Lyr/Tune Req: The Saucy Prince's Own

Subject: The Saucy Princes Ownlyrics and tune
From: GUEST,Ian Macintosh
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 10:12 PM

Does anyone know this song, tune and lyrics, of which I recall only a fragment from my early seventies folk club days?
"We are the lads of honour, fighting for the crown,
death to those who dare to oppose the 'Saucy' Princes Own".

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: The Saucy Princes Own
From: Edain
Date: 02 Mar 05 - 06:00 PM

I've you're still around Ian, I ahve the track on MP3 and can transcribe it if needed.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: The Saucy Princes Own
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Mar 05 - 01:32 PM

Ian hasn't been around much lately, but I'd like to see the lyrics. Please post the song, Edain.
Thanks.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: The Saucy Princes Own
From: Edain
Date: 03 Mar 05 - 02:10 PM

No problem, I've got most of it down but it's an old recording so might take a few goes to work out the rest

Subject: Lyr Add: THE SAUCY PRINCE'S OWN
From: Edain
Date: 04 Mar 05 - 12:22 PM

With a littlehelp from Gregg Butler of Strawhead here are the lyrics as he used to sing them;

The Saucy Prince's Own

Twas on the 1st of August when from Cadiz we set sail
As many a gallant Frenchman has good reason to bewail
Straight into Gibraltar Bay our gallant fleet did stear
And on the Saturday we went ashore at Al Gesir (Algesiras)

Oh we are the lads of honour boys
Belonging to the crown
And death to those who dare to oppose
The Saucy Prince's Own

Well we marched along the coast until we reached Tarifa Bay
While waiting for the Spaniards in a convent there we lay
But when the Spaniards joined us there we marched both night and day
Determined when we met the foe to show them British play

Oh we are the lads..

The Spaniards took the front me boys their country for to free
And bid our lads pick up the rear this glorious sight to see
But when the Barossa's plains appeared we never saw them more they
Their column went behind the woods along Saint Agnes' shore

Oh we are the lads..

But Graham our commander didn't know of their design
And he swore the British infantry should never stay behind
But as we marched to join the Dons not dreading any stare
The Frenchman in an ambush lay and closed upon our rear

Oh we are the lads..

Oh turn your face about my boys for Britain show no fear
Extent your front me Irish lads and keep your outflanks clear
Remember Cape Trafalgar where Lord Nelson bled before
The blood that triumphed on the sea shall conquer on the shore

Oh we are the lads..

Well we charged into the ranks me boys their ranks were over thrown
And in confusion forced to fly before the Prince's Own
Their generals left behind them their guns, their eagles too
While brave hisannah's cheered and charged and boldly did pursue

Oh we are the lads..

Here a health to Goff and Graham, who faught all on that field
And though they fought them ten to one they got their foes to yield
They left them in confusion and their eagles took away
Lord made our Irish lads to cheer on each hurrah today

Oh we are the lads.. x2

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: The Saucy Princes Own
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Mar 05 - 01:22 PM

Thanks, Edain. Can you give us any background information on the song? I suppose I'll look dumb for not knowing this, but what war does it describe?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: The Saucy Princes Own
From: Edain
Date: 04 Mar 05 - 08:54 PM

It's from the Peninsular War (Napoleonic). It took place on 5th March, 1811 - rough guide here. Basically a joint Spanish and British force tired to suprise the French Commander around Cadiz (Marshal Victor). He however got word and set his own ambush. The Spanish abandoned the British as soon as the ambush was sprung so the mission objectives were never completed but the British inflicted heavy casualties on the French and were able to march out safely so considered it a victory anyway.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: The Saucy Princes Own
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 04 Mar 05 - 09:44 PM

It would be interesting to know where Gregg Butler got the song. There are probably mistakes in the transcription here ("stare" should be "snare", for instance, and of course the events took place in February-March 1811, not August) and I can't find any version from tradition that involves "saucy princes" or any other chorus come to that. Perhaps some modern intervention there?

Number 2182 in the Roud Folk Song Index, generally as The Battle of Barossa, with a few Scottish examples only listed at present; plus one from Sam Henry's Songs of the People, with the comment "This eagle [French standard, presumably] the first captured in the Peninsula, was taken by Sergeant Masterton of the 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers and is figured in the colours of the regiment." It seems that the song was sometimes sung to the tune of their regimental march.

Three broadside examples, all from Pitts of London, can be seen at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads:

Battle of Barossa

No recorded examples of the song from English tradition, though it was evidently there, and Henry Burstow of Horsham listed it in his repertoire.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: The Saucy Princes Own
From: Edain
Date: 05 Mar 05 - 12:53 AM

Malcolm, here's what Gregg told me;

--

As requested - I've lost the original reference - and I've filled it from memory and using the Greig Duncan Collection, Volume 1, page 148. There's another version in Madden almost exactly like this.

