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Origins: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)

DigiTrad:
BATTLE OF BANNOCKBURN
BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS
THE BATTLE OF CAMP KOOKAMONGA
THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS


Related threads:
ADD: Battle of New Orleans parody (9)
(origins) Lyr ADD: Eighth of January (31)
The Battle of New Orleans (103)
(origins) Origins: Batttle of New Orleans - Marse Jackson (25)
Lyr Req: Battle of Bull Run (Johnny Horton) (24)
History of 8th of January (33)
Tune Req: The Eighth of January (5)
Chords Req: Battle of New Orleans (7)
(origins) Lyr Req: Eight of January (2) (closed)


buchananb@earthlink.net 28 Jun 99 - 10:23 PM
catspaw49 28 Jun 99 - 10:36 PM
buchananb 28 Jun 99 - 10:57 PM
28 Jun 99 - 11:01 PM
catspaw49 28 Jun 99 - 11:25 PM
dick greenhaus 29 Jun 99 - 10:58 AM
GUEST 10 Sep 01 - 02:44 AM
Banjo-Flower 10 Sep 01 - 08:12 PM
Richie 18 Oct 11 - 10:22 PM
GUEST, James Molloy 24 Nov 11 - 02:14 AM
GUEST,kendall 24 Nov 11 - 07:19 AM
GUEST,Ebor_Fiddler 24 Nov 11 - 08:53 AM
Lighter 24 Nov 11 - 09:05 AM
Banjo-Flower 24 Nov 11 - 10:48 AM
Arkie 24 Nov 11 - 10:54 AM
Lighter 24 Nov 11 - 12:27 PM
Banjo-Flower 24 Nov 11 - 04:25 PM
Banjo-Flower 24 Nov 11 - 04:32 PM
Les from Hull 24 Nov 11 - 05:53 PM
Banjo-Flower 24 Nov 11 - 05:55 PM
Banjo-Flower 24 Nov 11 - 05:57 PM
Banjo-Flower 24 Nov 11 - 06:03 PM
GUEST,Rog Peek 24 Nov 11 - 06:53 PM
Don(Wyziwyg)T 24 Nov 11 - 07:51 PM
Banjo-Flower 25 Nov 11 - 03:47 AM
GUEST,JimP 25 Nov 11 - 04:29 AM
kendall 25 Nov 11 - 08:33 AM
Lighter 25 Nov 11 - 09:20 AM
Banjo-Flower 25 Nov 11 - 09:37 AM
Lighter 25 Nov 11 - 09:54 AM
Banjo-Flower 25 Nov 11 - 09:58 AM
Les from Hull 25 Nov 11 - 10:37 AM
Banjo-Flower 25 Nov 11 - 01:15 PM
voyager 25 Nov 11 - 03:30 PM
voyager 08 Jan 21 - 01:18 PM
leeneia 08 Jan 21 - 01:56 PM
Felipa 08 Jan 21 - 02:09 PM
Felipa 08 Jan 21 - 02:11 PM
Felipa 08 Jan 21 - 02:23 PM
GUEST,Hootenanny 08 Jan 21 - 03:32 PM
GUEST,Henrithehero 01 Feb 22 - 05:10 PM
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Subject: Lyr Req: On Down the Miss to the Gulf of Mexico
From: buchananb@earthlink.net
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 10:23 PM

Can someone help me w/ the lyrics and poss. melody of verse for this song...the refrain is something like:

"We fired our guns and they began a runnin' There wasn't nigh as many as there was awhile ago. We fired once more and they began a runnin' on down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico!"

I think it's a Civil War ballad? I thought it was the Battle of New Orleans, but NOT... Thanks!


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Subject: RE: Lyr Request: Down the Miss to the Gulf/Mexico
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 10:36 PM

I'm having trouble getting in at cowpie so somebody else can probably help. It is the Battle of N.O. It's not a ballad. It's the War of 1812, not the Civil War.

catspaw


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Subject: RE: Lyr Request: Down the Miss to the Gulf/Mexico
From: buchananb
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 10:57 PM

Thanks, catspaw49. I'm so new to mudcats I hesitate to ask....Is the cowpie on this site, or is that another? I looked up the "battle of N.O." in this database before I posted, and the words didn't match at all? Thanks for the history notes...I had an idea I was wrong the minute I hit the send button.....


