Songs of WW1

[geraint]

I agree Rob!

I think that the Soldiers favourite changed from year to year, and reflected from which part of Britain they came from. For Welsh soldiers, the favourites would have been hyms,moreoften sung in close harmony in the minor key. Think of Cwm Rhondda sung on a dark wet night march...

Having said that, the OWALW DVD does succeed in putting those songs in context, and as mentioned above still sends tingles down my spine - Chanson du Craonne sung by that French girl, and succeeds in silencing a noisy estaminet.

Then again, that horrible filthy and obscene version of Madamoisele D'Armentiers in full throat sung by a roomful of drunks would be an experience to behold!

[RobL]

Then again, that horrible filthy and obscene version of Madamoisele D'Armentiers in full throat sung by a roomful of drunks would be an experience to behold!

Been there, done that, many a time!

My favourite, however, is this fantastic one by Harry Champion which I know off by heart;

I was weaned on cucumber

And on my wedding day,

Sitting down to supper when

The guests had gone away,

My old darling said to me,

"You must be hungry, Joe!

What is it you fancy?" I

Said, "Fancy! Don't you know?"

Chorus:

"I like pickled onions,

I like piccalilli.

Pickled cabbage is alright

With a bit of cold meat on Sunday night.

I can go termartoes,

But what I do prefer,

Is a little bit of cu-cum-cu-cum-cu-cum,

Little bit of cucumber."

I went flying in the air

With my old college chum.

Suddenly he said to me,

"We're bound for kingdom come!

Is there anything on your mind

Before you wear a crown?"

I began to shake and said,

"Write this confession down:

Chorus

To the Lord Mayor's Banquet I

Got in one foggy day.

When I saw the grub it took

My appetite away:

"Sparrowgrass" and chaffinches,

And pigs-head stuffed with jam!

I said to the waiter there,

"You don't know who I am!"

Chorus

Sev'ral years of married life

Have brought me lots of joys.

I don't know how many girls,

I think it's fourteen boys.

When the last one came to town

It nearly turned my head.

It was marked with a cucumber,

And the fust words that it said,

Although part of the chorus is supposed to go 'Is a little bit of cu-cum-cu-cum-cu-cum', at least one recording i've heard goes 'a little bit of I cum, you cum, cu-cum', and 'bit of cold meat' is sometimes 'bubble and squeak'

[horrocks]

We're here bacause we're here because we're here.....

[Rob Bulloch]

<i>'I wore a tunic, a dirty khaki tunic

and you wore your civvy clothes

We fought and bled at Loos

While you were on the booze

(The booze that no one here knows)

You were out with the wenches

while we were in the trenches,

facing an agry foe

Oh we were attackin'

(while you were a-slackin')

The Germans on the Menin Road'</i>

I Remember someone in our family singing that little ditty to the tune of "When You Wore A Tulip".

Aye Rob.

Ps Your all singing it! I know you are!....

[centurion]

On 13/12/2006 at 06:25, CROONAERT said:

<!--quoteo(post=94214:date=Apr 9 2004, 12:52 PM:name=m13pgb)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (m13pgb @ Apr 9 2004, 12:52 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=94214"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Here`s a further question to test your knowledge! An uncle of mine claimed that, in the desert in WW2, the Germans and British could be heard simultaneously singing Lilli Marlene. Did the Germans adopt any British songs in WW1 or vice versa? Phil B<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Don't know about WW1 , Phil, but "Tipperary" was certainly adopted (and usually in English, too!) by the Heer and Kriegsmarine in WW2.

Lili Marlene (my all time favourite) must have so many different versions that it's untrue! A favourite version was always the "D-Day Dodgers" version...

"We're the D-day dodgers, out in Italy,

Always drinking Vino,always on a spree.

8th Army skivers with the Yanks

we live in Rome and Laugh at tanks,

we;re the D-Day dodgers

in sunny Italy.

looking 'round the mountains in the mud and rain

lots of little crosses, some which bare no name.

Blood sweat and tears and toil are gone,

the boys beneath them slumber on...

they're the D-day dodgers...

who'll <b>stay</b> in Italy...etc. etc..."

Always makes me think of my "D-day Dodging" grandad who came back home, and my "D-day dodging" Gt.Uncle who still resides near Anzio (must have likesd the sun and wine - good views from his cemetery too!

dave

Which had a last verse

Dear Lady Astor you think you know a lost

Standing on a platform and talking Tommy Rot

You Englands sweet heart and her pride

We think your mouths too bleeding wide

Thats from your D Day dodgers in sunny Italy

(it was Lady Astor who referred to the troops in Italy as the D Day dodgers. The actual word may not have been bleeding but its how I heard Harry Seacombe sing it)

I believe there was also a 1st verse that went

We landed at Salerno a holiday with pay

The Jerrys got the band out to see 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

[centurion]

One that sticks in my head

We never eat cookies

‘Cause cookies have yeast,

And one little bite makes a man like a beast.

