bones CD


Now I am Saint George, I'm a champion bold,
And over old England my flag I'll unfold.
My sword fights for justice, with truth for my shield,
And when I come riding I never shall yield.

Chorus (after each verse):
And on my breast a red, red rose,
The flower of England wherever she grows.
I fought with the dragon and brought it to shame,
I was killed seven times but I still fought again.
I was killed seven times but it did me no ill
If the battle be true then I'll fight again still.

In the cause of all freedom my banner shall wave,
The oppressed and downtrodden my sword it shall save.
In the righting of wrongs I never shall tire
That the weak become strong is all my desire.

I'll watch o'er your horses, your house and your land,
And if you have none, still your friend I will stand.
I'll strengthen your courage for all you hold dear
To vanquish all doubt and banish all fear.

Now be sure in your heart if you call on my name
For I fight with the fury of fire and flame.
Any lies or deceit to a cinder I'll burn
And once you invoke me I never shall turn.

For I have the power to pierce to the heart,
I strike like the lightning, I can tear you apart.
On hoof-beats of thunder over England I'll ride,
What foe can defy you with me by your side?

Link to John K performing the song at The Roysl Oak, Lewes in 2010: Saint George

LFF

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Snuffy
Date: 16 Apr 16 - 04:21 AM

The last two (by C Mair and C Fox-Smith) are not about England or St George, but refer to Britain as a whole, so are really more suited to 24th May rather than 23rd April. I still remember snatches of a song we sang on the morning of 24th May (Empire Day) at our infants school back in the early 1950's.

We have come to school this morning
On the twenty-fourth of May
[Can't remember this line]
Because it's Empire Day.

Empire Day was a half-holiday for us then, so we had no school in the afternoon.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: bradfordian
Date: 16 Apr 16 - 03:38 AM

RED WHITE & BLUE (Cicely Fox Smith)
to the tune GOD SAVE THE QUEEN

Red, White, And Blue
Sons of the seagirt land,
Strong round the banner stand
Steadfast and true!
Honour and loyalty
Ever our 'watchword be!
Flutter o'er land and sea
Red, white, and blue!

Red for the life-blood shed,
When for their country bled
Brave men and true!
White for our stainless name,
Blue for our faith and fame,
Guarding from every shame
Red, white, and blue!

Britons, while earth endure,
Keep we our 'scutcheons pure
Centuries through
Long may Britannia's fame
Inviolate remain -
Ever without a stain
Red, white, and blue!

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: bradfordian
Date: 16 Apr 16 - 03:35 AM

Sung to the tune of THE DAMBUSTERS MARCH (cOATES)

Lyrics by Carlene Mair 1954
Proudly with high endeavour, we, who are young forever,
won the freedom of the sky, we shall never die!
We who have made our story, Part of our country's glory
Know our hearts will still live on, While Britons fly
We Know our hearts will still live on

You who have seen us flying, hold to one hope undying
Someday over all the world, ev'ry war shall cease
Pray that a new generation, people of every nation
Take the highways of the sky, on wings of peace
They'll Take the highways of the sky,

Sing for the splendour of living, sing for the gladness of giving
Thanks for all the happiness, any morning may bring
Sing for the world of tomorrow, leaving the past and its sorrow
Life belongs to those who lift their hearts and sing
For those who lift their hearts and sing

Songs of a new generation, brothers of every nation
We salute you as you fly far up into the blue
On the world of tomorrow, leaving the past and its sorrow
Lifting up our joyful hearts, to fly with you
And lifting up our joyful hearts.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: GUEST,No 15
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 02:46 PM

Swing Low etc

Subject: Lyr Add: SIR RICHARD'S SONG (Rudyard Kipling)
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 03:40 AM

As a foreigner, having adopted England as my second home for reasons of the heart, I find Rudyard Kipling's "Sir Richard's Song" most poignant. In today's increasingly multicultural Blighty I think it is particularly appropriate. It also has a historical basis, I believe (AD 1066). I think the tune is Peter Bellamy's, though I wouldn't swear to it. Dave Webber and Anni Fentiman sing what is for me the definitive version. It is definitely on my "Desert Island" list, and I can hardly sing it because I choke...

I FOLLOWED my Duke ere I was a lover
    To take from England both fief and fee;
But now this game is the other way over—
    For now England hath taken me!

I had my horse, my shield and banner,
    And a boy's heart, so whole and free;
But now I sing in another manner—
    For now England hath taken me!

As for my Father in his tower,
    Asking news of my ship at sea,
He will remember his own hour—
    Tell him England hath taken me!

As for my Mother all in her bower,
    That rules my Father so cunningly,
She will remember a maiden's power—
    Tell her England hath taken me!

As for my Brother in Rouen City,
    A nimble naughty page is he,
But he will come to suffer and pity—
    Tell him England hath taken me!