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Subject: RE: Lyr Request: Down the Miss to the Gulf/Mexico
From:
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 11:01 PM

Just put 'driftwood' in that box at the upper right of this page and click


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Subject: RE: Lyr Request: Down the Miss to the Gulf/Mexico
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 11:25 PM

Well welcome aboard the Mudcat. We're mainly a folk and blues site, but we are a very diverse bunch and can generally find whatever. Cowpie is a good place for C&W songs and the version you're looking for is there. Here's a clickable link that I hope takes you to the roughstock.com website and the song you're looking for. If not, enter roughstock.com in your search engine.

Come back anytime -- join up........This is a great place.

catspaw


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Subject: RE: Lyr Request: Down the Miss to the Gulf/Mexico
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 29 Jun 99 - 10:58 AM

I'm baffled. I entered [down the missis*], in the DT search box, and the Battle of New Orleans (the one you're looking for) was the fourth hit that came up.


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Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS^^^
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 02:44 AM

BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS
Recorded by Johnny Horton
Written by Jimmy Driftwood

CAPO: 2nd Fret/KEY: A/PLAY: G

1. [G] In 1814 we [C] took a little trip
A-[D7] long with Col. Jackson down the [G] mighty Mississip'.
We took a little bacon and we [C] took a little beans
And we [D7] caught the bloody British in a [G] town in New Orleans.

CHORUS: We fired our guns and the British kept a-comin'.
There wasn't nigh as many as there [D7] was a while a-[G] go.
We fired once more and they began to runnin'
On down the Mississippi to the [D7] Gulf of Mexi-[G] co.

2. We looked down the river and we see'd the British come,
And there musta been a hund'erd of 'em beatin' on the drum .
They stepped so high and they made their bugles ring.
We stood beside our cotton bales and didn't say a thing.

CHORUS

3. Old Hick'ry said we could take 'em by su'prise
If we didn't fire our musket till we looked 'em in the eyes .
We held our fire till we see'd their faces well ,
Then we opened up with squirrel guns and really gave 'em ... Well -

REPEAT 1ST CHORUS

2ND CHORUS: Yeah! they ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles
And they ran through the bushes where a [D7] rabbit couldn't [G] go.
They ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch 'em
On down the Mississippi to the [D7] Gulf of Mexi-[G] co.

4. We fired our cannon till the barrel melted down,
So we grabbed an alligator and we fought another round.
We filled his head with cannonballs and powdered his behind
And when we touched the powder off, the 'gator lost his mind.

REPEAT 1ST CHORUS

REPEAT 2ND CHORUS^^^
[already in DT - two versions (trad -click here) and (Driftwood - click here) -Joe Offer- ]


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Subject: RE: Lyr Request: Down the Miss to the Gulf/Mexico
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 08:12 PM

I've got the original sheet music from way when and guest's lyrics are correct except its ole Apry instead of old Hick'ry

Gerry


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: Richie
Date: 18 Oct 11 - 10:22 PM

Hi,

I'm doing a series of unrehearsed (haha) videos showing people how to play different songs. This is my tutorial on Battle of New Orleans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBq3y33wWQ8

Hope it helps someone learn this or the fiddle tune Eighth of January in the Key of G,

Richie


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: GUEST, James Molloy
Date: 24 Nov 11 - 02:14 AM

Written by Jimmy Driftwood in 1936 and recorded by Johnny Horton
in 1959.Lonnie Donegan had a No 2 hit with it in the UK Charts in
1959. It was also recorded by Vaughn Monroe, Johnny Cash and Bill
Haley.Jimmy Driftwood also wrote, Tennessee Stud. The Battle Of New
Orleans is said to have been based on hthe "American fiddle tune
8th Of January". Does any one out there ha


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 24 Nov 11 - 07:19 AM

General Andrew Jackson's nickname was "Old Hickory", not Old Apry.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: GUEST,Ebor_Fiddler
Date: 24 Nov 11 - 08:53 AM

Never forget that date! My daughter's birthday(different year though). This must have been one of the few battles fought after the peace treaty had been signed.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: Lighter
Date: 24 Nov 11 - 09:05 AM

The version above is Horton's abridgement. Driftwood's song is considerably longer.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 24 Nov 11 - 10:48 AM

"General Andrew Jackson's nickname was "Old Hickory", not Old Apry."

