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15 Dec 06 - 10:22 PM (#1910703) Subject: Origins: Marching Down to Old Quebec From: Q (Frank Staplin) Lyr, Add: MARCHING DOWN TO OLD QUEBEC (Canadian version) Oh, we're marching down to old Quebec And the fifes and drums are beating, For the British boys have gained the day, And the Yankees are retreating, So we'll turn back and we'll come again To the place where we first started, And we'll open the ring and we'll take a couple in, Since they proved that they are true-hearted. Used in a play party game "in which couples march around in a ring until they come to the line: "So we'll come back." At that point each couple does an about-face as quickly as possible, and the couple that is slowest in making the turn has to drop out of the circle. ThThen at the words: "And we'll open the ring," the circle is broken for a moment, and the boy and girl outside rush to get in before it is closed again. "When the American Revolution broke out, its leaders prepared an address asking for the support of the 'oppressed inhabitants of Canada" [French], but the French Canadians, in the Quebec Act of 1774, had been guaranteed religious freedom, and French Civil Law." The Americans did take Montreal and held it during the winter of 1775, but had to retreat in the spring. Edith Fowke, Alan Mills and Helmut Blume, 1960?, "Canada's Story in Song," W, J. Gage Ltd., Toronto. An American version had the lines: The Americans have won the day And the British are retreating. Lyr. Add: MARCHING TO QUEBEC (American version, a) As we were marching to Quebec, The drums were loudly beating; The Americans have won the day The British are retreating. March! march! march! march! "The game was played in Philadelphia in the childhood of a lady born at the end of the last century" (c. 1800). "In Massachusetts and Maine it continued to be popular to within a few years (of 1880), as follows" Lyr. Add: MARCHING TO QUEBEC (American version, b) We were marching to Quebec, The drums were loudly beating; America has gained the day, The British are retreating. The war is o'er, and they are turned back, Forevermore departed; So open the ring, and take one in, For they are broken-hearted. Oh, you're the one that I love best, I praise you high and dearly; My heart you'll get, my hand I'll give The kiss is most sincerely. (Worcester, Mass.) "This piece of doggerel may be of Revolutionary origin, as it can be traced to near the beginning of the present century" (1800). QUEBEC TOWN We are marching down to Quebec town, Where the drums and fifes are beating; The Americans have gained the day, The British are retreating. The war's all over; we'll turn back To friends, no more to be parted; We'll open our ring, and receive another in, To relieve the broken-hearted. "The manner of playing was as follows: The song was sung by the whole company as it marched around one person, who was blindfolded and seated in a chair placed in the centre of the room. He or she selected a partner by touching one of the ring with a long stick held for the purpose. The game concluded: Put a hat on her head to keep her warm, And a loving, sweet kiss will do her no harm." (North Carolina) Newell, op. cit., No. 176, p. 246. More later. Please post versions with floaters allied to Pretty Little Pink in that thread (34525). W. W. Newell, 1883, "Games and Songs of American Children," no. 59, p. 125 |
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15 Dec 06 - 11:00 PM (#1910736) Subject: RE: Origins: Marching Down to Old Quebec From: Richie Hi Q, SOCIAL LIFE AND SCENES IN THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. (By James Haines.) The author mentions the date 1855 so this version would pre-date this: OLD PLAY AND FORFEIT SONGS. We are marching down towards Old Quebec Where the drums are loudly beating, The Americans have gained the day And the British are retreating. The wars are o'er and we'll turn back No more forever to be parted; We'll open the ring and choose a couple in Because they are true-hearted. |
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16 Dec 06 - 12:00 AM (#1910775) Subject: RE: Origins: Marching Down to Old Quebec From: Q (Frank Staplin) Pound, "The Cambridge History of American Literature," p.505 assigns a War of 1812 origin; Newell, and Fowke (above) say it dates from the Revolutionary War. The game has been collected from a wide area, but these collections are 20th c. "Marching Down to Old Berlin" has been collected in Oklahoma. Fowke et al. provide a musical score with "Marching Down to Old Quebec." A different score (Mass.) also is given by Harriet L. Wedgewood, JAFL, 1912, Vol. 25, No. 97, p. 271, but only the lines We are marching down to Old Quebec While the drums are loudly beating. (repeated) A third tune is given in Brown, North Carolina Folklore, vol. 5, p. 524, no date. There is a variant, "Marching Round the Levee," but it belongs with "Going In and Ot the Window." I will try and find other early records. |
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16 Dec 06 - 02:23 PM (#1911166) Subject: RE: Origins: Marching Down to Old Quebec From: Goose Gander Here's the Ballad Index entry . . . . Marching Down to Old Quebec DESCRIPTION: "We're marching down to (old Quebec/New Orleans), Where the drum is loudly beating, The 'Merican boys have won the day And the (British) are retreating." The soldier describes marching, and his plans to go home/to New Orleans/to visit a girl AUTHOR: unknown EARLIEST DATE: 1903 (Newell) KEYWORDS: playparty soldier war battle floatingverses courting rejection Canada HISTORICAL REFERENCES: 1775-1776: American attack on Canada. The chief battle of the campaign was fought outside Quebec on December 31, 1775 Jan 8, 1815 - Battle of New Orleans. Although a peace had already been signed, word had not yet reached Louisiana, which Pakenham sought to invade. Andrew Jackson's backwoodsmen easily repulse Pakenham FOUND IN: US(NE,MW,So) Canada(Ont) REFERENCES (2 citations): Randolph 519, "We're Marching