|
30 Oct 98 - 05:18 AM (#43679) Subject: Marching through Rochester From: Ian Kirk Hi All I am new to this forum and I have to say how impressed I am with the wealth of info that is available. I have question - I found the words of Marching through Rochester in the database and I have heard this song a number of times. I live about 15 miles from Rochester that was once a garrison town. I see that the name Pete Coe is under the title of the song on the database. I do not know if Pete is the man who wrote it, in which case I guess it is a modern song or whther Pete was the guy who put it in the database. Some history of this song would be appreciated. Regards Ian |
|
30 Oct 98 - 05:24 AM (#43680) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Wolfgang Hell Ian, Pete is supposed to be the author, the contributor to the database is only mentioned in the initials in the last line, SOF in the case of this song. Wolfgang |
|
01 Nov 98 - 03:21 AM (#43818) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Jon Bartlett As I understand it, the song was, relatively recently, fashioned around one traditional line, "Who'll be a soldier for Marlborough and me?", the tune for which was used by AB Banjo Patterson for "Waltzing Mathilda". I'd love to know more. Jon |
|
02 Nov 98 - 07:27 PM (#43931) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Tim Jaques tjaques@netcom.ca I have refreshed the Matilda thread where this was discussed. It was also discussed on, IIRC, uk.music.folk and Pete Coe himself contributed to the discussion. Do a Dejanews search under his name or Rochester Recruiting Sergeant and it should show up. He was informed of the Digital Tradition and was amused or bemused that there were two versions on offer of his song. He said he did indeed get the first stanza out of a magazine and wrote the rest. |
|
03 Nov 98 - 03:55 AM (#43983) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Jon Bartlett Thanks, Tim! |
|
03 Nov 98 - 04:44 PM (#44051) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Ian Kirk Thanks all I don't know whether you rec'd my previous reply but I am going to look in this further. I'll track down Pete Coe and report back. Regards Ian |
|
03 Nov 98 - 06:55 PM (#44070) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Alan of Australia G'day, Here's a link to the previous thread: click here. It's mostly a discussion of "Waltzing Matilda", but towards the end it addresses the Rochester song.
Cheers, |
|
04 Nov 98 - 07:59 AM (#44177) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Steve Parkes Ian, Pete Coe told me back in the mid 70's that he wrote the song except for the first verse, which he had discovered (but I don't know where). The tune, Waltzing Matilda, is actually Scottish in origin. My pld singing partner Barrie Roberts of Walsall confused the issue shortly afterwards by recording it in Denmark (or the Netherlands?) for a folk archive and telling them it was traditional. |
|
04 Nov 98 - 08:05 AM (#44178) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Tim Jaques tjaques@netcom.ca To which Scottish song was it the tune? |
|
05 Nov 98 - 06:57 AM (#44316) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Alan of Australia G'day Tim & others, If you follow the link I gave above you will find out all about the tune etc. etc.
Cheers, |
|
01 Dec 08 - 01:44 PM (#2505088) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: anniecarps If anybody has all the words to this song, I would be very pleased to receive them. Thank you. "And he sang as he marched through the crowded streets of Rochester 'Who'll be a soldier for Marlborough and me?'" |
|
01 Dec 08 - 01:58 PM (#2505107) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Little Robyn The words are here already. Robyn |
|
01 Dec 08 - 02:04 PM (#2505114) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Richard Bridge Pete likes to be credited as author when it is sung. |
|
02 Dec 08 - 08:13 AM (#2505745) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Bryn Pugh Interesting. I heard the chorus using "soldier" as a verb : "Who'll come and soldier (tris) For Marlborough and me ; And the drums rang out all through the streets of Rochester : 'Who'll come and soldier for Marlborough and me.'" I hadn't known that Pete Coe had authored this, but I'm glad to learn. |
|
02 Dec 08 - 09:04 AM (#2505780) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Leadfingers We shall be 'Marching through Rochester' at the weekend ! |
|
02 Dec 08 - 09:22 AM (#2505798) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: VirginiaTam What's happening in Rochester this weekend? |
|
02 Dec 08 - 09:42 AM (#2505815) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Leadfingers Dickens Festival ! We are part of the Street entertainment |
|
02 Dec 08 - 10:28 AM (#2505847) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: VirginiaTam oh yeah! are you morrising or are you wandering about in costume? |
|
02 Dec 08 - 01:33 PM (#2506049) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Leadfingers We are Naval Packet - Victorian Nautical - wandering the streets !! |
|