As for my little Sister waiting
    In the pleasant orchards of Normandie,
Tell her youth is the time for mating—
    Tell her England hath taken me!

As for my comrades in camp and highway,
    That lift their eyebrows so scornfully,
Tell them their way, well it is not my way—
    Tell them England hath taken me!

You Kings and Princes and Barons famèd,
    You Knights and Captains in your degree;
Hear me a little before I am blamèd—
    Seeing England hath taken me!

Howso a great man's strength be reckoned,
    There are two things he cannot flee.
Love is the first, and Death is second—
    And Love in England hath taken me!

Have a good'un.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: red max
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 03:17 AM

We're having an English theme night at my local folk club, and me and a couple of the chaps are playing The New St George, Hal an Tow and The Cutty Wren. Another one we talked about was We Poor Labouring Men, with its toasting the English working man. But as a civil servant I couldn't sing that without feeling like a fraud

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Rasener
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 02:29 AM

By the sounds of it W Shakespeare would have been a better person for England.

Just think we could have had "Big Willy Day"

It is amazing that nobody seems to be bothered with a late licence.

I was thinking of having a St Georges day at the Market Rasen folk Club as we are open on April the 23rd, but decided that I would leave it to the artists performing. They know what they are good at and I woudn't dream of asking them to change their act.

All this patriotism, where has it got us to. The Scots, Welsh and Irish hating us :-)

Anyway I am sure we will have a very nice night, which is a good way to celebrate.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: LadyJean
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 01:27 AM

I suppose Puff the Magic Dragon would be right out.

Mother used to sing a little hymn that went;

To the knights in the days of old
Came the watch on the mountain high.
Came the challenge of Holy Grail.
And the voice that was heard to cry.

Chorus: Follow follow! Follow the gleam.
Banners of worth
O'er all the earth.
Follow follow follow the gleam, to the knight that shall greet the day.

And we who would serve the king,
and loyally him obey.
**************
Then the voice is still heard today.
Follow follow follow the gleam.
Banners unfurled, o'er all the world.
follow follow follow the gleam, to the knigh that will great the day.

I suppose that would work. Perhaps some other mudder can supply the tune and missing line.

St. George is also the Patron Saint of Barcelona. Segovia?

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Little Robyn
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 01:17 AM

It's coming up again and we're looking for English songs to sing next Friday night. This isn't a very comprehensive list. Wot else can we sing?
Robyn

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Mar 02 - 02:59 PM

For the St. George ballads in the Bodlian broadside ballad collection for which nutty supplied click-ons, the tune for the first is "St. George for England" given as an ABC, B409, among the broadside ballad tunes at www.erols.com/olsonw. The correct tune for the 2nd is "Queen Dido", B383. "Flying Fame" cited on the late broadside is an error, and the song wont fit it.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Snuffy
Date: 23 Mar 02 - 10:23 AM

This is what was on a song sheet I put together for St George's Day 1999 at the George Inn, Lower Brailes:

1. Rule Britannia
2. Jerusalem
3. Land of Hope and Glory
4. I Vow to Thee, My Country
5. There'll Always be an England
6. The Roast Beef of Old England
7. Heart of Oak
8. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
9. The British Grenadiers
10. Abide With Me

Not just English songs, but songs which celebrate England and/or being English.

WassaiL! V

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 23 Mar 02 - 10:05 AM

To get back to the original subject of the thread....... When I lived in Suffolk on the mid-80s, my daughter's piano teacher got together a ST. George's Day concert, with no less than 33 items on it! Some included above, but also excerpts from "Merrie England", The Lincolnshire Poacher

A cottage well thatched with straw

Home, sweet home

Drink to me only

Early one morning

Blow the wind Southerly

Hearts of Oak

The mermaid

Oh no John

Widecombe fair

Lass of Richmond Hill

Cherry ripe

The drummer and the cook

Sweet Genevieve

Yeomen of England

There'll always be an England

There is a tavern in the town

to name but a few: I always knew that if I kept the programme it would come in useful one day!

I've still got the dots for most of them if anyone wants to PM me for copies. Tattie B

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 07:00 AM

Keith: there are worse things than being English.
You could be Welsh or Scottish, then you'd have the bloody English as neighbours!!

