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.
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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. |
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