02 Dec 08 - 09:09 PM (#2506441) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: GUEST,Bill the sound MARCHING THROUGH ROCHESTER (Pete Coe) A bold fusilier came marching back through Rochester Off from the wars in the north country, And he sang as he marched Through the crowded streets of Rochester, ``Who'll be a soldier for Marlboro and me?'' Who'll be a soldier? Who'll be a soldier? Who'll be a soldier for Marlboro and me? And he sang as he marched Through the crowded streets of Rochester, ``Who'll be a soldier for Marlboro and me?'' The Queen, she has ordered new troops onto the continent To strike a last blow at the enemy. And if you would be a soldier All in a scarlet uniform Take the King's shilling for Marlboro and me. Take the King's shilling. Take the King's shilling. Take the King's shilling for Marlboro and me. And if you would be a soldier All in a scarlet uniform Take the King's shilling for Marlboro and me. ``Not I,'' said the butcher, ``Nor I,'' said the baker. Most of the rest with them did agree. To be paid with the powder and The rattle of the cannonball Wages for soldiers for Marlboro and me. Wages for soldiers, wages for soldiers, Wages for soldiers for Marlboro and me. To be paid with the powder and The rattle of the cannonball Wages for soldiers for Marlboro and me. ``Now I,'' said the young man, ``have oft endured the parish queue. There is no wages or employment for me. Salvation or danger, That'll be my destiny. To be a soldier for Marlboro and me.'' To be a soldier, to be a soldier, To be a soldier for Marlboro and me. Salvation or danger, That'll be my destiny. To be a soldier for Marlboro and me. Now twenty new recruits came marching back through Rochester Off to the wars in the north country. And they sang as they marched Through the crowded streets of Rochester, ``Who'll be a soldier for Marlboro and me?'' Who'll be a soldier, who'll be a soldier, Who'll be a soldier for Marlboro and me? And they sang as they marched Through the crowded streets of Rochester, ``Who'll be a soldier for Marlboro and me?'' I hope this helps-Bill |
|
03 Dec 08 - 04:04 AM (#2506598) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Richard Bridge That does not look quite like the version I checked with Pete Coe some years ago - not simply because they were not off for a cigarette. As recollect (without looking it up): - THE GAY FUSILIER (Pete Coe) The gay fusilier came marching down through Rochester Bound for the wars in the low countries, And he sang as he marched Through the crowded streets of Rochester, ``Who'll be a soldier for Marlborough and me?'' Who'll be a soldier? Who'll be a soldier? Who'll be a soldier for Marlborough and me? And he sang as he marched Through the crowded streets of Rochester, ``Who'll be a soldier for Marlborough and me?'' The King has ordered new troops for the continent To strike the last blow at the enemy. So if you'd be a soldier All in a scarlet uniform Take the King's shilling for Marlborough and me. Take the King's shilling. Take the King's shilling. Take the King's shilling for Marlborough and me. And if you'd be a soldier All in a scarlet uniform Take the King's shilling for Marlborough and me. ``Not I,'' said the butcher, ``Nor I,'' said the baker. Most of the townsmen with them did agree. To be paid in the powder and The rattle of the cannonball Wages for soldiers for Marlborough and thee. Wages for soldiers, wages for soldiers, Wages for soldiers for Marlborough and thee. To be paid in the powder and The rattle of the cannonball Wages for soldiers for Marlborough and thee. ``But I,'' said the young man, ``have long endured the parish queue. No work, no wages for the likes of me. Starvation or danger? It shall be my destiny, To seek fresh employment with Marlborough and thee.'' Wages for soldiers, wages for soldiers, Wages for soldiers for Marlborough and thee. Starvation or danger, It shall be my destiny. To seek fresh employment with Marlborough and thee. So forty new recruits came marching down through Rochester Bound for the wars in the low countries. And they sang as they marched Through the crowded streets of Rochester, ``Who'll be a soldier for Marlborough and me?'' Who'll be a soldier, who'll be a soldier, Who'll be a soldier for Marlborough and me? And they sang as they marched Through the crowded streets of Rochester, ``Who'll be a soldier for Marlborough and me?'' |
|
03 Dec 08 - 04:09 AM (#2506601) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Terry McDonald Yes, that's it Richard - exactly as I remember it and I still have (in the loft, I expect) the broadsheet produced for the song, and the one for Peter Coe's runner's song, Joseph Baker. |
|
03 Dec 08 - 07:54 PM (#2507251) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: GUEST,Bill the sound That's as I found it on the net some time ago. I can't remember the site, but have recently found a site with parodies to hundreds of songs and the gay version was on there. Bill |
|