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: GUEST,Keith A at work
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 06:14 AM

Oh , and if Gareth shows up and starts singing Men Of Harlech, although we would normally join in lustily, on that one day of the year , we would have no alternative but, by God, Harry and St. George,.... to listen politely and clap encouragingly afterwards.,br> DAM! sometimes I hate being English.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 03:53 AM

Edain,

There were more than 3 St Georges. Stadler in his Vollstaendiges Heiligen-Lexikon (Complete Dictionary of Saints), Augsburg 1861, gives 27 St Georges, and some Georges more being no saints.
There were more than one George of Cappadocia; the one I wrote of in my former post was no saint, but there is also St George of Cappadocia, later patron of England.
Interesting, that his feast day is given there April 23 or 24; at April 23 another St George bishop of Suellum in Sardinia has his feast, too, and so it is with another St George, Martyr of the Tebaic Legion, to name a few.
More recent German dictionaries list less St Georges, maybe due to a purge of the list of saints exacted by the Vatican. All unanimously agree that our St George in question is of Cappadocia.
A German St George I couldn't find, only a Blessed George, of Pfronten-Kreuzegg, sometimes called of Augsburg. He was a Minor Brother, died in Italy 1762, and the trial for canonization started in 1781, still going on. Depends on the money you can spare for a trial in Rome, I think.
Further information about a German St George will be received with thanks.

Wilfried

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 02:06 PM

I think you should go for uniquely English rather than British, so not Grenadiers. If you want military, go for an English regiment, perhaps Route Of The Blues , or Warwickshire RHA.
Surely not A Place Called England since it is so unflattering and unkind to the dear old place.
The DT gives a hundred or so songs containing the word England, most of them very suitable.
At our singaround session we are just going to insist on songs that are of and from England. This will make it quite an unusual evening. That situation could only be found in England. I am sometimes saddened that English songs are so neglected in England.
Keith.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: GUEST,Dreena the Dragon
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 08:52 AM

Have you got any news of the Dragon ?
He was my husband you see,
Have you got any news of the Dragon ?
He meant the whole world to me.

He only popped out to get me a nice tender princess for the Sunday dinner.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: nutty
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 05:16 AM

There are a couple of St George ballads in the Bodleian Library

ST GEORGE 1

ST GEORGE 2

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 05:07 AM

Shakespeare's birthday is (by long etablished tradition) celebrated as 23rd April 1564, (Christened at Holy Trinity Church Stratford 26 April 1564 (The register still exists). Shakespeare also died on St George's day 23 April 1616.
This same date in 1616 is often given as the death of Cervantes (Auth. Don Quixote). And then the claim is made that these two great writers died on the same day.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. Some texts give Cervantes death as 22nd April. And; even if the date was the same, there would have been over a week's difference because Spain adopted the Gregorian calendar long before England did.

Pedantry and useless trivia brought to your screens by: Nigel

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: greg stephens
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 05:06 AM

Why do people have to drag music into everything, the English are not a musical race. Everyone knows only Celts have traditional music, because....well, because they're so Celtic. Stick to proper traditional English culture. Celebrate by getting in a vindaloo and a few cans of Calsberg Special,pop a looroll in the fridge and settle down to a Rambo video.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Hrothgar
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 04:33 AM

Might have to learn some good Hungarian songs, because I think he's the patron saint of Hungary, too.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Gareth
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 06:36 PM

Men of Harlech ? Click 'Ere Butty

Gareth

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Shields Folk
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 06:31 PM

Appropriate songs for St Georges Day can come from all parts of the kingdom. From mine own I suggest "The Keel Row".

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: GUEST,daystar
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 05:32 PM

What about the poor old dragon!! Sir Eglemore that valiant Knight took his sword and went to fight

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Mr Red
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 05:23 PM

Any that drag on & on?

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: RolyH
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 04:07 PM

How about Richard Thompsons "The New St.George"

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: GUEST,William
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 03:42 PM

I've just managed to get back to the site, and I'm very grateful to everyone for the response. I've only glanced thro' at this time, but I just wanted to say A BIG THANKS to you. St George's Day, by the way is 23rd April, but compared to St Patrick's Day, it gets a very poor showing - it's not even a Bank Holiday. Still, I had a really great St Patrick's Day, and that'll keep me buzzing for a few weeks!! ;-) Meanwhile, St George's Day is coming up fast, and a venue wants to celebrate it as a theme, so there we are. Thanks once again.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 02:29 PM

Well, for anyone who isn't Cornish, there's the Padstow May Song, giving advance notice of summer coming in, and asking "Oh where is St George?". Does he go out in his longboat on 23 April, and come back on 1 May?

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 02:10 PM

It's also my son's birthday. 36 this year, and about to make me a grandfather for the first time in August. Mustn't forget his partner Susie, without whom it would not have been possible.Much more important than any old English [sic] saint.
Giok

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: The Walrus at work
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 01:36 PM

Of "The Grenadiers March" (which is not the same as "British Grenadiers") "...The late Cpt Graves, of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, tells us that only the bataillons with grenadier tradition are entitled to this music..."

Wilfred,

This would include every line (ordinary infantry) battalion in the British Army as, by the Napoleonic period, in each battalion, the right hand company (made of the tallest and most imposing men) was designated the Grenadier Company.

