Lyr Add: William Tell

Subject: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Mr Happy
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 06:12 PM

WILLIAM TELL
Theme from the TV Series "The Adventures Of William Tell" (1957)
(Music by Gioacchino Rossini / Lyrics by Harold Purcell)

David Whitfield - 1957


Come away, come away with William Tell
Come away to the land he loved so well
What a day, what a day when the apple fell
For Tell and Switzerland

Come away with Tell to the mountainside
Looking down to the pass where the tyrants ride
Set a bolt to your bow and down they go
For Tell and Switzerland

We are simple peasant folk
We will not fell a foreign yoke
Our freedom song will echo on
We쳌fll fight for what is right.

Hurry on, hurry on there쳌fs a pungent cell
Hurry on, hurry on there쳌fs a noose as well
What we must face from the jaws of hell
For Tell and Switzerland.

We lived our lives, we loved our friends
We never wanted more
We had the skill to plough and till
But not the art of war
But now the tyrant from the plains
Steals up to take our lands.
Instead of spade we wield the blade
Our life is in our hands

Follow on, follow on with the leaders feel
With a thrust of a pike and a clash of steel
Follow on with the fight till the tyrants reel
For Tell and Switzerland

Give 쳌eem one for the day they bared the grain
Give 쳌eem two for the night that Fritz was slain
Give 쳌eem three, give 쳌eem four and hooray for more
For Tell and Switzerland

The shepherd쳌fs crook, the reaping hook
Has taken on a warlike look
With blades we쳌fve beaten from the plough
We reap a harvest now.

Come away, come away with William Tell,
Come away to the land he loved so well
Fit a bolt to your bow, and away we go
For Te-e-e-ell, and Switzerland.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 09:31 PM

Ah yes, Conrad Phillips as Tell, and Godfrey Something-or-other as the evil Landburgher Gessler - sorta like the Sheriff of Nottingham.
The show was cashing in on the Robin Hood fad. Good, though!

Seamus

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: GUEST,Joerg
Date: 04 Apr 06 - 09:59 PM

Forgive me - this hurts a little. Aside from the lyrics.

I do not know many evident facts about this maybe-historical character. But definitely I dare to state that neither he nor his contemporary fellow human beings were native english speakers.

That is: his christian name was certainly not William and you can bet that nobody ever considered calling him "Bill".

Today, as a switzerman, your original language is either french or german or italian, read from upper left to lower right (I hope to not insult any muslim by this).

In french his name is tradited as "Guillaume Tell" (g-ee-oh-m), in german as "Wilhelm Tell" (vill-hell-m) in italian "Guillermo Tell" (g-ee-yerr-moh according to what little I know about italian, sorry).

Only the german version sounds a little like "William". BTW, nobody named "Wilhelm" will be addressed so in Germany, evreybody will call him "Willi". Sic. Don't know how the french and italian are handling this.

IMO one should not try to translate everything. Especially names - what would an US citizen think about e.g. a newspaper from Munich referring to some "... president Schorsch Busch ..."?

:-D

Cheers

Joerg

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 04:18 AM

President Schorsch Busch, sounds OK. we usually call President Seriously Deranged Moron.

eric

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Mr Happy
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 12:27 PM

Just for you Joerg,

Here's a polyglot version:


Come away, come away with William/ Guillaume/Wilhelm/Willi/ Willy/Willie/Will/Bill/Billy/Billy-Bob Tell

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Cool Beans
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 03:20 PM

Those lyrics deserve to go
to the dump,
to the dump,
to the dump-dump-dump.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Jim I
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 04:07 PM


'Billy-Bob'!!!

I assume this is to be sung with a strong southern accent?

But it was a great series and Mrs Tell (was it Jennifer Jones?) looked absolutely 'smashing' to my pre-pubescent eyes.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 04:24 PM

Jennifer Jayne!! Yes, please! Who remembers her in "The Trollenberg Terror"!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Wolfgang
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 04:40 PM

Wilhelm Schüttelspeer

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: autolycus
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 05:16 PM

Wolfgang   - LOL

Ivor

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Geordie-Peorgie
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 06:34 PM

Jennifer Jayne!

My God! My forst female 'interest' - Aall bare shoulders an' smoulderin' eyes

And....... Landburgher Gessler wez played by Willoughby Goddard - Aah used te hev the bubble-gum cards ov the series and apparebtly his 60-inch waist wez due to an illness

Aah think aah might have caught that illness from them cards - Aa'm up tiv a 48-inch waist already and aah hevvent started te invade Switzerland yet!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 01:25 AM

Willoughby Goddard! Thanks, G-P. At least, I got the God part right.
And Jennifer Jayne! Yes!!

