Lyr Add: Rodney's Glory

Subject: Lyr Add: RODNEY'S GLORY
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 10:11 AM

Some time ago in a thread about "The Galway Shawl" there was a request for the words to Rodney's Glory, although it appears that the reference in the song is to the set dance tune. Anyway here are two sets of the words [over two postings]; one attributed to the Munster poet Eoghan Ruadh O Súilleabháin in 1782, and the other from a much later Pitt broadside in the Bodleian collection. There are some intriguing differences between the two versions mainly due to corruptions which have developed in the broadside text, giving rise to a wonderful mondegreen of the name of the French commander.

Rodney's Glory by Eoghan Ruadh O Súilleabháin

GIVE ear, ye British Hearts of gold,
That e'er disdain to be controlled,
Good news to you I will unfold,
   'Tis of brave Rodney's glory,
Who always bore a noble heart,
And from his colours ne'er would start,
But always took his country's part
Against each foe who dared t'oppose
Or blast the bloom of England's Rose,
   So now observe my story.

'Twas in the year of Eighty Two,
The Frenchmen know full well 'tis true,
Brave Rodney did their fleet subdue,
   Not far from Old Fort Royal.
Full early by the morning light,
The proud De Grasse appeared in sight,
And thought brave Rodney to affright,
With colours spread at each mast-head,
Long pendants, too, both white and red,
   A signal for engagement.

Our Admiral then he gave command,
That each should at his station stand,
"Now for the sake of Old England,
   We'll show them British valour."
Then we the British Flag displayed
No tortures could our hearts invade,
Both sides began to cannonade,
Their mighty shot we valued not,
We plied our "Irish pills" so hot,
   Which put them in confusion.

This made the Frenchmen to combine,
And draw their shipping in a line,
To sink our fleet was their design,
   But they were far mistaken.
Broadside for broadside we let fly,
Till they in hundreds bleeding lie,
The seas were all of crimson dye,
Full deep we stood in human blood,
Surrounded by a scarlet flood,
   But still we fought courageous.

So loud our cannons that the roar
Re-echoed round the Indian shore,
Both ships and rigging suffered sore,
   We kept such constant firing;
Our guns did roar and smoke did rise,
And clouds of sulphur veiled the skies,
Which filled De Grasse with wild surprise;
Both Rodney's guns and Paddy's sons
Make echo shake where'er they come,
   They fear no French nor Spaniards.

From morning's dawn to fall of night,
We did maintain this bloody fight,
Being still regardless of their might,
   We fought like Irish heroes.
Though on our deck did bleeding lie
Many of our men in agony,
We resolved to conquer or die,
To gain the glorious victory,
And would rather suffer to sink or die
   Than offer to surrender.

So well our quarters we maintained,
Five captured ships we have obtained,
And thousands of their men were slain,
   During this hot engagement;
Our British metal flew like hail,
Until at length the French turned tail,
Drew in their colours and made sail
In deep distress, as you may guess,
And when they got in readiness
   They sailed down to Fort Royal.

Now may prosperity attend
Brave Rodney and his Irishmen,
And may he never want a friend
   While he shall reign commander;
Success to our Irish officers,
Seamen bold and jolly tars,
Who like darling sons of Mars
Take delight in the fight
And vindicate bold England's right
   And die for Erin's glory.

The poem above is quoted by Daniel Corkery in The Hidden Ireland where it is taken from the poems of Eoghan Ruadh Ã" Súilleabháin collected from various sources by Father Dinneen.

According to Corkery Eoghan Ruadh had either joined the Royal Navy in Cork in about 1780, or had been press ganged into the service. He was in the fleet commanded by Admiral Sir George Brydges Rodney which defeated the French fleet under the Comte de Grasse in the Battle of the Saintes off Dominica in 1782. This victory saved the important colony of Jamaica for Great Britain, and Rodney was created 1st Baron Rodney and awarded the then huge pension of £2000 a year by Parliament. The elegant new Rodney Street in Liverpool was named for him (instead of being called De Schlink Street) by the grateful slave traders and sugar merchants of that town.