Down to Old Quebec" (2 texts, 1 tune) Fowke/Mills/Blume, pp. 57-59, "Marching Down to Old Quebec" (1 text, 1 tune) ST R519 (Full) Roud #735 CROSS-REFERENCES: cf. "Little Pink" (floating verses) Notes: The history behind this song is somewhat confusing. Although America in its early years coveted Canada, and sent troops northward during the War of 1812, Americans never successfully attacked Quebec. If the song refers to an actual event, it probably dates to the invasion of Canada by Montgomery and Benedict Arnold in 1775. Montgomery captured Montreal, and rendezvoused with Arnold to attack Quebec, but the assault of December 31, 1775 was repulsed. Montgomery was killed and hundreds of Americans killed, wounded, and captured. As it turned out, both British and Americans sang about the invasion of Canada, with Americans lauding the capture of Montreal (which they obviously did not manage to retain) and the British celebrating the defense of Quebec. This confusion may explain why the song was transferred to New Orleans, which was American property and where Jackson did repel a British army. The Randolph version of this piece has more than a little connection with "Little Pink," and may even be the same song -- but at this point it's hard to tell; I've heard a "Little Pink" variant which goes in a completely different direction. Roud tosses the whole family in with "Coffee Grows." - RBW |
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16 Dec 06 - 02:31 PM (#1911174) Subject: RE: Origins: Marching Down to Old Quebec From: Q (Frank Staplin) Thanks for the the Trad Ballad Index entry. Not good at cut-paste. |
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17 Dec 06 - 01:18 PM (#1911888) Subject: RE: Origins: Marching Down to Old Quebec From: Q (Frank Staplin) Lyr. Add: We're Marching Down to New Orleans We're marching down to New Orleans Where the drums are beatin' lively, The American Boys have gained the day, An' the British soldiers retreating. The war's over and we'll turn back To the place where we first started, We'll open up the ring an' choose a couple in To relieve the broken-hearted. But every time I ride that road It looks so dark an' cloudy, An' every time I see that gal I stop an' tell her howdy! Randolph, Ozark Folksongs, vol. 3, no. 519, pp. 296-297, Version B. Springfield, MO, Miss Rena Smithers. Possibly from War of 1812 or the Civil War; possibly location shifted to one more familiar. |
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17 Dec 06 - 01:49 PM (#1911909) Subject: RE: Origins: Marching Down to Old Quebec From: Q (Frank Staplin) The Civil War song was possibly inspired by "Marching Down to Old Quebec. It is long, so only verses 1, 4 and chorus reproduced here. A song sheet without date, pub. Johnson, Philadelphia; at American Memory. WE'RE MARCHING DOWN TO DIXIE'S LAND Tune- Dixie's Land Good news, good news, from Dixie's Land. From Dixie's land, from Dixie's land; The rebel cause is at a stand, And treason's going down. The rebels sing another song, In Dixie's land, in Dixie's land; They find the first one wrong. And treason going down. We've struck the poison snake a blow. In Dixie's land, in Dixie's land. Secession stock is running low. And treason's going down! Chorus: O, we're marching down to Dixie's land To Dixie's land, to Dixie's land, And our flag shall wave to the Rio Grande. And treason shall go down! 4. John Bull is in a growling mood, For Dixie's land, for Dixie's land, He'd help the rebels if he could, Lest treason should go down, We've whipped him twice, if he'll call again, On sea or land, on sea or land, He'll find us stocked with pluck and men, And treason shall go down; John Bull we'll meet as friend or foe, On sea or land, on sea or land, We love his smiles, we dare his blow, But treason shall go down! http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html Click on Music, then enter title in Search |
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17 Dec 06 - 08:33 PM (#1912242) Subject: Lyr. Add: WE'RE MARCHING ROUND THE LEVEE From: Q (Frank Staplin) Lyr. Add: WE'RE MARCHING ROUND THE LEVEE We're marching round the levee, We're marching round the levee, We're marching round the levee, For we shall gain the day. Go out and in the window, (3x) For we shall gain the day. Go forth and face your lover, (3x) For we shall gain the day. I kneel because I love you, (3x) For we shall gain the day. I measure my love to show you, (3x) For we shall gain the day. I'll take a sweet kiss and leave you, (3x) For we shall gain the day. Probably related to a version of "Marching Down to Old Quebec." Little of the original material remains, typical of these games in which material was added and subtracted at will. Trying to find original versions is difficult. Mrs. L. D. Ames, "The Missouri Play-Party," JAFL, 1911, vol. 24, no. 93, pp. 306-307. |
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18 Dec 06 - 04:21 PM (#1912972) Subject: RE: Origins: Marching Down to Old Quebec From: Q (Frank Staplin) Carl Van Doren, "Some Play-Party Songs from Eastern Illinois," p. 491, collected two verses; 'We're marching down to old Quebec, ...' and 'The wars are all over, and we'll turn back, ...' Sung in Vermillion Co. up to about 1890, collected from Mr. and Mrs. Muncie in 1907. "... there was no special connection ... between the words and the event in the mind of those who sang the song." JAFl, vol. 32, no. 126, 1919. |
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18 Dec 06 - 05:43 PM (#1913051) Subject: RE: Origins: Marching Down to Old Quebec From: Goose Gander We're marching down to old Quebec Where the drums and fifes are a-beating Americans, they have gained the day And the British are retreating The war's all over and we'll turn back Ne'er to be parted We'll open the ring and take a couple in So release the broken-hearted Sing fol dol dol, sing fol dol dol Sing fol dol dol dila G.L. Kittredge, 'Ballads and Rhymes from Kentucky,' Journal of American Folklore, Vol 20, No. 79 (Oct 1907), p.275 |