Lyr Req: Tunes of Glory

Subject: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: GUEST,ozmacca
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 11:15 PM

Help! I'm looking for the lyrics to the theme tune used for this movie from around 1960. The film is about the clash between two officers commanding a Scots regiment, but the theme used the pipe tune Black Bear (I think) and some pretty good lyrics as far as I can recall (even if Andy Stewart did sing it). It would fit in quite nicely with ideas for a performance we're putting together. Can anybody supply the words?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: The O'Meara
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 08:49 AM

I believe the tune used was "Scotland the Brave" but it's been a long time since I saw the movie. There was a popular release about that time called "My Bonnie Lassie" to the same tune - and there was also about then a mildly popular version of "Green Hills of Tyrol" by Andy Stewart. Could that be it?

"there was a soldier, a Scottish soldier,
He travelled far away and soldiered far away.
There was none bolder, with good broad shoulder
He fought in many a fray and fought and won

But these green hills are not highland hills
Oh the island hills are not my land's hills..."

O'Meara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: Leadfingers
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 08:59 AM

I dont recall any lyrics to The Black Bear - only know it as a damn good pipe tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: GUEST,ozmacca
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 05:21 PM

Thanks O'Meara, but it definitely wasn't the Scottish Soldier. The lyrics I'm thinking of started something like,

"Tell the story
Of the tunes of glory,
And an old scots song
As we gaily march along..."

Or a reasonable facsimile thereof...... A damned good tune and a brilliant swaggering march. I seem to recall the words fitted it perfectly.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: masato sakurai
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 05:57 PM

Probably not this one: Tunes Of Glory.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 06:22 PM

See also the old thread Lyr Req: Scots Wha' ha'. In spite of the title (which evidently confused some of the contributors, one of whom insisted on posting the Burns poem again) it is actually about The Black Bear, and mention is made of the song Tunes of Glory, which Andy Stewart set to it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: Barry T
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 08:32 PM

Post your inquiry to the Music Forum on Bob Dunsire's site

http://www.bobdunsire.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi

That's the best resource on the web for pipers, pipe tunes, pipe history and tradition. 'Almost a guarantee that you'll get an answer there!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: GUEST,ozmacca
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 08:58 PM

Thanks folks. Masato, that's not the one I'm looking for but it's got quite a kick to it. The thread Malcolm mentioned definitely does refer to the lyrics I'm after by Andy Stewart. I'll give the piping site Barry T mentions a go.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 10:36 PM

If you ever hear them and you're standing near them
Then you're heart will beat as you feel the gloried air
Because the music fills you and the drumbeat thrills you
And the pipes remind you of the old Black Bear

Ch. Brave are the honours we carry before us
    Brave are the hearts that we lift in the chorus
    hear them saying, hear them playing,
    That's the story of the tunes of glory



Sorry that's all I know, hope this helps.
Geordie
[e-mail] .au

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: GUEST,ozmacca
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 11:04 PM

That's the one! Thanks Geordie..... Now to dig for the rest......

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: Teribus
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 04:44 AM

masato, Pete St.John's title for that song is "When Margaret was eleven".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 06:07 AM

The one you are after was DEFINITELY recorded by Andy Stewart. My Grandad was a great fan of Andy Stewart. He had a lot of his stuff on old 45rpm's, but I don't know where they eventually ended up, so I can't help with the words, although I remember the tune.
The song is listed on an Andy Stewart CD's at Amazon as Tunes of Glory.
Quack!
Geoff the Duck.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: Jim McLean
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 06:29 AM

Andy Stewart recorded it on The Andy Stewart Collection, Music for Pleasure, EMI. The credits state Grant/Stewart EMI Umited Parnership.
I'll try and transcribe the words when I can but someone may do it beforehand.
Jim McLean

Subject: Lyr Add: TUNES OF GLORY (Grant/Stewart)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 06:56 AM

TUNES OF GLORY
Grant/Stewart EMI United Partnership

(1) When the pipes are ringing
And the kilts are swinging
And your heart is singing
As you gaily march along;
You can hear the story
That is brave and (rory?)
In the tunes of glory
Of that old Scots song.

(2) If you're standing near them
And you ever hear them
You will also cheer them
As you feel the gloried air,
Because the rhythm fills you
And the drumbeat wills you
And the music thrills you
Of the Old Black Bear

CHORUS:
Brave are the honours we carry before us,
Brave are the hearts that we lift in the chorus,
Hear them playing, hear them saying,
That's the story in the Tunes of Glory.

Repeat (1) then Chorus, repeat (2) then final Chorus.

I'm sorry I can't make out the word in brackets.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: GUEST,ozmacca
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 05:52 PM

YES!!!! Thank you Mr McLean! That's the one. Now to get the guitarist to work out the chords....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 06:25 PM

Jim, could "rory" be "gory" ?

