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19 May 98 - 09:19 AM (#28673) Subject: BRAVE WOLF From: ALDUS I have heard several versions of an old Canadian song called Brave Wolf. The best known version is on an old Ian Sylvia Album. I wonder if anyone out there knows the complete lyrics to this. I would be grateful for any assistance. thanks. |
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19 May 98 - 09:25 AM (#28675) Subject: RE: BRAVE WOLF From: Wolfgang Hell ALDUS, search the database for "Brave Wolfe" (this spelling) and you'll find two versions. |
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19 May 98 - 09:33 AM (#28677) Subject: RE: BRAVE WOLF From: Teru There may be another version of Brave Wolfe, but I am not quite sure. I'll look it up in my songbook. |
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19 May 98 - 11:42 AM (#28695) Subject: RE: BRAVE WOLF From: Matts Lundgren Hi! One of my favorites actually, although I have only heard one version, sung by the Watersons. You'll find it on an old Topic record (12T 142). It's not even in stereo. But lovely. If You are not familiar with the Watersons, their records is a goldmine if you are into a capella stuff. Bye for now Matts |
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19 May 98 - 12:02 PM (#28702) Subject: RE: BRAVE WOLF From: Matts Lundgren I forgot all a bout the lyrics (got carried away). If you search the data base using the string "Cheer up, me lads,General Wolfe did say," you will be all right. |
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20 May 98 - 12:37 AM (#28812) Subject: Lyr Add: BRAVE WOLFE / THE BATTLE OF QUEBEC From: Teru The lyrics I meant are almost the same as those in BRAVE WOLFE or THE BATTLE OF QUEBEC in this DT. The first and second verses are a bit different as below.
1. Come, all you old men all,
2. I went to see my love,
3. "Love, here's a diamond ring,
4. Then forth went this brave youth I have heard that the lyrics were collected by Elisabeth Greenleaf in Newfoundland in 1929. Regards Teru (of Japan) |
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21 May 98 - 01:02 AM (#28904) Subject: Lyr Add: BRAVE WOLFE From: rich r Verse 4 seems to have been heavily folk processed. Here is another take on it.
That brave and gallant youth have crossed the ocean I don't expecially like the singular youth with the plural have. The last word is a good example of what happens in aural tradition. The three words (hardy, hearty, haughty) all sound sort of the same depending on the singer and all three fit into the line without altering the song very much. Here are some additional line and verse variants primarily from Edith Fowke and Alan Mills.
Brave Wolfe drew up his men in a line so pretty
Montcalm and this brave youth together walk-ed
The drums did loudly beat, with colors flying
Brave Wolfe lay on the ground where the guns did rattle The song is a fairly accurate description of the battle of Quebec that took place on September 13, 1759. It proved to be a decisive event in the history of North America and perhaps the world. In 1755 the Acadians had been driven out of Nova Scotia and a year later the Seven Years War broke out in Europe and elsewhere. Britain bumbled around early and was not doing very well. But by 1759 Louisville, Fort Frontenac & Fort Duquesne had been taken by Britain. Montcalm had pulled back to Quebec for a last stand. The British fleet under Wolfe had layed siege to Quebec from below on the St Lawrence River. British scouts finally discovered a narrow way up the cliffs to the city and on the night of Sept 12 about 5000 men secretly took small boats down the river and scaled the cliffs to the Plains of Abraham. The battle was over quickly and both Wolfe and Montcalm were killed. The first verses reflect the fact that young Wolfe had become engaged to Kathrine Lowther shortly before sailing to America. The only real poetic license in the song concerns the horse that Wolfe was shot from. How did they get a horse up those steep cliffs?
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21 May 98 - 09:32 AM (#28929) Subject: RE: BRAVE WOLF From: aldus Thank you all very much.. you"ve provided some verses I was unaware of..... I find the tune a difficult one and I wonder how some of these new verses fit into it. |
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23 May 98 - 03:44 PM (#29077) Subject: RE: BRAVE WOLF From: Bruce O. Teru's version above has more of "The Unconstant Maiden" (ZN872) than the DT (2nd) version that I noted on the other thread. That one appears to be the original of what Ebsworth called the "Ring of Gold" series of ballads in Roxburghe Ballads. |
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23 May 98 - 05:06 PM (#29083) Subject: RE: BRAVE WOLF From: Tim Jaques tjaques@netcom.ca I was told at university by a professor of Canadian history that the British had been trying to figure out for some weeks how they would get up the cliffs at Quebec. (They were opposite the Quebec City, where the city of Levis now is) Some officers went for a walk and noticed women washing clothes in the river opposite. They watched how the women got back up the hill, and it was this path that they used to scale the heights. It was in fact defended, but the first troops up the path were led by a Scotsman who could speak French without an accent. He tricked the sentries into believing that French troops were coming up the path, and the next morning the British were outside the walls of the city. (When the Americans attacked Quebec some years later they had no such luck. They attacked in a blinding snowstorm and were easily chased away. They did capture Montreal, where they introduced the first printing press into Canada.) |
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04 Jun 98 - 02:11 PM (#30055) Subject: RE: BRAVE WOLF From: Tony Toole Martin Carthy sang an excellent version of Brave Wolfe on one of his early albums - which are now out on CD. A search for his discography should be fruitful. He is, of course, married to Norma Waterson who contributed to the equally good Waterson's version mentioned in a previous message. |
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31 Jan 22 - 07:20 PM (#4134657) Subject: RE: BRAVE WOLF From: GUEST Montcalm and this brave youth together walked, Between two armies they like brothers talked. Then each one took his post, and did retire. 'Twas then this numerous host commenced to fire. Well, no, it's not historical. The British took the French by surprise, by going up the hill in the early morning. There was no talk between Wolfe and Montcalm. And there was no horse! I found it in "Singing Our History: Canada's Story in Song," by Edith Fowke. At least I think so. |
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31 Jan 22 - 07:31 PM (#4134659) Subject: RE: BRAVE WOLF From: Joe Offer Joe - fix this |
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31 Jan 22 - 09:26 PM (#4134675) Subject: RE: BRAVE WOLF From: meself The British took the French by surprise - but the French forces, under Montcalm, came out on the plain to face them. I don't remember whether Wolfe and Montcalm walked and talked - it was a long time ago ...... |
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31 Jan 22 - 10:52 PM (#4134680) Subject: RE: BRAVE WOLF From: RTim BRAVE WOLFE. Come all you young men all, let this delight you Come all you young men all, let nothing fright you. Never let your courage fail, when your brought to trial Nor let you fancy move at the first denial. This brave undaunted youth, he crossed the ocean, To free America, was his intention He landed at Quebec with all his party This city to attack, being brave & hearty. Bold Wolfe drew ‘bout his men, in a line so pretty. On the Plains of Abraham, before the city. The French came marching down, in hope to beat him With a double number round, resolved to beat him. Montcalm & this brave youth, together talked Between two armies they, like brother walked Then each one to his post then did retire, And then both numerous host, commenced their fire. The drums did loudly beat, and the colors flying The purple body stream, and them lay dying. And shot from off his horse fell that great hero. We’ll long lament his loss in tears & sorrow. He lifted up his head as the guns did rattle, And to his army said, How goes the battle? Quebec is all our own, none can prevent it! And then bold Wolfe replied - I die contented. Via Carthy who learnt from Cyril Tawney (N.American) Collected in 1958 by Kenneth Peacock from Isaac Freeman Bennett [1896-1984] of St Paul's, NL, and published in Songs Of The Newfoundland Outports, Vol 3, pp.986-987, by The National Museum of Canada (1965) Tim Radford |