04 Dec 08 - 03:29 AM (#2507424) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Paul Burke Back in about 2001 when a British soldier was killed in Sierra Leone,trying to keep the peace between the useless government and a rebel army recruited largely from children, I scribbled this bit. At the time I thought the "Who'll be a soldier" bit was trad, so apologies to Pete Coe if it's his: Jimmy Timms was a lad from a tower block in Manchester, Hated his school so he left at sixteen, Twelve months in a burger hell, he'd had about a bellyful, When this is what he saw as he glazed at the screen: Who'll be a soldier, who'll be a soldier, Who'll be a soldier, for England and me? Smart in your uniform, cool and professional, So sign for a soldier for England and me! For two happy years, he thought he'd found his paradise, Well paid and busy, good mates, a good career. He did his turn in Bosnia, and helped out in an orphanage, Came home at Christmas and bought his dad a beer. Life for a soldier, life for a soldier, Life for a soldier for England and me, And he grew strong and confident, the other lads looked up to him, Ready for promotion for England and me. But a nasty little war in a forgotten part of Africa Tore him away from his happy routine. Diamonds and oil, big business and the Mafia, And God help the children who came inbetween. Work for a soldier, work for a soldier, Work for a soldier for England and me, And he saw the burning shanty towns, the bodies lying all around, Work for a soldier for England and me. Then one day out on patrol he saw a girl with a rocket gun, Small, black and beautiful, no more than seventeen, A moment's hesitation before he pulled his trigger, She'd launched her grenade through the Land Rover's screen. Death for a soldier, death for a soldier, Death for a soldier for England and me. One man killed, half a dozen minor injuries, But death for a soldier, for England and me. There's a black granite gravestone in a cemetery in Manchester, Fresh flowers weekly to keep his memory green, And an unmarked grave on a riverbank in Africa. No trace remains of the love that should have been. A grave for a soldier, a grave for a soldier, A grave for a soldier for England and me, And there's two young lives, and everything they could have been, Wasted for war, and for England, and me. |
|
28 Feb 10 - 09:50 AM (#2852205) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Mr Happy This morning, 'Who'll be a soldier' song was featured in an episode of 'Sharpe' the fictional tales of the Napoleonic Wars. I had the subtitles on, & when the song was being sung, the subtitle stated ' a parody of Waltzing Matilda!' |
|
28 Feb 10 - 07:44 PM (#2852604) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: gnomad That's a bit harsh IMO, it uses the same tune but is hardly a parody. Mind you subtitling can only ever be an imperfect art when it comes to music. I hope PeteC gets his royalties OK, but given John Tams' involvement in the music for Sharpe I would expect that aspect to be properly handled. I had not registered this thread before, and certainly hadn't seen Paul B's contribution of Dec4 2008. The refresh was worth it if only for that. |
|
01 Mar 10 - 11:52 AM (#2853144) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Joe Nicholson In the version of the song which I got from a Whittlebury Tape sung by Pete Coe the first verse is:- A recruiting segeant marched through the streets of Rochester Bound for the wars in the low country And he sang as he marched and he played upon his kettledrum Who'll be a soldier for Marlbrough and me Who'll be a soldier, who'll who'll be a soldier, who'll be a soldier for Marlborough and me And he sang as he marched and he played upon his kettledrom Who'll be a soldier for Marlborough and me Joe Nicholson. |
|
02 Mar 10 - 05:59 AM (#2853902) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Keith A of Hertford Related thread. thread.cfm?threadid=13177&messages=12 |
|
29 May 14 - 10:48 AM (#3628900) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Mo the caller This song came to mind when reading this in the news Some things never change. |
|
21 Sep 15 - 10:59 AM (#3738800) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Keith A of Hertford The writer Iain Gale has Marlborough's soldiers singing it in his book, Brothers in Arms. The Sharpe film, Sharpe's Regiment" was on again a few months ago with the same subtitle appearing. Neither credits Pete. |
|
21 Sep 15 - 01:05 PM (#3738827) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: JHW So does nobody know what the original Scottish song was with the melody then borrowed for Walzing Matilda and again for Who'll be a Soldier? (as asked above last century) |
|
21 Sep 15 - 01:15 PM (#3738829) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: MGM·Lion According to Wikipedia entry on Waltzing Matilda, the tune was based on the Scottish Celtic folk tune "Thou Bonnie Wood of Craigielea",[8] written by Robert Tannahill and first published in 1806, with James Barr composing the music in 1818.[10] In the early 1890s it was arranged as the "The Craigielee" march music for brass band by Thomas Bulch.[8] This tune itself was possibly based on the old melody of "Go to the Devil and Shake Yourself", composed by John Field (1782–1837) sometime before 1812. It is sometimes also called "When Sick Is It Tea You Want?" (London 1798) or "The Penniless Traveller" (O'Neill's 1850 collection) ≈M≈ |
|
21 Sep 15 - 04:11 PM (#3738884) Subject: RE: Marching through Rochester From: Lighter Evidently I didn't mention that I made an extensive search of online books and newspaper databases (including Australian) and found not a single mention of the "Rochester" lyrics to "Waltzing Matilda" (or any other tune) before World War II. |