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04 Feb 01 - 08:02 AM (#389579) Subject: D Day Dodgers From: GUEST Hi Anyone got the words to this song. I think Ian Campbell did it way back. Es |
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04 Feb 01 - 08:36 AM (#389586) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: Jeri It's in the Digital Tradition, found with a search (in that blue box, upper right) for "dodgers." Click here for D-Day Dodgers. |
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04 Feb 01 - 08:41 AM (#389589) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: GUEST,Rana Hi, The song's in the digitrad data base From there is this info: (Words: Anonymous; compiled and edited by Hamish Henderson. Tune: Lili Marlene. Recorded, Ewan MacColl, Folkways (British Army Songs) Just type D-Day in the digitrad lyrics search box at the top of the lyrics/chat page (someone else may be able to do a direct link) Rana
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04 Feb 01 - 09:17 AM (#389608) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: bill\sables It was apparantly writen by soldiers of the 3rd something or other, either army or batilian or something, in retaliation when Lady Astor got up in the House of Commons and said that the soldiers in Italy were having it easy and dodging D Day, when in fact they were being killed by the enemy. Bill |
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04 Feb 01 - 11:27 AM (#389664) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: Clifton53 The Clancy Bros. also covered this one. The last verse is my favorite. |
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04 Feb 01 - 12:53 PM (#389748) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: GUEST Hi,
My source* reveals that,
Lady Astor did not feature in Pynn's original text. Any documentation of her alleged remarks has not sufaced - she in fact denied making them.
Hope this helps,
*"What A Lovely War! - British Soldiers' Songs"
'Come on and join, |
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04 Feb 01 - 02:56 PM (#389830) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: Sarah2 Hi, Colwyn, and thanks for the further info; in the USA, she's better known as an embarrasment to the country of her origin: one of those who married an Englishman and became more "English" than the natives. Wasn't she the butt of the Churchill story who, finding him into his cups, said, "Winston, you're drunk!" -- to which he replied, "Yes, madam, and you are ugly. The difference is that tomorrow I shall be sober." ...? What's "geat" mean when it's at home? Sarah |
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04 Feb 01 - 02:59 PM (#389832) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: Irish sergeant I Play the song frequently and have always seen it credited to Hamish Henderson. Thanks all for the additional information. Anyone know how the Lady Astor story came about? I'd like the details on that and wheither she actually did make the comments attributed to her. Kindest reguards, Neil |
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04 Feb 01 - 06:03 PM (#389950) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: Snuffy The "Winston you're drunk" story is usually concerning the Liverpool socialist MP Bessie Braddock. Nancy Astor is supposed to have said "If I were married to you, Winston, I'd poison your coffee." To which Churchill replied "If I were married to you, Nancy, I'd drink it!" |
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04 Feb 01 - 07:27 PM (#390025) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: GUEST,colwyn dane Hi,
Sarah it looks as I have unintentionally minted a new word - I should have used a spell-checker.
Neil - an alternative story about Nancy Astor and again from the same source I quoted previously:
"...is that, as a member of a parliamentary delegation visiting Italy in October 1944 she
The evolutionary song-writing process went to work and Harry Pynn's version was changed to first of all to include the following:
* Sir James Grigg - Minister for War.
Just my 2percent.
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04 Feb 01 - 07:49 PM (#390040) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: John Routledge Hi Colwyn Dane - Great is sometimes said as geat in NE England dialect so don't bother with spellchecker! Cheers Geordie Broon |
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05 Feb 01 - 11:16 AM (#390410) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: RoyH (Burl) I have known this song for 50 years. I first heard it during my army service in the Royal Artillery, sung by an old soldier at a regimental 'smoker'. This man, a Battery Sergeant Major, had been in the Italian Campaign during the war. I learned the song from him and the tale about Lady Astor's slur, but forgot verses through course of time but was able to refresh my memory via the versions sung around the folk scene. I sang my version to Hamish Henderson and he was happy with it so I guess my cobbled together version was OK. Howevr I have heard it sung in clubs almost as a jolly chorus song and I must take issue with this apporoach. There is some bitterly sarcastic humour in there,but it is NOT a funny song.I always remember the intensity with which my old BSM sang it despite the relaxed atmospher of the smoker. It's a great song I think. |
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05 Feb 01 - 07:22 PM (#390915) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: Snuffy Burl, I remember bits of another song to the tune of Lili Marlene we used to sing in the Gunners in the 60's. Was it around in your time?