Seamus

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Paul Burke
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 03:30 AM

Quite right Joerg (George). His name wasn't William. It wasn't Tell either. He didn't shoot an apple off the top of his son's head. He didn't fight the Austrians. He didn't live in Switzerland in the middle ages. He didn't shoot with a crossbow. It's all a mistake.

His name was Albert Swales, he lived in Rawtenstall in 1968. When a new public toilet was installed there by the tyrant Bury Council, he refused to pee in it, preferring the wall behind the chip shop like his father before him. Jim Hitler, the new local copper, arrested him, but said he would let him go if he could pee over his son's head without wetting him. He succeeded, but told Hitler he would have peed on his foot if he'd failed. Arrested again, he was taken to the cells at Bacup Road police station, but escaped because Hitler forgot to lock the door when he nipped out to put 5 bob each way on You're Kidding in the 3.30 at Uttoxeter. This sparked a rebellion which led to Rawtenstall breaking away from Bury, and that sturdy mountain municipality survives proudly to this day. If you don't believe me, you can see it on the map, remember to hold it the right way up, or you might think it's the Welsh town of Llatsnetwar.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: jojofolkagogo
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 10:52 AM

Cool Beans

Whenever I go to the Dump. I ALWAYS sing that !!!!!

thought it was just me being silly - but perhaps no one is an island !!!!!!!!!

Jo-Jo

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 11:07 AM

Yes he always bent over double to load his crossbow.

Whilst he did this, not one of his dastadly enemies ever considered ever kicking him him the ass, because you don't mess around with Swiss national heroes - he might dismantle your cuckoo clock.

This was a man who looked good in a seriously furry jacket and tights. Even in the austere 1950's, this was a fashion statement that had to be qualified by the manly tones of David Whitfield's theme tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 12:10 PM

They say the true sign of sophistication is being able to listen to the William Tell overture without thinking of the Lone Ranger.

I remember at seven years old singing "Come away, come away with William Tell, kisk him up the arse and run like hell ..."

re. Anglicising the name ... what does this do for Cristobal Colon?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From:
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 03:37 PM

Joerg

It's amazing. In Scottish Gaelic, our name would be Seòas. When put in Vocative/addressing mode, it comes out as Sheòas. Which pronunciation would render as Schor-as much like your "Schorsch".

But the TV show was fun. I loved it when I saw it in the early 60s on the CBC. At around the same time we had another European hero. Thierry du Fronde? I can't remember the last part of the name, but the first name was Thierry.

Besides the Western cowboys, we had as heroic figures, Robin Hood, William Tell and Thierry du Fronde. For one season, I remember Ivanhoe with Roger Moore in his pre-Saint (VERY pre-Bond) days!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 03:49 PM

Llatsnetwar???does this confirm that they are backward in Lancashire(comments please Raggytash!)

Gerry

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 07 Apr 06 - 07:44 AM

A dvd box set of the complete "William Tell" tv series has been released recently.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: GUEST,Joe_F
Date: 07 Apr 06 - 09:12 PM

One may also sing, to that tune, of some suitable person, "--- has a head like a Ping Pong ball, --- has a head like a Ping Pong ball," etc., and eventually, "--- has a head like a Ping Pong, Ping Pong, Ping Pong, Ping Pong, Ping Pong ball," etc.

Recall, also, the game of charades in which eight women were lined up in suitable positions to signify the William Tell Overture: titty rump titty rump titty rump rump rump.

--- Joe Fineman    [e-mail]

||: Love and cars make it safe to be mean. :||

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 08 Apr 06 - 01:23 PM

If he ever lived, his name was true German Wilhelm as an inhabitant of one of the three archcantons of the Helvetic Confederation, all German speaking.
Forget the Italian organgrinders; he was made immortal by Friedrich Schiller, a born Suevian, in his play.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: GUEST,Ron Davies
Date: 08 Apr 06 - 01:56 PM

Neither the existence of Tell nor Gessler has been proven.

I think in the US there was also a William Tell show--must have been totally different--with theme song, of course.