Cheers

GREGG

--

I'm sure there are a couple of errors here and there, the recording I have was don in either the late 70s or early 80s so isn't great and i have to admit it was a quick transcription. The Eagle is indeed the French standard, they would march into battle with someone carrying the flag and someone an eagle on a pole that had been kissed (i think) by Napoleon himself.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: The Saucy Princes Own
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 05 Mar 05 - 05:25 AM

Thanks. There are four sets in Greig-Duncan (number 148, pp 355-360) and one in Ord (Bothy Ballads, 291-3) but not a Saucy Prince or an Irish Boy to be found. Where did they come from, I wonder? I haven't seen the Madden broadside; Roud lists references but not printers' names, but it's in the "London Printers" section so is likely enough another Pitts copy. The set in Sam Henry (H98a) isn't actually a version of this one, but an unrelated poem ("Oliver's Advice") set by him to the regimental tune as got from the Coleraine Fife and Drum Band.

According to Peter Kennedy (ref on his website), a Graham Lappin of Notre Dame told him that the words of Barossa were written by a Scottish poet, Alexander (Sawney) Miller. I don't know if that's right or not. There seems to have been a "high class entertainer" of that name in the late 1820s, but I don't know anything about him.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: The Saucy Princes Own
From: GUEST,Ian Macintosh
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 08:41 PM

Good Lord, I must have been asleep. I totally forgot about this thread I started back then and just found it by accident. The Wheeze and Suck Band will be working on this soon and thank you so much Edain and appleloggyoggies for dropping off after posting the thread.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: The Saucy Princes Own
From: GUEST,Ian 'the Pump' Macintosh
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 09:00 PM

Mate - now I have belatedly caught up with this thread, is there a tune reference I can follow up. Like the lyric, I only recall a fragment. I heard it only sung but once by one of the bands called 'the Waites'..though not the City Waites.

Subject: Lyr Add: BATTLE OF BAROSSA (from Bodleian)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 07:22 PM

Here's the text from one of the broadsides in the Bodleian collection. I have added punctuation, and divided the text into 4-line stanzas. (There were no divisions as I found it.):


BATTLE OF BAROSSA

On the 21st of February from Cadiz we set sail,
Which many a gallant Briton has cause to bewail,
And straight to Gibraltar our gallant fleet did steer,
And on the 23d, my boys, we landed at Algiziers.

Our general explain'd to us the hardships we must bear,
Still hoping British courage would conquer every care.
Thro' woods and lofty mountains our army marched along,
And tho' our number it was small, our courage still was strong.

The first place we halted at was called Tariffe,
And waiting for the Spaniards in a convent there we lay;
And when their troops were landed, we marched both night and day,
Still hoping soon those French to meet and show them British play.

The Spaniards took the right and said their country they would free,
And bid bold Britons keep the rear that glorious day to see,
But when Barossa plains appear'd, we never saw them more.
Their troops withdrew behind a wood near to St. Peter's shore.

But gallant General Graham, not knowing their design,
Resolved the British troops should ne'er be too far behind,
Advanc'd into a woods obscure, not dreading any snare,
When the enemy in ambush lay and clos'd upon our rear.

Some watchful eye espied the foe and unto our general flew,
Which wounded sore his tender heart and tears of sorrow drew.
"O cursed is my fate!" he cry'd. "Is this the wretched day
That bold Britons must deplore their fate, by Spaniards led astray?

"But to the right about, my boys, and let us give three cheers.
Attend your colours, my brave boys, and keep the right flank clear.
Let us to Cape Trafalgar, where brave Nelson bled before,
And fame shall soon her trumpet sound that Britons sweep the shore."

Like heroes we advanced fresh honours for to gain,
Disdaining every danger tho' thousands there lay slain.
"Well done, my boys," our general said. "Our number is but small,
But worse than that, it grieves me sore to see my heroes fall."

Then fire and smoke convuls'd the air and thunder reach'd the sky,
And so on we clos'd upon their rear and forced them to fly,
Three generals left behind them, their guns and eagles too,
While bold Britons cheer'd them oft and boldly did pursue.

So fill our bumpers round, my boys, altho' it gives us pain.
Their memory drink, who nobly fell on sad Barossa plain.
Likewise to every soldier brave who acted in the field,
For tho' we fought them two to one, we forced them to yield.

So now returning home again, we will make the alehouse ring,
And toast the lass that we love best, and George our sovereign king;
And may we ever guard the isle where plenty keeps her store,
And doubly pay each sweetheart's smiles that welcome us on shore.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: The Saucy Prince's Own
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 11:32 AM

GUEST,Ian 'the Pump' Macintosh

It's been re-recorded on Strawhead's newest album so it may be worth getting in touch with them regarding the dots/chords - http://www.strawhead.org.uk/contactus.html