Early in the morning, getting on parade Wassail! V |
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05 Feb 01 - 08:17 PM (#390954) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: RoyH (Burl) Snuffy, thanks for that. I don't know it, it's after my time I suppose, but I love it. Genuine millitary folklore.I was quite lucky in that there were still quite a few old sweats in when I was, pre-war blokes. I heard quite a bit from them, McCafferty, Soldier Cut Down in his prime, The Somersetshire,that was about a tropship, one called He'll Be There..in his little barrack room across the square. Plus a version of 7 Nights Drunk that made frequent use of the 'c' word. I heard a version of 'The Boston Burglar' where the last line was changed from 'Serve my time in the penitentiary' to '.....in the Royal Artillery'.There were recitations too,one about 'dying without permission' - I wish I'd written them down. I learned old army slang too -'Bundook' meaning a rifle, (we had 303's),'Glasshouse' for the prison, 'swinging the lead' for skiving, '7 mile snipers' for us, the R.A. At Christmas the officers would serve the o.r's with rum or brandy in the morning, a custom called 'Gunfire'. I don't suppose any of that to you , itwas a long time ago. But thanks for bringing back some memories. Cheers Gunner Snuffy. |
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05 Feb 01 - 09:09 PM (#390992) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: GUEST,colwyn dane Hi,
This Site has a version of the song which it attributes to Major Hamish Henderson of the 51st Highland Division.
Snuffy the song you quoted was sung by the REME in BAOR in the 50's;
Get hold of Roy Palmer's work it has over 120 songs and spans over a hundred years of soldiering.
Cheers, |
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07 Jun 03 - 11:45 AM (#963696) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: GUEST,trish There is another verse to Dodgers which I sing (off a Johnnie Collins collection) One day we heard a rumour we were going home Back to dear old Blighty and never more to Rome Then someone said "In France you'll fight" We said "No fear, we're sitting tight We are the D Day Dodgers in sunny Italy" (or "Way out in Italy") |
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07 Jun 03 - 01:41 PM (#963726) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: The Walrus Snuffy, Like Colwyn, I'd only heard your 'RA' song about the 'Dreamy REME'. A varient on your second verse runs: Speeding down the Autobahn at ninety miles an hour We are the Dreamy REME, we're such a bloody shower. We can't change up, we can't change down, 'Cos we fitted the gearbox upside down We are the reamy REME, we are a bloody shower. Regards Walrus |
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07 Jun 03 - 01:54 PM (#963733) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: artbrooks British military slang, or just UK English...what does "shower" mean? |
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07 Jun 03 - 07:00 PM (#963790) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: GUEST,Bill the version compiled by Hamish Henderson was- We're the D day dodgers way off in Italy Always on the vino always on a spree Eighth army scroungers and their tanks We live in Rome among the yanks We are the D day dodgers way out in Italy We are the D day dodgers way out in Italy We landed in Salerno a holiday with pay the Jerries brought the bands out to cheer us on our way Showed us the sights and gave us tea We all sang songs the beer was free To welcome D day dodgers to sunny Italy To welcome D day dofgers to sunny Italy Naples ans Casino were taken in our stride We didn't go to fight there we went just for the ride Anzio and Sangro were just names we only went to look for dames The artful D day dodgers wat out in Italy The artful D day dodgers way out in Italy Dear Lady Astor you think you're mighty hot Standing on the platform talking Tommy rot You're England's sweetheart and her pride We think your mouth's too bloody wide We are the D day dodgers in sunny Italy We are the D day dodgers in sunny Italy Look around the mountains in the sun and rain You'll find the scattered crosses the sum that have no name Heartbreak and toil and suffering gone The boys beneath them slumber on They are the D day dodgers that stay in Italy They are the D day dodgers that stay in Italy I heard Hamish sing this version in a folk concert in Edinburgh a few years ago, I don't know if he oois still alive he was in his eightys then. Bill (the ex sound) |
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07 Jun 03 - 07:52 PM (#963807) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: Gareth Art - general slang - short for a "Shower of s**t" - a group of useluse B*****d's Gareth |
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07 Jun 03 - 09:14 PM (#963828) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: GUEST,Q Two threads, (34510) and this one, are adding new material to the story, songs and lyrics, fitting since June 6th and our veterans are still in our minds. Several compilations have been attributed to Major Hamish Henderson, all somewhat different. The original lyrics attributed to Lance Sergeant Harry Pynn apparently lacked any mention of Lady Astor (nor is there any documentation showing that she ever made the remarks- probably invented by anti-Americans). Comments by Jim Dixon and others in the threads flesh out these comments. Some versions have a first verse that often seems to be left out. It is included in the very full version at http://ingeb.org, and also appears in a version from Signalman Jack Linden Cull. It may point to verses sung to Lili Marlene that pre-date the D-Day Dodgers verses. This from the typescript