I'm not disagreeing with what you say Kendall as your knowledge of American History is far greater than mine but my original copy definately says"Old Apry"

BTW have you noticed this thread is 10/12 years old

Gerry


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Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: THE BATTLE OF KOOKAMONGA (Homer &
From: Arkie
Date: 24 Nov 11 - 10:54 AM

Also recorded by the Chordettes, Doug Kershaw, Tex Williams, Derek Warfield, Boots Randolph, Pete Seeger & Frank Hamilton, Leon Russell,the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Billy Strange, the Good Brothers, and a host of others not to mention Jimmy Driftwood. Also was a hit of sorts for Homer and Jethro as the Battle of Kookamonga.

Jimmy also wrote "Long Chain On", which I consider his best song, that was recorded by Peter, Paul, and Mary and on a more recent recording by Peter and his daughter Bethany and her duo partner Rufus. Again, my opinion, but that version is one of the best recordings of all time and ages.


The Battle of Kookamonga
By: Homer and Jethro


[G]In Nineteen and fifty nine we[C] took a little hike, With[D7] our scout
master up to[G] lake Aneekanike,
We took a little pizza and we [C]took some sour krauts, And[D7] we marched
along together till we [G]heard the girl scouts

Chorus: We're the boys from camp Kookamonga, our mothers sent us here for
to[D7] study natures[G] ways,
We learned to make sparks by rubbin' sticks together, but if we catch the
girls we'll [D7]set the woods [G]ablaze.

Well we crept up to the water and we[C] see'd the girls aswimin', there[D7]
must of been a hundred of them [G]pretty young women,
They looked so fine even[C] birds forgot to sing, we[D7] laid down in the
posion oak and[G] didn't say a thing.

Chorus:

Well our counciler said we could [C]take em by surprise if we[D7] didn't say
a word till we[ ]Glooked em in the eyes,
We kept real still and we[C] kept our eyes aglued, we [D7]saw how they were
dressed, they were[G] smimming in the....Well we're

Chorus:

Chorus 2: Well they ran through the briars and they ran through the
brambles and they ran throught the bushes where the [D7]rabbits couldn't
[G]go.
They ran so fast even we couldn't catch em all the way from Lake Aneekanike
[D7] all the way to Buff[G]alo.

Well we ran right after them till[C] everyone was pooped, so we [D7]rested
for a minute and our[G] forces we regrouped
Then we saw the girls[C] behind some evergreens, [D7]captured by a company
of [G]United States Marines.

Chorus:
Chorus 2:
(in cadence) Rutty toot toot, rooty toot toot, we are the boys from the boy
scout troop,
We do smoke and we don't chew and we don't go with the girls that do.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: Lighter
Date: 24 Nov 11 - 12:27 PM

Even if "Old Apry" is actually printed on an insert somewhere, I guarantee you that "Old Hickory" is what's sung.

Like most Americans of the '50s and earlier, Driftwood knew Jackson's nickname.

("Old Apry" would be like an American calling Churchill "Willie." Worse, since "Apry" doesn't even make sense.)


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 24 Nov 11 - 04:25 PM

OK I hold my hand up and admit I was wrong
I've rechecked my original sheet music and "Apry" is not mentioned (senior moment)but neither is "Old Hickory"

My version names Colonel Packenham fighting "the rebels"

I think this implies there was a UK version as well as a US version

Gerry


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 24 Nov 11 - 04:32 PM

PS they even spelt his name wrong it should have been Pakenham

Gerry


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: Les from Hull
Date: 24 Nov 11 - 05:53 PM

It also should have been 'General'.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 24 Nov 11 - 05:55 PM

Lighter Hick'ry/Apry my ears v your accent?

BTW Churchill would have been Winnie not Willie

Gerry


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 24 Nov 11 - 05:57 PM

It also should have been 'General'.

Sorry Les but the sheet music says colonel

Gerry


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 24 Nov 11 - 06:03 PM

but Google says General so you pays yer money and yer takes yer choice

Gerry


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: GUEST,Rog Peek
Date: 24 Nov 11 - 06:53 PM

My earliest recollection of Lonnie Donegan.

Rog


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 24 Nov 11 - 07:51 PM

Donegan definitely sang "General Pakenham", and he also sang "Pakenham said we could take 'em by surprise".

I still have the single, though virtually unplayable.

Doesn't follow that he was right though, as there were other songs he altered, some of them quite drastically.

Still, he was a great entertainer.

