Folk Song Lyrics

[[GG] Tuncarl]

Thought some of you may be interested in some folk song lyrics, mainly from and relating to the Napoleonic era. Not everyones cup of tea, but I like folk music and even my wedding (next March) is even going to be heavily Celtic/medieval themed.
Here's the first.



The Bonnie Lighthorseman


Ye maids, wives, and widows, I pray give attention,
Unto this sad tale I rehearse unto thee,
A maid in distress who will now be a rover,
She relies upon George for the loss of her love.
Broken-hearted I'll wander, for the loss of my lover,
My bonny lighthorseman, in the wars he was slain.

Three years and six months since he left England's shore,
My bonny lighthorseman, will I ne'er see him more?
He's mounted on horseback, so gallant and gay
And among the whole regiment respected was he.
Broken-hearted I'll wander, for the loss of my lover,
My bonny lighthorseman, in the wars he was slain.

When Boney commanded his armies to stand,
He levelled his cannon right over the land,
He levelled his cannons his victory to gain
And he slew my lighthorseman on the way coming hame.
Broken-hearted I'll wander, for the loss of my lover,
My bonny lighthorseman, in the wars he was slain.

The dove she laments for her mate as she flies,
'Oh where, tell me where is my darling?' she cries,
'And where in this world is there one to compare
With my bonny lighthorseman who was slain in the war?'
Broken-hearted I'll wander, for the loss of my lover,
My bonny lighthorseman, in the wars he was slain.

[[GG] Tuncarl]

Ok, we gotta have this one



The British Grenadiers


Some talk of Alexander, and some of Hercules,
Of Hector and Lysander, and some of Meltiades.
But of all the world's brave heros, there's none that can compare
With a tow row row row row
To the British grenadiers


Now none of these ancient heros ever saw a cannon ball
Or knew the force of powder to slay their foes withal,
But our brave boys do now them and banish all their fears
With a tow row row row row
To the British grenadiers

Whenever we are commanded to storm the palisades
Our leaders march with fusils and we with hand grenades
We hurl them from the glacis, about our enemies' ears
With a tow row row row row
To the British grenadiers

The God of War was pleased and great Bellona smiles
To see these noble heroes of our British Isles
And all the Gods celestial, descending from their spheres,
Beheld with adoration
The British grenadiers

Now let us crown a bumper and drink a health to those,
Who carry caps and pouches and wear the loup'ed
clothes
May they and their commanders live happy all their years
With a tow row row row row
To the British grenadiers

[[GG] Tuncarl]

This one seems to be the original of the song made famous by the "Sharpe" series.
I have also seen it as O'er the hills instead of "over" and of course the later version which they used during King George's reign.



When over the hills and far away.


Hark! Now the drums beat up again,
For all true soldier gentlemen,
Then let us 'list and march I say,
Over the hills and far away.

Chorus
Over the hills and o'er the main.
To Flanders, Portugal, and Spain,
Queen Anne commands and we'll obey.
Over the hills and far away.

All gentlemen that have a mind,
To serve the Queen that's good and kind,
Come 'list and enter into pay,
Then over the hills and far away.

Chorus

Here's forty shillings on the drum,
For those that volunteers do come,
With shirts, and clothes, and present pay,
Then o'er the hills and far away.

Chorus

No more from sound of drums retreat,
While Marlborough and Galway beat,
The French and Spaniards every day,
When o'er the hills and far away.

Chorus

The 'prentice Tom he may refuse,
To wipe his angry master's shoes,
For then he's free to sing and play,
Over the hills and far away.

Chorus

Come on then boys, and you shall see,
We every one shall captains be!
To sleeper and rant as well as they,
Over the Hills and Far Away


Chorus

We then shall lead more happy lives,
By getting rid of brats and wives,
That scold on both the night and day,
When over the hills and far away.

Chorus

[[GG]Salis De Silver]

Here's one for Nelson

Bold Nelson's Praise

Bold Nelson's praise I am going to sing,
(Not forgetting our glorious King)
He always did good tidings bring,
For he was a bold commander.
There was Sydney Smith and Duncan too,
Lord Howe and all the glorious crew;
They were the men that were true blue.
Full of care, yet I swear
None with Nelson could compare,
Not even Alexander.

Bold Buonaparte he threaten'd war,
A man who fear'd not wound nor scar,
But still he lost at Trafalgar
Where Britain was victorious.
Lord Nelson's actions made him quake,
And all French pow'rs he made to shake;
He said his king he'd ne'er forsake.
These last words thus he spake,
Stand true, my lads, like hearts of oak,
And the battle shall be glorious.

Lord Nelson bold, though threaten'd wide,
And many a time he had been tried,
He fought like a hero till he died
Amid the battle gory.
But the day was won, their line was broke,
While all around was lost in smoke,
And Nelson he got his death-stroke,
That's the man for old England!
He faced his foe with his sword in hand
And he lived and he died in his glory.