These chords are a possibility. I haven't listened to this in over forty years, but from memory they might go something like this, (played in G).

The A major chord in the last line of the chorus might be a touch cheesy for some tastes ...


(D7)When the(G) pipes are ringing
And the(Em) kilts are swinging
And your(Am) heart is singing
As you(D7) gaily march along;
You can(G) hear the story
That is(Em) brave and gory
In the(Am) tunes of(D7) glory
Of that(G) old Scots song.


CHORUS:
(G)Brave are the(Em) honours we(Am) carry be(D)fore us,
(G)Brave are the(Em) hearts that we(Am) lift in the(D) chorus,
(Bm)Hear them(C)playing,(D) hear them(Em) saying,
(Am)That's the (A)story in the(D7) Tunes of Glory.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: GUEST,ozmacca
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 07:53 PM

Thanks Murray. I'll pass that on. Another addition to the repertoire for our out and out unashamedly kilt and haggis Scottish programmes to entertain the ex-pat and would-be scots downunder.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: Jim McLean
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 04:05 AM

Murray, I thought it was 'gory' to start with but the word seems to start with an 'R'.
Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: GUEST,Swede
Date: 14 May 07 - 07:02 AM

Hello!
In my version of this recording on "20 scottish favourites" Andy Stewart sings:
    Brave are the honours we carry before us
    Brave are the hearts that we lift in the chorus
    Hieland fling, Hieland sing
    That's the story of the tunes of glory

Isn't this the normal text? Andy other who heard this?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: GUEST,Glenbanchor
Date: 27 Aug 07 - 07:44 AM

Hi,

The Alexander Brothers have a recording of this song, which can be downloaded from Limewire.Com (You don't have to sign up for the full version of Limewire, the free version will do just fine. You have to download their software first)

Here are the words as sung by The Alexander Brothers

When the pipes are ringing and the kilts are swinging
And your heart is singing as you gaily march along
You can hear the story that is brave and gory
In the tunes of glory of an old Scots song

Standing near them, as you ever hear them
You will want to cheer them as you feel the goried air
The rhythm fills you and the drumbeat fills you
And the music thrills you of the Old Black Bear

CHORUS
Brave are the honours we carry before us
Brave are the hearts that we lift in the chorus
Hear them playing, hear them saying
For that's the story in the tunes of glory

When the pipes are ringing and the kilts are swinging
And your heart is singing as you gaily march along
You can hear the story that is brave and gory
In the tunes of glory of an old Scots song

Repeat Chorus

Hope this helps

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 27 Aug 07 - 11:40 AM

I remember seeing this film, one of my all-time favorites, in a military theater while stationed in the U.S. Army at Ft. Lewis, Washington in 1962. Both Guinness and Mills were in top form, but the supporting cast, the setting and the music all contributed mightily. "Scotland the Brave" sounds right, but I have not seen the film in many years, so memory may not serve.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 11:23 AM

What does the black bear do in the song?
Did Neil Grant write the music and Andy Stewart the text?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: Jack Campin
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 12:17 PM

The tune "The Black Bear" goes back to the 19th century. Who was Neil Grant?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 01:47 PM

Thanks to all. I first saw this film in 1961 while serving with the U.S. Army. One of my buddies was a former drama student at Northwestern and a real film buff. He dragged me to see this movie in the post theater, for a whopping 50 cents. The synopsis sounded a bit dry. The reality is that it was a riveting character study and a window into the special world of these regiments. It remains one of my all time favorite films. I believe it was also one of Alec Guinness' favorites among his performances. The music brings it all back.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: Jack Campin
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 02:10 PM

A bit more on the tune - the "black bear" was supposed to be the bearskin hat used by some regiments for ceremonial guard duty. The tune was used to accompany troops heading back to their barracks at the end of a shift. This was the one occasion when they were not expected to march in step. The tune was played helluva fast and the soldiers moved faster. There is a chanter technique that was only ever used on this tune, as far as I know - a kind of fast smeary run produced by wiping your lower-hand fingers over the holes. It's not notated anywhere.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes Of Glory
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 04:16 PM

It told in the thread (Jim Maclean) that it's written by GRANT/STEWART , and i supposed it was Neil Grant (The IanMacfadyen of white heather club). I searched the net, and here it says that it's written 1961 ( Lyrics and music by: Andy Stewart & Neil Grant). Strange. And speaking of Andy Stewart, it's listed
here that he wrote text and words for "The battle o'er"...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tunes of Glory
From: GUEST,Glenbanchor
Date: 11 Dec 07 - 08:56 AM

I previously (27th August 2007) provided the words of the song as sung by The Alexander Brothers. I have since been able to download the Andy Stewart version from Limewire and his words are slightly different in verse 2, line 3. His are: The rhythm fills you and the drumbeat WILLS you. Just the one word different, but makes more sense.