O can you imagine a sorrier sight

Than a man who gets drunk on just one little bite.

Away, away with the rum, by gum,

With the rum, by gum, save a bum, by gum.

Away, away with the rum, by gum,

Thats the song of the Salvation Army.

We never eat fruitcake

‘Cause fruitcake has rum,

And one little drop turns a man to a bum

O say can you see a sadder disgrace

Than a man in the gutter with crumbs on his face

Away, away with the rum, by gum,

With the rum, by gum, save a bum, by gum.

Away, away with the rum, by gum,

Thats the song of the Salvation Army.

[francon]

I have a book of first world war songs , written by MAX ARTHUR called ''WHEN THIS BLOODY WAR IS OVER '' there are actually 129 songs covering just about every aspect of W.W.1.

the last song was post war written in 1921 .and aptly called '' STONY-BROKE IN NO-MANS-LAND '' heres the chorus to the song ..

I can't get the old job , can't get the new ..

can't carry on as i used to do

I look around me and daily I see

thousands and thousands of fellows a lot worse off than me ..

in piccadilly friends pass me by

i'm stranded in the strand

but i confess, i was contented more or less

when i was stoney -broke in no-mans -land ..

theres actually one called '' THE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS LAMENT ''.. '' BUT FOR GAWD'S SAKE DONT SEND ME ''

[centurion]

theres actually one called '' THE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS LAMENT ''.. '' BUT FOR GAWD'S SAKE DONT SEND ME ''

That's the last line

Send for me brother

Me sister and me mother

But for Gawds sake don't send me

A parody of 'Send for the boys of the old brigade' and certainly not sung by COs or particularly about them (its really about non concientious objectors) . Its of the same genre as

I don't want to join the army

I don't want to go to war

I don't want me b*****ks shot away

I'd rather hang around

Picadilly underground

Living off the earnings of a high class lady

There are variations

[IanA]

The acid test, when dealing with variations, is: "Does it fit the tune?" In this case, it is a parody of "I'll make a man of you" and the following fits a little better -

I don't want to be a soldier,

I don't want to go to war,

I'd rather stay at home

Around the streets to roam

And live off the earnings of a lady typist.

I don't want a bay'nit in me belly,

Don't want me bo!!ocks shot away.

I'd rather stay in England,

In merry, merry England,

And fornicate me bleedin' life away.

[francon]

That's the last line

Send for me brother

Me sister and me mother

But for Gawds sake don't send me

A parody of 'Send for the boys of the old brigade' and certainly not sung by COs or particularly about them (its really about non concientious objectors) . Its of the same genre as

I don't want to join the army

I don't want to go to war

I don't want me b*****ks shot away

I'd rather hang around

Picadilly underground

Living off the earnings of a high class lady

There are variations

it was written originally as ''THE CONCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS LAMENT '' by GITZ RICE in 1917 .., and performed as a comic song by ALFRED LESTER .. in a music hall review called '' ROUND THE MAP ''

it was intended to ridicule C.Os ,but the chorus was soon being sung with gusto , and sometimes with heartfelt sincerity - by soldiers on active service ...

[centurion]

it was written originally as ''THE CONCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS LAMENT '' by GITZ RICE in 1917 .., and performed as a comic song by ALFRED LESTER .. in a music hall review called '' ROUND THE MAP ''

it was intended to ridicule C.Os ,but the chorus was soon being sung with gusto , and sometimes with heartfelt sincerity - by soldiers on active service ...

Nevertheless it was a parody of an existing song. Lt Gitz Rice was a serving officer. In 1918 he wrote many of the songs for "Getting Together" which played Broadway successfully (and also performed in it). The touring tank Britannia turned up for the premier and was represented on stage by a realistic dummy with a scrolling background. The show also played in Boston and Albany. One wonders if there is any family connection with Tim Rice.

[centurion]

It would appear that Lt Rice was a successful and prolific song writer. However the song under consideration doesn't seem to appear in the lists I've seen. He did write the one that starts - 'I want to go home, I want to go home, the "Whizz-bangs" and shrapnel around me do roar' and has the line 'take me over the sea where the Allyman can't get at me' written during 1st Ypres. He appears to have been quite a character playing a piano in the front line for a Christmas carol service in which the Germans joined in.

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028011/f1/nlc004463-v6.jpg

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10815FE3C5A11738DDDAF0994DE405B888DF1D3

[CarylW]

What are the rest of the lyrics to the song "Around her limb she wore a purple ribbon"?. It's in a book I'm reading An Ambulance driver in France

The chorus was:

"Far away, far away, she wore it for her lover who was far away..."