Corkery goes on to tell the story that Eoghan Ruadh composed the song in the heat of battle and showed it to the victorious admiral, hoping thereby to win his discharge. Apparently he was offered promotion but the request for his freedom was thwarted by an Irish officer named MacCarthy.

Subject: Lyr Add: RODNEY'S GLORY (from Bodleian)
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 10:16 AM

Rodney's Glory
^^
Pitts Printer Wholesale Toy & marble warehose
        6 Great st Andrew street 7 Dials

GIVE ear you British Hearts of gold
That do disdain to be controul'd,
Good news to you I will unfold
It is of Brave Rodney's Glory.
   Whom always was born with noble hearts
And from his colours never did start,
But boldly takes our Country's part
Against all foes that dare oppose
To blast the bloom of our English Rose,
But now observe my Story---
   It was in the year of Eighty two,
The Frenchman knows full well it is true
They thought our fleet for to subdue,
Not far from Old Port Royal.
Full early by the morning light
The prouds of grass appeared in sight
They thought brave Rodney to affright
With colours spread at each mast head
Long pennants flying black white and Red
As a signal for engaging
   Our Admiral then gave command
Every man to his quarters stand
All for the sake of Old England,
We will shew them British valour
   Then our British Flag display
No tortures could our hearts dismay
Both sides began to cannonade
Their weighty shot we valued not
We played our English pills so hot
We set them in confusion
   Its then the French they did combine
To draw their shipping in a line
To sink our fleet was their design
But they were far mistaken
   Cannons roar and smoak did rise
Clouds of sulphur filled the skies
That set the grass in great surprise
Brave Rodney's guns and Paddy's sons
Make Keno shake where'er they come
They fear no French nor Spaniards
The Formidable acted well
Commanded by our Admiral
The Old Belfire none could excell,
Our shipping all including
Broadside for broadside we let fly
Where thousands of our men did lie
The seas were of a crimson die
Full deep we stood in human blood
Surrounded by a scarlet flood
We kept such constant firing.
Loud loud cannons they did roar
Which echoed round the Indian shore
Both ship and rigging suffered sore
Not far from Old Port Royal,
   Here is a health unto our officers
Seamen bold and jolly tars
That takes delight for to fight
They would sooner for to sink or fight
All for the cause of Old England right
And die for Rodney's glory.

From the Bodleian Allegro Catalogue of Broadside Ballads
Harding B 25(1641)
Johnson Ballads 975
Firth c.12(24)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rodney's Glory
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 10:32 AM

Thanks for that.
I sometimes do The Shawl and often wondered.
I wonder if it gets sung in Ireland much.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rodney's Glory
From: MartinRyan
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 11:57 AM

Over the years, I've heard the original Irish sung a few times (usually by Eamonn O'Broithe). I have a vague memory of hearing an English set once or twice, only.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rodney's Glory
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 02:08 PM

meaning of mondegreen - just incase someone else is as ignorant as wot I am

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/mondegreen.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rodney's Glory
From: Snuffy
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 06:38 PM

The words seem to fit the Princess Royal/Nelsons Glory tune rather than any Rodney tune I've heard

Subject: Tune Add: RODNEY'S GLORY
From: Stewart
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 07:21 PM

Here's the set dance tune:

X: 1
T: Rodney's Glory
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: hornpipe
K: Ador
ed | c2 Bc ABcA | BGEF G2 cd | e=fed cde^f | gfge d=fed |
c2 Bc ABcA | BGEF G2 ed | c2 BA GABG | A2 AG A2 :|
|: cd | eaab aged | e=fed c2 A2 | g2 fg agec | dcAF G2 E2 |
AGAB cBcd | edeg a2 ab | aged cdef | gfge d=fed |
c2 Bc ABcA | BGEF G2 ed | c2 BA GABG | A2 AG A2 :|

Copy and paste into Concertina , then "submit" to get the score and a midi.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rodney's Glory
From: Lady Hillary
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 08:19 PM

Note to Barry Finn: note the reference to "Irish Pills" for cannon balls.