Origins: General Taylor - who was he?

Subject: RE: Origins: General Taylor
From: Dave Wynn
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 04:08 PM

Wow...I do a shanty about a president of the USA. Ain't life surprisingly rich some days......!

Spot

Subject: RE: Origins: General Taylor
From: PoppaGator
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 03:24 PM

Zachary Taylor later became President of the United States, one of our less memorable presidents. I suppose it's no accident that he has gone down in history as "General Taylor," thanks to his military accomplishments, rather than as "President Taylor."

(There's a General Taylor Street in uptown New Orleans.)

Subject: RE: Origins: General Taylor
From: Lighter
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 03:01 PM

"Twas many a maid of Monterrey
Wept the loss of her love that day."

Subject: RE: Origins: General Taylor
From: Dave Wynn
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 02:37 PM

Thanks Keith and Les......It gives me something to tell the local Department of Folklorique.

Spot

Subject: RE: Origins: General Taylor
From: Les from Hull
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 02:24 PM

The Battle of Monterrey (Sept. 21-23, 1846)

Most of the shanty verses give the victory to Santa Ana, which is just plain wrong. It's closely related to 'Stormalong' and gets similar verses (and probably got mixed up teh). Hugill gives it as a halyard shanty also used for capstan and pump.

Subject: RE: Origins: General Taylor
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 02:00 PM

That is him. Defeated Santa Ana at Monterey
Then awaaaaaaa
Keith

Subject: Origins: General Taylor
From: Dave Wynn
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 12:43 PM

We are doing a gig in Normandy this Friday and have been asked to submit a last minute resume of our songs and origins. This is the only shanty we do and we would like to know which General Taylor it refers to.
(General taylor gained the day
Walk him along John carry him along etc)

My research so far brings me to believe it is about General Zachary Taylor a U.S. General from and about his expoits in the "Mexican War".

Could anyone confirm this or give me the real griff. It would be damaging to the British / French entente cordial if it turned out to be a british general from the Napolionic wars :-)

Help would be appreciated.

Spot

Subject: RE: General Taylor
From: GUEST,mik
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 04:52 PM

general taylor was also recorded by "Fairport convention" on the "nine "album lead vocals by dave swarbrick

Subject: RE: General Taylor
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 03:14 PM

General Zachary Taylor defeated the Mexican General Santa Ana at Buenavista in February 1847, helping to secure Texas, and gain California, for the United States.  He became President of the USA after the war with Mexico, but died after only a short term in office.  A.L. Lloyd thought that this shanty probably dates from around 1850, though many of the elements in it (the ritual funeral, the references to the semi-mythical "Stormy" or "Stormalong"), are older.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: General Taylor
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 02:53 PM

so who was General Taylor anyway - what's his story?

Subject: RE: General Taylor
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 02:14 PM

General Taylor??

Baaaah! He's dead and he's gone!

LOL!

{~`

Subject: RE: General Taylor
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 10:27 AM

Steeleye Span recorded "General Taylor" quite early on, but it wasn't issued until the compilation album Individually and Collectively.  That may very well be the recording you remember.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: General Taylor
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 11:37 PM

The best rendition of this shanty is done by the Canadian Group, Great Big Sea on their CD called Great Big Sea "Play" Of course some people would say I was biased...

(no Spaw it dont mean I have two ass's)

Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: General Taylor
From:
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 11:28 PM

I see that there are many who are familiar with this chanty. Years ago I heard a recording with female -- possibly Maddy Prior and others no instruments but cannot find the name of the recording. Any advice?recommendations appreciated.

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