Caryl

[centurion]

What are the rest of the lyrics to the song "Around her limb she wore a purple ribbon"?. It's in a book I'm reading An Ambulance driver in France

The chorus was:

"Far away, far away, she wore it for her lover who was far away..."

Caryl

Originally a yellow ribbon

'Round her neck she wears a yeller ribbon,

She wears it in winter and the summer so they say,

If you ask her "Why the decoration?"

She'll say "It's fur my lover who is fur, fur away.

Originally copywrited in 1917 but goes back so they say to the English Civil war. Associated with the US 7th Cavalry (and later through the 1949 film with John Wayne)

[francon]

It would appear that Lt Rice was a successful and prolific song writer. However the song under consideration doesn't seem to appear in the lists I've seen. He did write the one that starts - 'I want to go home, I want to go home, the "Whizz-bangs" and shrapnel around me do roar' and has the line 'take me over the sea where the Allyman can't get at me' written during 1st Ypres. He appears to have been quite a character playing a piano in the front line for a Christmas carol service in which the Germans joined in.

http://www.collectio...lc004463-v6.jpg

http://query.nytimes...4DE405B888DF1D3

well maybe the author of the book '' WHEN THIS BLOODY WAR IS OVER '' MAX ARTHUR did more research than you have done .. there are four verses to the song by GITZ RICE . '' BUT FOR GAWDS SAKE DONT SEND ME ''

I will give the first verse ..

perhaps you wonder who i am .

I will explain to you ..

my conscience is the only thing

that helps to pull me through

objection is a thing that I

have studied thoroughly..

I dont object to fighting the huns

but should hate them fighting me ..

if necessary I can give all the song and chorus ...

[RobL]

Think i've asked this before on the forum, but in the superb RFC series 'Wings', there's a scene where several main characters are in the pub, as well as a lot of other trainee RFC pilots, and they're singing a song which ends with 'I'll have my Angel Wings' or thereabouts, it has the same tune as the Wings themetune itself - is this a made up song for the series or a period song?

You can hear the tune here;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFGXuOZDE14

[CarylW]

Originally a yellow ribbon

'Round her neck she wears a yeller ribbon,

She wears it in winter and the summer so they say,

If you ask her "Why the decoration?"

She'll say "It's fur my lover who is fur, fur away.

Originally copywrited in 1917 but goes back so they say to the English Civil war. Associated with the US 7th Cavalry (and later through the 1949 film with John Wayne)

Thanks, wonder why they changed it to purple. Possibly a popular American song at the time? Author of the book was an American 'over there' as a volunteer and this was before the US entered the war officially. It was one of his countryman and fellow volunteers originally singing the song but he later heard a quartette singing it and speculated that French inhabitants might wake up and just think it was Americans

Caryl

[centurion]

Thanks, wonder why they changed it to purple. Possibly a popular American song at the time? Author of the book was an American 'over there' as a volunteer and this was before the US entered the war officially. It was one of his countryman and fellow volunteers originally singing the song but he later heard a quartette singing it and speculated that French inhabitants might wake up and just think it was Americans

Caryl

Possibly if by the time he wrote the book the song had recently been copyrighted he was simply taking no risk. It seems the song first started in the ranks of the Parliamentry forces in the ECW when uniforms were not uniform and yellow ribbon was used to distinguish them from the Royalists, (they weren't all strict puritans). At some stage the song crossed the Atlantic and according to legend (I can put it no stronger than that) emerged amongst the Confederate forces and was later carried to the US Cavalry by former Confederate soldiers in the 1870s. Some chancer noted that it had never been copyrighted and did so in 1917. By this time troops on the Western Front had added many verses (some ribald) of their own.

[centurion]

I have an answer. The singer would have been from Williams College (founded 1793) Williamstown, Massachusetts. He was singing a college song not a soldiers song

Around her knee, she wore a purple garter;

She wore it in the Springtime, and in the month of May,

And if you asked her why the Hell she wore it,

She wore it for her Williams man who's far, far away.

Obviously based on She wore a yellow ribbon. Had he been from Harvard he would have sung

Around her knee, she wore a crimson garter;

She wore it in the Springtime, and in the month of May,

And if you asked her why the Hell she wore it,

She wore it for her Harvard man who's far, far away.

[centurion]

Further to my last post another verse went

Behind the door her father keeps a shotgun

He keeps it in the Springtime, and in the month of May,

And if you ask him why the Hell he keeps it,

He keeps it for her Williams man who's far, far away.

[CarylW]

Thanks for tracking that down. Interesting that each college had their own variation

Caryl.

[Schuler]

The Ruhleben song English and German version and sang by English and German prisoners alike:

THE RUHLEBEN SONG

FIRST VERSE

Oh we're roused up in the morning, when the day is gently dawning,

And we're put to bed before the night's begun,

And for many months on end, we have never seen a friend,

And we've lost the job our energy had won.

