Songs for St Georges Day

Subject: Lyr Add: SIR RICHARD'S SONG (Rudyard Kipling)
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 03:40 AM

As a foreigner, having adopted England as my second home for reasons of the heart, I find Rudyard Kipling's "Sir Richard's Song" most poignant. In today's increasingly multicultural Blighty I think it is particularly appropriate. It also has a historical basis, I believe (AD 1066). I think the tune is Peter Bellamy's, though I wouldn't swear to it. Dave Webber and Anni Fentiman sing what is for me the definitive version. It is definitely on my "Desert Island" list, and I can hardly sing it because I choke...

I FOLLOWED my Duke ere I was a lover
    To take from England both fief and fee;
But now this game is the other way over—
    For now England hath taken me!

I had my horse, my shield and banner,
    And a boy's heart, so whole and free;
But now I sing in another manner—
    For now England hath taken me!

As for my Father in his tower,
    Asking news of my ship at sea,
He will remember his own hour—
    Tell him England hath taken me!

As for my Mother all in her bower,
    That rules my Father so cunningly,
She will remember a maiden's power—
    Tell her England hath taken me!

As for my Brother in Rouen City,
    A nimble naughty page is he,
But he will come to suffer and pity—
    Tell him England hath taken me!

As for my little Sister waiting
    In the pleasant orchards of Normandie,
Tell her youth is the time for mating—
    Tell her England hath taken me!

As for my comrades in camp and highway,
    That lift their eyebrows so scornfully,
Tell them their way, well it is not my way—
    Tell them England hath taken me!

You Kings and Princes and Barons famèd,
    You Knights and Captains in your degree;
Hear me a little before I am blamèd—
    Seeing England hath taken me!

Howso a great man's strength be reckoned,
    There are two things he cannot flee.
Love is the first, and Death is second—
    And Love in England hath taken me!

Have a good'un.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: GUEST,No 15
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 02:46 PM

Swing Low etc

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: bradfordian
Date: 16 Apr 16 - 03:35 AM

Sung to the tune of THE DAMBUSTERS MARCH (cOATES)

Lyrics by Carlene Mair 1954
Proudly with high endeavour, we, who are young forever,
won the freedom of the sky, we shall never die!
We who have made our story, Part of our country's glory
Know our hearts will still live on, While Britons fly
We Know our hearts will still live on

You who have seen us flying, hold to one hope undying
Someday over all the world, ev'ry war shall cease
Pray that a new generation, people of every nation
Take the highways of the sky, on wings of peace
They'll Take the highways of the sky,

Sing for the splendour of living, sing for the gladness of giving
Thanks for all the happiness, any morning may bring
Sing for the world of tomorrow, leaving the past and its sorrow
Life belongs to those who lift their hearts and sing
For those who lift their hearts and sing

Songs of a new generation, brothers of every nation
We salute you as you fly far up into the blue
On the world of tomorrow, leaving the past and its sorrow
Lifting up our joyful hearts, to fly with you
And lifting up our joyful hearts.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: bradfordian
Date: 16 Apr 16 - 03:38 AM

RED WHITE & BLUE (Cicely Fox Smith)
to the tune GOD SAVE THE QUEEN

Red, White, And Blue
Sons of the seagirt land,
Strong round the banner stand
Steadfast and true!
Honour and loyalty
Ever our 'watchword be!
Flutter o'er land and sea
Red, white, and blue!

Red for the life-blood shed,
When for their country bled
Brave men and true!
White for our stainless name,
Blue for our faith and fame,
Guarding from every shame
Red, white, and blue!

Britons, while earth endure,
Keep we our 'scutcheons pure
Centuries through
Long may Britannia's fame
Inviolate remain -
Ever without a stain
Red, white, and blue!

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Snuffy
Date: 16 Apr 16 - 04:21 AM

The last two (by C Mair and C Fox-Smith) are not about England or St George, but refer to Britain as a whole, so are really more suited to 24th May rather than 23rd April. I still remember snatches of a song we sang on the morning of 24th May (Empire Day) at our infants school back in the early 1950's.

We have come to school this morning
On the twenty-fourth of May
[Can't remember this line]
Because it's Empire Day.

Empire Day was a half-holiday for us then, so we had no school in the afternoon.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 16 Apr 16 - 06:02 AM

John Kirkpatrick

Saint George from Make No Bones CD


Now I am Saint George, I'm a champion bold,
And over old England my flag I'll unfold.
My sword fights for justice, with truth for my shield,
And when I come riding I never shall yield.

Chorus (after each verse):
And on my breast a red, red rose,
The flower of England wherever she grows.
I fought with the dragon and brought it to shame,
I was killed seven times but I still fought again.
I was killed seven times but it did me no ill
If the battle be true then I'll fight again still.

In the cause of all freedom my banner shall wave,
The oppressed and downtrodden my sword it shall save.
In the righting of wrongs I never shall tire
That the weak become strong is all my desire.

I'll watch o'er your horses, your house and your land,
And if you have none, still your friend I will stand.
I'll strengthen your courage for all you hold dear
To vanquish all doubt and banish all fear.

Now be sure in your heart if you call on my name
For I fight with the fury of fire and flame.
Any lies or deceit to a cinder I'll burn
And once you invoke me I never shall turn.

For I have the power to pierce to the heart,
I strike like the lightning, I can tear you apart.
On hoof-beats of thunder over England I'll ride,
What foe can defy you with me by your side?

Link to John K performing the song at The Roysl Oak, Lewes in 2010: Saint George

LFF

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 16 Apr 16 - 09:28 AM

John K on acid!

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: GUEST,The English Rose
Date: 23 Mar 17 - 06:32 AM

Jerusalem
Land of Hope & Glory
I vow to thee my country

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 23 Mar 17 - 07:11 AM

Arthur Conan-Doyle's 'Song of the Bow'.

What of the bow?
    The bow was made in England:
Of true wood, of yew-wood,
    The wood of English bows;
         So men who are free
         Love the old yew-tree
And the land where the yew-tree grows.

What of the cord?
    The cord was made in England:
A rough cord, a tough cord,
    A cord that bowmen love;
         And so we will sing
         Of the hempen string
And the land where the cord was wove.

What of the shaft?
    The shaft was cut in England:
A long shaft, a strong shaft,
    Barbed and trim and true;
         So we'll drink all together
         To the grey goose-feather
And the land where the grey goose flew.

What of the mark?
    Ah, seek it not in England,
A bold mark, our old mark
    Is waiting over-sea.
         When the strings harp in chorus,
         And the lion flag is o'er us,
It is there that our mark will be.

What of the men?
    The men were bred in England:
The bowmen—the yeomen,
    The lads of dale and fell.
         Here's to you—and to you!
         To the hearts that are true
And the land where the true hearts dwell.

Make up your own tune :-)

DtG

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Mar 17 - 07:50 AM

And we need to make a really big show of our strength and culture on that day this year. The religious s.c.u.m. will NOT win.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Mar 17 - 10:58 AM

Oh England My Lionheart by Kate Bush., Lovely song.

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Mar 17 - 11:17 AM

Oh, and I am NOT the Guest at 07:50

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: Brakn
Date: 23 Mar 17 - 07:19 PM

What does s.c.u.m. mean?

Subject: RE: Songs for St Georges Day
From: GUEST,Mike Daniels
Date: 24 Mar 17 - 11:24 AM

"Surely not A Place Called England since it is so unflattering and unkind to the dear old place"

You haven't really listened to the song then. It's one of the most touching and poignant songs about patriotism ever written. You can be a patriot without being jingoistic.