The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #112433 Message #2379726
Posted By: GUEST
03-Jul-08 - 12:52 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Isandlwana, Zulu War, Britrish defeat
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Isandlwana, Zulu War, Britrish defeat
Hi, Bob,
I did mention that the "screwdriver" theory was now discredited, but the song remains, at least in my memory.
The full chorus is:
"Their Martini's were new, they had ball cartridge too,
But there's scarcely a single survivor.
The British Army defeated that day
For the want of a simple screwdriver."
Back in the good old days, when chorus singing was encouraged (nay, compulsory?) in folk clubs, by the time the singer had gone through the chorus a couple of times and then you sung it between all of the 87(?) verses of the song, it pretty well stuck in the mind, in this case for probably 30+ years in mine! However, the verses didn't stick from just one hearing :-(
MC