Tune Req: Southey's Battle of Blenheim

Subject: Southey's Battle of Blenheim
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Apr 01 - 01:36 PM

A million years ago (more or less) my ex-husband used to sing a song consisting of the words to Robert Southey's poem, "The Battle of Blenheim." For those of you not familiar with it, the scene is a grandfather showing his grandson the battlefield with little other information than "it was a famous victory." Effective anti-war piece (especially as sung in 1970).

My problem is I'd like to resusitate the song, but have no memory whatsoever of the tune or if there were any word variations to match the tune. Anybody ever hear it? Any help at all would be appreciated.

Bat Goddess

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Southey's Battle of Blenheim
From: Jeri
Date: 15 Apr 01 - 02:03 PM

I couldn't find any tune, but here's the poem:

---

The Battle of Blenheim
Robert Southey

It was a summer evening,
Old Kaspar's work was done,
And he before his cottage door
Was sitting in the sun;
And by him sported on the green
His little grandchild Wilhelmine.

She saw her brother Peterkin
Roll something large and round,
Which he beside the rivulet
In playing there had found:
He came to ask what he had found
That was so large and smooth and round.

Old Kaspar took it from the boy,
Who stood expectant by;
And then the old man shook his head,
And with a natural sigh -
"'Tis some poor fellow's skull," said he,
"Who fell in the great victory."

"I find them in the garden,
For there's many here about
And often when I go to plough
The ploughshare turns them out
For many thousand men," said he,
"Were slain in that great victory."

"Now tell us what 'twas all about,"
Young Peterkin he cries;
And little Wilhelmine looks up
With wonder-waiting eyes;
"Now tell us all about the war,
And what they fought each other for."

"It was the English," Kaspar cried,
"Who put the French to rout;
But what they fought each other [for]
I could not well make out
But everybody said," quoth he,
That 'twas a famous victory.

"My father lived at Blenheim then,
Yon little stream hard by;
They burnt his dwelling to the ground,
And he was forced to fly:
So with his wife and child he fled,
Nor had he where to rest his head.

"With fire and sword the country round
Was wasted far and wide,
And many a childing mother then
And newborn baby died:
But things like that, you know, must be
At every famous victory.

"They say it was a shocking sight
After the field was won,
For many thousand bodies here
Lay rotting in the sun
But things like that, you know, must be
After a famous victory.

"Great praise the Duke of Marlbro' won,
And our good Prince Eugene" -
"Why 'twas a very wicked thing!"
Said little Wilhelmine;
"Nay - nay, my little girl," quoth he
"It was a famous victory.

"And everybody praised the Duke
Who this great fight did win" -
"But what good came of it at last?"
Quoth little Peterkin.
"Why that I cannot tell," said he,
"But 'twas a famous victory."

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Southey's Battle of Blenheim
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Apr 01 - 06:39 PM

Thanks, Jeri!!!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Southey's Battle of Blenheim
From: Jeri
Date: 15 Apr 01 - 07:59 PM

How did you do that while I was there?!?! Sneaky!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Southey's Battle of Blenheim
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 16 Apr 01 - 09:37 AM

Jeri, remember I ducked on to the computer to output lyrics to Gwilym Davies' collected version of "Barley Mow"? I did it then.

Curmudgeon, Jeri and I had just finished eating our Easter dinner of rabbit (not bunny!!!) and were singing up a storm. (Our version of exercise after a meal.)

Bat Goddess