Yes, we've waited in the frost, for a parcel that got lost,

Or a letter that the postman never brings,

And it isn't beer and skittles, doing work on scanty victuals,

Yet every man can still get up and sing.

CHORUS

So line up boys and sing this chorus, shout this chorus all you can.

We want the people there, to hear in Leicester Square,

That we're the boys that never get downhearted.

Back, back, back again in England, then we'll fill the flowing cup,

And tell them clear and loud, of that Ruhleben crowd,

That always kept their pecker up.

SECOND VERSE

Oh, we send our love and kisses, to our sweetheart or our missus,

And we say the life we lead is grand.

And we stroll around the tea-'us, where the girls can sometimes see us,

And we say it's just as good as down the Strand.

Yet there sometimes comes a minute, whene we see there's nothing to it,

And the tale that we've been telling isn't true,

Down our spine there comes a-stealing, just a little homesick feeling,

Then I'll tell you boys the best thing you can do...

CHORUS

So line up boys and sing this chorus, shout this chorus all you can.

We want the people there, to hear in Leicester Square,

That we're the boys that never get downhearted.

Back, back, back again in England, then we'll fill the flowing cup,

And tell them clear and loud, of that Ruhleben crowd,

That always kept their pecker up.

DIE RUHLEBENER LORELEI

Ich weiβ nicht was soll es bedeuten,

Daβ ich so traurig bin

Ich sitze ja hier in Ruhleben

Und werde bedenklich dunn.

Die Suppe—die sollte mehr kräftig

Und nicht halb Wasser zein

Auch Kaffee und Tee sind so wassrig

Das ist meine gröβte Pein.

Meine Frau nun zuhause sitzet

Wie wir, voll Sorg’ und Qual

Der Mann in Ruhleben schwitzet

Blos nicht von der Heizung im Stall

An der Zahl sind’s viertausand zweihundert

Alt, jung, karank, blind und lahm.

Über “Rumors” sich allee verwundert –

Wahrheit ist keine daran.

Um sieb’n, zwölf, fünf marschiert man

Durch Sumpf, Morast und Dreck.

Aus dem großen Kessel bekommt dann

Seine Brüh’ und geht wieder weg.

Man wäscht sich morgens im Gange

Die Reichen, die Schwarzen und wir

Es ist daher nichts mit dem Range

Es gibt keinen Unterschied hier.

Nun sitzen wir Arme gefangen,

Hier in dem Sandloche fest

Und allein zwei Karten gelangen

Allwöchentlich aus diesem Nest.

Unser Blatt – “Die B. Z. Zam Mittage” –

Das ist alt Weibergeschwätz

Sie schreibt von der glänzenden Luge

Und führt gegen uns ein Gehetz.

Auf Strohsäcken wir uns ja betten

Da Federn (und Tinte) sind rar

Wir von unserem Gelde arhalten

Nur 10 M die Woche in bar

Man kaufet auch an der Kantine

Alles – nur nicht was man will

Und dann noch die schöne Latrine!!!

Der Anblick – wie traulich und still!!!

[centurion]

Thanks for tracking that down. Interesting that each college had their own variation

Caryl.

Reflects the sporting rivalry of the top US universities of the time and their team clours - Yale Blue, Harvard Crimson, Princeton Orange etc. Williams a wannabe Ivy League (never quite made it) was Purple

[Lachlan]

According to my now-departed Dad, his Dad (aka my Granddad) in the 51st Highland Division, used to sing his battalion song amongst many others:-

"Oh why did I join the 6th Black Watch ?

Oh why did I join the Army ?

Oh why did I join the 6th Black Watch ?

I must have been bloody barmy !"

Also, my Great Uncle David (8th BW, 9th Scottish Div, kia Arras May 1917) wrote home on one occasion that the Germans in the trench near his sap often used to whistle tunes "Scotch ones at that". Interesting, very interesting !

[geraint]

These songs were very influential in those pre-radio and TV days. Mother vamping the old favourites on the piano was the definitive entertainment in thousands of houses. Even humbler homes possessed pianos. Sheet-music publishers like Novello, Chestermusic and Chappel & Boosey made the songs both cheap and easily available.

The resurgence of the Tonic Sol-Fa also made it easier for people to both sing and appreciate the latest hits. The early 78s and mass produced gramaphones also enabled the middle classes to partake on a wide scale.

I still have the musicsheets passed down from both parental sides; and are all wellthumbed and worn. My mother now in her mid 80s, started hammering them out on the family ivories eighty years ago. And Keep The Homefires Burning was THE one that she recalls people singing with most gusto back in the 1920s and thirties.