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.
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"
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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: GUEST,jcf@world.std.com 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,
Look at the Flowers,
Look at the mourners,
Look at the widow,
The third through the last lines get added to each verse. It's a marvelous song. Kindest regards, Neil |
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
A German officer crossed the Rhine.
O farmer, have you a daughter fair
He took her upstairs and into bed,
The first three months and all was well,
The general got the Croix de Guerre --
-- A remarkably insipid song, considering its notoriety.
|
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 - |
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, |
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 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
Now when I was a young man I carried me pack |
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
Gorblimey.
Monday I touched her on the ankle,
Gorblimey
I don't want to join the army, |
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: GUEST,maxarthurhistorian@hotmail.com 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 maxarthurhistorian@hotmail.com - 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) 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,
"Landlord have you a daughter fair?" P-v,
"My daughter, Sir, is far too young," P-v,
"Oh Father, dear, I'm not too young," P-v, An orphaned verse can be found in Manning's "Her Privates We" :
Mademoiselle, she bought a cow, P-v, 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,
Now he's on the peg,
Chorus 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, 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 |
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
|
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. |
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