Don T.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 25 Nov 11 - 03:47 AM

youtube Johnny Horton Battle of New Orleans(British Version)

He sang Colonel Pakenham and Old Apry/Apree

so my ears are ok

Gerry


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: GUEST,JimP
Date: 25 Nov 11 - 04:29 AM

Speaking from memory here, but I believe that Pakenham was a colonel at the time of the Battle of New Orleans. He had succeeded in the command of the British force after the death of (and here I can't remember -- Ross?). Of course, I grew up hearing the song, so that may be so ingrained in my consciousness, that I can't remember correctly.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: kendall
Date: 25 Nov 11 - 08:33 AM

Someone was heard to say the Andrew Jackson was tougher than old Hickory, and the name stuck.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: Lighter
Date: 25 Nov 11 - 09:20 AM

Right here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxB42cjHTGg

Horton sings "Old Hick'ry" as plain as can be. The transcriber, however, seems to think it's "Old Hitcreek." There are other errors as well.

In this video, Johnny and his army sings the song at the North Pole:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsRK3DNoa_Q

But he still sings "Old Hick'ry."

Here's the cynical, make-us-even-richer overseas "British Version," which must take place in an alternative universe because the redcoats evidently win:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWVypBROMgQ

And guess what? Johnny still sings "Old Hick'ry." As he does here:


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 25 Nov 11 - 09:37 AM

"Lighter Hick'ry/Apry my ears v your accent?"

guess we'll have to agree to differ

Gerry


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: Lighter
Date: 25 Nov 11 - 09:54 AM

I suppose so.

BTW, the last line of my post was accidentally deleted. But it was just another YouTube video of the same recording.

Of course, if you decide to sing "Old Arpee," your version instantly becomes "folk."

Which to choose?


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 25 Nov 11 - 09:58 AM

BG I'm begining to rather like Old Hitcreek

Gerry


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: Les from Hull
Date: 25 Nov 11 - 10:37 AM

Major-General Sir Edward Pakenham.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 25 Nov 11 - 01:15 PM

"Major-General Sir Edward Pakenham" that's a bit of a mouthful to fit in one line of a song no wonder they changed it to colonel
plus it didn't do him any good as he didn't survive the battle

Gerry


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: voyager
Date: 25 Nov 11 - 03:30 PM

Johnny Horton's BoNO recording was about my 1st exposure to the Folk Tradition. In 1984 (abouts) I penned my own version of -

The Battle of New Oil-Lease (CHORUS)

Iran thru the presses and
Iran thru the papers
Iran thru the White House where the oil money flows
Iran so bad, our Army couldn't catch them
They took our radar bases
In the Gulf of Texaco

{lyrics available on request} -
voyager


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: voyager
Date: 08 Jan 21 - 01:18 PM

In case anyone needs reminding.....it's the 8th of January (Elvis's birthday) again. A rewrite of the BoNO / EoJ lyrics to the white lash political violence in DC might be a timely bit of craft.

just saying
voyager


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: leeneia
Date: 08 Jan 21 - 01:56 PM

The Battle of New Orleans was a cruel military debacle that is best forgotten, except to ask for forgiveness.

If you really want to sing to that tune, write some new words.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: Felipa
Date: 08 Jan 21 - 02:09 PM

Leenia, we have had discussions before and will have them again about whether or not we believe in/approve of everything we sing. Although I do often tweak lyrics a bit, sometimes I am singing a song for its historical value or what it tells us about how others think. And sometimes there's a degree of ambivalence, when the lyrics appeal in some ways and not in others. The name of the tune does represent the date of the Battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1815


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: Felipa
Date: 08 Jan 21 - 02:11 PM

Is 8 Jan the date someone could write The Articles of Impeachment?


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: Felipa
Date: 08 Jan 21 - 02:23 PM

or the Gabby Gifford song (10 years since the date of attack on legislator and constituents)
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/capitol-mob-recalls-attack-on-us-rep-giffords-decade-ago-gabby-giffords-mark-kelly-daniel-hernandez-paramedics-politics-b1784626.html


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 08 Jan 21 - 03:32 PM

Leeneia,

Aren't all battles cruel??


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans (Jimmie Driftwood)
From: GUEST,Henrithehero
Date: 01 Feb 22 - 05:10 PM

A lot of information on the origins of the song on this page:
http://www.tsimon.com/battle.htm


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