I think some of the lyrics went

Marching behind William Tell
We know well
There are troubles to face

Can't remember any more

The UK show sounds a lot better--but at the time, the US show seemed pretty good.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Cool Beans
Date: 08 Apr 06 - 04:43 PM

What about Penn and Teller? Do they exist?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: GUEST,Ron Davies
Date: 08 Apr 06 - 06:33 PM

No, but Penner and Tell do. So Wilhelm has changed his MO.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 09 Apr 06 - 06:57 AM

Well i wouldn't exactly describe the UK show as 'good'.

It was part of our childhood though and we have affection for the memories of galloping round the playground, firing imaginary crossbows at one another.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Mr Happy
Date: 09 Apr 06 - 07:14 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Tell

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Cool Beans
Date: 09 Apr 06 - 09:54 AM

So, Ron, what you're saying is that Wilhelm is now working with Fred? A Swiss/Canadian collaboration. Fred sings the Geoduck Song and Wilhelm shoots a clam off his head. I like it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 09 Apr 06 - 09:11 PM

WLD, do you remember the toy crossbows with suction-cup bolts that came out with the show?
Like the Zorro epées with a chalk tip?
Or the Davy Crockett coon skincaps, plastic flintlock rifles and powder-horns?

Seamus

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Mr Happy
Date: 10 Apr 06 - 06:19 AM

..........& snake belts!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: masato sakurai
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 07:08 AM

Hear The Gas House Gang's "William Tell Overture" (quartet version) at NPR: All Songs Considered Archives (Watch Episode 19).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Jim I
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 03:03 PM

Just watched "Carry on Cruising" for the umpteenth time and just realised that the plump geezer who Kenneth Connor falls over was in fact Gessler. I suppose anything to get away from that Tell fellow!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: autolycus
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 05:25 AM

The Historical Society of Switzerland has said there is no historical foundation for Tell and Gessler.

There are similar legends in other places like England (William of Cloudesley), Norway and Persian(now Iran).

I don't know anyone who can fire a cross-bow; arrows I can see.

For a terrific performance of the Rossini overture, Toscanini, who turns a war-horse (a turn of phrase not an animal) into a fresh experience.

Can I have my childhood back,please?


   Ivor

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 09:25 AM

What've you been smoking, Paul?

Can I have some?

What time was Willam Tell on though?

ten to ten
ten to ten
ten to ten ten ten

:D (tG)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: GUEST,Big Fan of William Tell series
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 08:06 PM

Conrad Phillips was the best William Tell. The theme song went something like, "Free, We shall fight to be free; Have a Right to be free...etc. I would really like to hear this theme song once again. It was really fantastic. The opening sequence of the theme song showed William Tell shooting the apple off of his sons head.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Ron Davies
Date: 22 Apr 06 - 07:01 PM

I think that was the one of which "Marching beside William Tell.." was part. Big Fan--you're in the US, right?

Regarding the Overture--anybody have a copy of the Cambridge Buskers version of it?--really impressive--2 instruments capturing the flavor.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Mr Happy
Date: 18 Nov 06 - 09:07 AM

http://history-switzerland.geschichte-schweiz.ch/william-tell-switzerland-hero.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: BanjoRay
Date: 18 Nov 06 - 06:50 PM

AAArgh! Don't remind me! - I have to play that bloody awful tune every week at our Appalachian dance team practice. It drives me up the bloody wall (as Banjoflower can testify)
A pig sick Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: NormanD
Date: 19 Nov 06 - 06:32 PM

Here's a link for more on the tv series: http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/
Put "William Tell" in the search site box and you'll get to hear the theme tune. Pages and pages of 1950s tv nostalgia here.....

norman

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Bernard
Date: 19 Nov 06 - 07:56 PM

Jennifer Jones (Jennifer Jayne), actress: born 14 November 1931; married 1958 Peter Mullins; died 23 April 2006.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Bernard
Date: 19 Nov 06 - 08:01 PM

Obituary

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Muttley
Date: 25 Nov 06 - 08:29 AM

Hi All

Not very helpful here, maybe, but a short note about William Tell:

Recently, archaeological evidence unearthed in southern Switzerland revealed that not only did William Tell exist - but that he had a large extended family.
As well, the records indicated that he and his family were all fervent 'Ninepin' bowlers.
Sadly, though, the details of game, teams and / or competition levels are lost - so we shall probably never ascertain "For Whom the Tells Bowled"!!!

Muttley

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: William Tell
From: Eye Lander
Date: 25 Nov 06 - 07:24 PM

Oh my God! I really am old, Can't remember much about the programme, except I enjoyed it - When was it on? (50's or early 60's)