[Mickelov]

Russian songs:

You fell victim-

Vyi jertvoiyoi pali v bor'be rokovoy
Lyubvi bezzavetnoy k narodu
Vyi otdali vsyo, tchto moghli, za nego.
Za zhizn', ego tchest' i svobodu


Poroy iznyivali vyi v tyur'mah syiryih,
Svoy sud besposhtchadnyi otvagui
Sud'yi - palatchi uzh davno izrekli.
I shli vyi, gremya kandalami


Nagrelisya tsepi ot znoynyih lutchey
I v telo vpilisya zmeyami
I kaplet na zemlyu goryatchaya krov'
Iz ran, rastravlennyih tsepyami


No tyi moltchalivo okovyi nesyosh',
Za delo lyubvi tyi stradaesh'
Za to, tchto ne mog ravnodushno smotret',
Kak brat v nishtchete poguibaet


A despot piruyet v roskoshnom dvortse,
Trevogu vinom zalivaya
No groznyie bukvyi davno na stene
Tchertit uzh ruka rokovaya


Padet proyizvol i vosstanet narod -
Velikiy, mogutchiy, svobodnyiy
Proshtchayte zhe, brat'ya, myi tchestno proshli
Svoy Doblestnyiy put' blagorodnyiy.




In English


1) You fell victims in the deadly struggle
Of unselfish love towards your people
You gave whatever you had for it
For life, for honor, for freedom.

2) You sometimes crouch in moist jails
Judges and executioners had passed judgement
On your boldness
And grudgingly you went with fetters on your feet.

3) You trudge exhausted and your fetters are clinking (making noise)
(With your)hands and feet folded
Quietly but sadly casting your eyes
Forward on the deserted road.

4) The chains are hot with glowing (searing) rays
They have clasped your flesh like snakes
And your warm blood is oozing on the ground.

5) But you silently bear your fetters
You suffer for the cause of love
Because you cannot bear seeing unmoved (indifferent)
Your brother dying in wretchedness.

6) In your soul you keep the holy faith
The truth is stronger than a sledgehammer
(a " huge blacksmith's hammer")
The time will come and this blood will be appreciated (esteemed)
That you are shedding for your brother

7) And the tyrant is feasting in luxurious palaces
Drowning his anguish in wine
But the deadly (fatal) hand is drawing
Threatening letters on the wall.

8) Tyranny shall fall and the people will rebel
The great powerful and free people
Farewell our brothers! You have walked with honor
Your road of worthiness and righteousness (nobility)

9) The rank of young (fresh) soldiers is following your footsteps
Ready to die and to accomplish high deeds
Farewell our brothers ! You have walked with honor
Your road of worthiness and righteousness.

[Mickelov]

Dubinushka- Little Club

Mnogo pesen slyhal ya v rodnoj storone,
V nih o gore i radosti peli,
No iz vsex lish' odna v pamyat' vrezalas' mne -
E`to pesnya rabochej arteli:

Ex, dubinushka, uhnem!
Ex, zelyonaya, sama pojdyot, sama poydot!
Podyornem, podyornem,
Da uhnem!

Anglichanin, xitrec, chtob rabote pomoch',
Izobryol za mashinoj mashinu.
A rossijskij muzhik, kol' rabotat' nevmoch',
Tak zatyanet rodnuyu "Dubinu".

Ex, dubinushka, uhnem!
Ex, zelyonaya, sama pojdyot, sama poydot!
Podyornem, podyornem,
Da uhnem!

No nastanet pora, i prosnyotsya narod,
Razognyot on moguchuyu spinu.
I na bar, na boyar i na prochix gospod
On podnimet rodnuyu dubinu!

Ex, dubinushka, uhnem!
Ex, zelyonaya, sama pojdyot, sama poydot!
Podyornem, podyornem,
Da uhnem!


English-

I have heard many songs all around the land
They have told me of blithe and of woe.
But my memory holds just one song of them all:
That's the song of the body of workers.

Hey, Dubina, the green one!
Hey, you, help us do the labor hard, the labor hard!
We pull it, and pull it,
And move it!!

Canny Englishmen did tons of gadgets invent
As to do all the labors routinely.
Russian men strive with hands till they're tired to death
Then they sing their hearts with "Dubina"!

Hey, Dubina, the green one!
Hey, you, help us do the labor hard, the labor hard!
We pull it, and pull it,
And move it!!

Oh, new times, come to us! When the workers wake up,
When they straighten the backs from the labor!
When they crush all who suck their strength, their blood,
Crush with their beloved Dubina!

Hey, Dubina, the green one!
Hey, you, help us do the labor hard, the labor hard!
We pull it, and pull it,
And move it!!

[Mickelov]

Russian songs: 1800-1920
Little Club
Dubinushka
Over Hills and Mountians/ Partizan Song
Pa-dolinam-i-pa-vsgorjam
Navel song of the Tzar and CCCP
Pa-morjam-pa-volnam
Workers March/ Artilery Song
Rabotshaja-Marcelesa
Bravely Comrades to Arms!
Smelo-tovaritshi-v-nogu
You Fell Vitctim
Vy-shertvoju-pali

Scottish and Irish songs:

The Minstral Boy

The Highlanders Farewell

The Sky Boat Song

Ye Jacobites By Name...

Up and Waur them a' Willie

Johnny Cope

Scotland the Brave