The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #34928   Message #4180321
Posted By: cnd
30-Aug-23 - 11:45 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Bless 'Em All
Subject: RE: Origins: Bless 'Em All
Here's the lyrics (no dots, unfortunately) to On The Ball, A Football Song -- By Louis B. Tisdale, via The Boys Own Paper, Vol. XX No. 992 (Jan. 15, 1898), p. 253

ON THE BALL
(Louis B. Tisdale)

In the days of old, with spirits bold,
Have Britons fought like men;
On tented field, they'd never yield,
No foes could 'fright them then.
And so, to-day, in sport and play,
Our race is still the same:
With valiant hearts they play their parts,
When Football is the game.

On the ball, on the ball,
Play up, let her go:
That's the plan, take the man,
Shoot for all you know.
Away with her, well shot, my boys,
Make the leather roll—
Now then, altogether lads,
Hurrah! another goal!

In frost and snow our faces glow,
Our anxious hearts heat high;
We struggle still, but win we will,
At least we'll bravely try.
We know no fear, for with a cheer
Across the field we fly,
Then back once more, as with a roar
We shout the battle cry—

On the ball, on the ball,
Play up, let her go:
That's the plan, take the man,
Shoot for all you know.
Away with her, well shot, my boys,
Make the leather roll—
Now then, altogether lads,
Hurrah! another goal!

Theee cheers, my boys, for all the joys
Of Football, prince of games:
No sport so fair, none can compare,
No matter what their names.
Then join with me in three times three,
For our beloved game,
For Football will, through good and ill,
But add to England's fame.

On the ball, on the ball,
Play up, let her go:
That's the plan, take the man,
Shoot for all you know.
Away with her, well shot, my boys,
Make the leather roll—
Now then, altogether lads,
Hurrah! another goal!