by Jack Linden Cull (8th Army, 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment: The "D" Dodgers There is a song Eight Army used to sing Marching thro the desert, marching with a swing But now they're on a different game Although the tune is (still) the same, The words have all been altered- The words we're singing still. We're the "D" day Dodgers here in Italy Drinking all the vino, always on the spree, We didn't land with Eisenhower, Ans so they think we're just a shower. For we're the "D" Day Dodgers out here in Italy. To look at the origin of the song from another viewpoint: "The "D-Day Dodgers" were Irish troops sent in 1943, the year before D-Day, into Sicily and then up the boot of Italy by the British high command to do some of the nastiest fighting in all of World War II. Those Irish lads were alongside American and other Allied soldiers who paid hideous prices at Salerno, Naples, Casino and Anzio. The Brits never did entirely trust Irish when armed, in part because they were, to be honest about it, some who sympathized with Gerrmany. "But the overwhelming majority of Irish people was solidly in the Allied camp---" "The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem have celebrated these lads--- Aching with bitter irony and dripping Irish sarcasm (Canadian parallel in "Onwards to the PO," thread 34510), the ballad concludes in loving patriotism; "Look around the mountains, in the mud and rain. You see the scattered crosses -there's some that have no name. Heartbreak and toil and suffering gone, The boys beneath them slumber on. They are the D-Day Dodgers -who stay in Italy." From a column by John L. Perry: D-Day Dodgers Extended compilation in ingeb: D-Day Dodgers Thread 34510, "Onwards to the Po": Lyr D-Day Dodgers |
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08 Jun 03 - 04:41 AM (#963900) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: Keith A of Hertford I've heard this verse- When we went to Florence, we had a lovely time, Ran a bus to Rimini right through the Gothic line, Next to Bolognia we will go, In the afternoon we'll cross the Po, We are.... |
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08 Jun 03 - 08:26 AM (#963954) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: The Walrus "..."The "D-Day Dodgers" were Irish troops sent in 1943, the year before D-Day, into Sicily and then up the boot of Italy by the British high command to do some of the nastiest fighting in all of World War II..." Guest O, Where did these Irish come from? I can only find reference to 5 Irish Battalions in the whole of the British Order of Battle:- 2nd Battalion, The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (13th Infantry Brigade, 5th Infantry Division, XIII Corps) 1st Battalion, The London Irish Rifles (168th Infantry Brigade, 50th Infantry Division, XIII Corps) and 38th (Irish) Infantry Brigade 6th Battalion, The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, The London Irish Rifles (78th Infantry Division, 8th Army) and from what I can see, none of these units were detatched from, their parent units. As for "..."The "D-Day Dodgers" were Irish troops sent in 1943..." Sorry, there were more Scots Battallions, Canadian Battallion and English Battalions (I'm sorry, I haven't counted the number of Commonwealth, or Allied Battalions as I only have the British & Canadian OoB to hand), than Irish Battalions, and that's without tanks, guns, engineers etc. That's not to say there weren't Irishmen in those units, but then the Irish units weren't homogeneously Irish either. I'm fel a rant coming on, so I'll stop before the keyboard becomes a soapbox. Walrus |
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08 Jun 03 - 01:45 PM (#964062) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: GUEST,Q I posted the column by John Perry about the Irish troops because it stopped me and made me gape. I am familiar mostly with writings about the Canadian troops involved in the advance up the boot. I do not know how the Clancys and Makem led into the song at their concerts- Perry's take could be way off the mark, not only historically, as Walrus says, but with regard to the Clancy-Makem presentation, which I haven't heard. Many units were involved. Each developed its own 'take' on the progress of the advance and the relative value of contributions by other units. Resentment about real or imagined slights and deficiencies grew as the advance- in the minds of many of the soldiers poorly managed- went on. This is reflected in the songs, which, like the verses about Lady Astor, sometimes are based on fiction. An overall historical view of he campaign glosses over these resentments, which, at least among some of the Canadians who were in the advance, still surface. The same types of bitterness, I am sure, exist among the survivors of other units, including the Irish. The views held by some of these veterans may be provincial and unjustified in perspective, but the resentment remains. Resentment in Canadian troops applied as well to actions by the politicians and men of fighting age who remained at home. When conscription was passed in Canada, conscripts could not be sent overseas unless they volunteered for overseas service. Some 70,000 chose to wait out the war at home. These 'zombies' received mention in the songs as well. The resentment remains. |
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08 Jun 03 - 08:24 PM (#964240) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: D Day Dodgers From: The Walrus Guest O, My apologies. I mis-read the post as being your take on the Sicily/Italy campagns (hence the request for sources) rather than a report of an introduction by a 'modern' performer (and presumably tailored to their audience). Regards Walrus |