Regards

Tom

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: breezy
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 12:58 PM

Well how about that.Makes me proud , to be Welsh.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: IanC
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 11:48 AM

Yes

But we're interested in the St George who was the Red Cross Knight and Patron Saint of England, and who replaced Edward the Confessor in the 14th Century as Wilfried has said.

This is it, from one of the web sites above (which is more accurate than most).

The life of Saint George is shrouded in legend, so much so that it is quite difficult to untangle fact from fiction. Much of the problem lies in the Acta Sancti Georgii (Acts of Saint George) written at a very early date and outlawed by Pope Gelasius in AD 496. Meanwhile the Greeks also had a set of Acts which were more accurate and quoted by Saint Andrew of Crete.

From them and the writings of Metaphrastes, we can piece together that he was born in Cappadocia of noble, Christian parents and on the death of his father, accompanied his mother to Palestine, her country of origin, where she had land and George was to run the estate. He was martyred at Lydda in Palestine (Nicomedia). He held an important post in the Roman army - the rank of tribune, or perhaps colonel in modern terms - during the reign of the Emperor Diocletian (245-313). Dioclesian was a great persecutor of Christians (from about 302) and when the persecutions began George put aside his office and complained personally to the Emperor of the harshness of his decrees and the dreadful purges of Christians. For his trouble, though, he was thrown into prison and tortured. He would not recant his faith however and the following day he was dragged through the streets and beheaded. It is uncertain whether he also tore down the Emperor's decrees as they were posted in Nicomedia. So he was one of the first to perish. The Emperor's wife, Alexandria was so impressed at the Saint's courage that she became a Christian and so too was put to death for her trouble.

The cult of Saint George goes back a long way - certainly to the 4th century. The Syrian Church held him in great esteem. The church of Saint George In Velabro - (The Veil of Gold) - Rome, dating from about that time was built. Saint Clothilde, in Gaul dedicated a church to him; in Venice, he is the second patron after Saint Mark; the Greeks hold him in honour. And in 1222 the Council of Oxford appointed 23rd April as his Feast Day. He became the English Patron Saint in 14th Century and he became associated with the Order of the Garter.

The connection with England, as with other nations and states that chose George, is simply that the cult was imported with the crusaders

Cheers!
Ian

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: greg stephens
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 11:30 AM

Organise a concert consisting of the music of George Formby, George Harrison, George Lloyd and Boy George. This will give a fine cross-section of English culture.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: GUEST,Edain (no cookies)
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 11:23 AM

There were actually 3 ST Georges, 1 German, 1 Roman and 1 Cappadocian.

In highschool I was taught that it was the Roman one who was the Patron Saint as he was a legionaire who served some time in England (hence the connection) then, when back in Rome stood up for the Chriustians being executed and shared their fate. Not being religious myself however I have no idea if this is true or not

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Mrrzy
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 11:12 AM

...If you meet King George's men all dressed in blue and red.. o, sorry, KING, not SAINT. Will keep thinking.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 11:04 AM

Greg, why are you waiting for reparations? After 6 years working in Ireland as herdsman St Patrick escaped and persuaded a sailor to bring him back to Britain. Afterwards he returned to Ireland as bishop and ended his life there. Since he was son of a local decurio, he could have been of Roman stock.
By the way:
St George who in XIV cent. replaced St Edward the Confessor as patron of England has nothing to do with George of Cappadocia (bishop of Alexandria, Arian = heretic!). He is said to have suffered before Constantine's reign in Lydda (31.57 N 34.54 E).
St Andrew, brother of St Peter, is also patron of Greece and Russia.
About St David's origins nothing much is known; but all are sure that he was Welsh.
All this wisdom excerpted not from longwinded German dictionaries, but from the refreshingly concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church.

Wilfried

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: greg stephens
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 10:24 AM

Little bit off thread, but I have a treasured tape of Robert Graves singing in a folk club

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 10:18 AM

Why not looking to the DT here? A little bit furry, but St George is mentioned, and then the song ends with best wishes for England I can support as a non-English subject.
The Grenadier March for all? The late Cpt Graves, of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, tells us that only the bataillons with grenadier tradition are entitled to this music. Goodbye to All That.

Wilfried

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: greg stephens
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 09:49 AM

Nonsense, St Patrick came from Cumberland. Eveyone knows that. Well, everyone from Cumberland knows that, anyway. He was taken by Irish slavers. And we're still waiting for reparation.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 08:15 AM

Wales would then be the only country (out of Scotland England, Ireland Wales) to have a patron saint of its own nationality.

St Patrick is generally thought to have come from the West coast of Scotland.

Cheers

Steven

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: English Jon
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 07:38 AM

How about the bonny bunch of roses?

EJ