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God Save the King
The national anthem of Great Britain is "God Save the King."
The tune should be
well known to Americans as "My Country 'Tis Of Thee."
God save our gracious King,
Long live our noble King,
God save the King!
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God Save the King.
O Lord and God arise,
Scatter his enemies,
And make them fall.
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix
God Save the King.
Thy choicest gifts in store
On him be pleased to pour
Long may he reign!
May he defend our laws
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the King.
The Lass of Richmond Hills
The poem "Lass of Richmond Hills" by James Hood
celebrates a young lady who lived in Richmond, Yorkshire,
who became the wife of the poet Leonard McNally. It
became the regimental song of the Green Howards in 1789.
On Richmond Hill there lives a lass
More bright than May- day morn,
Whose charms all others maids' surpass,
A rose without a thorn.
Chorus: This lass so neat,
With smiles so sweet,
Has won my right good will.
I'd crowns resign
To call thee mine,
Sweet lass of Richmond Hill!
Sweet lass of Richmond Hill,
Sweet lass of Richmond Hill,
I'd crowns resign
To call thee mine,
Sweet lass of Richmond Hill!
Ye zephyrs gay that fan the air,
And wonton through the grove,
O whisper to my charming fair,
I die for her I love.
Chorus
How happy will the shepherd be
Who calls this nymph his own!
O may her choice be fix'd on me!
Mine's fix'd on her alone.
Chorus
White Cliffs of Dover
Although in Britain “( There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White
Cliffs Of Dover” was most associated with Vera Lynn, in the
US Kay Kyser and His Orchestra (vocal by Harry Babbitt)
took it to a peak Billboard position of #1 in 1941- 42. Four
other competing versions also made the Top 20: Glenn Miller
(# 6); Kate Smith (# 9); Sammy Kaye (# 11); and Jimmy
Dorsey (# 15).
There'll be blue birds over the white cliffs of Dover,
Someday, just you wait and see
There'll be blue birds over the white cliffs of Dover,
Someday, when the world is free.
The shepherd will tend his sheep
And the meadow will bloom again,
And Jimmy will go to sleep
In his own little room again
There'll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover,
Someday, when the world is free.
There will be joy and laughter and love ever after,
Someday, just you wait and see
There'll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover,
Someday, when the world is free.
Over the Hills and Far
Away
This was a song from the Napoleonic Wars, but has been
popular whenever Tommy went over the hills and far away.
Some of you may remember the tune from the “Sharpe’s”
series shown in the US on PBS.
Here's fourteen shillings on the drum
For those who'll volunteer to come
To list and fight the foe today
Over the hills and far away.
Chorus: O'er the hills and o'er the main
To (through) Flanders, Portugal and Spain
King George commands and we obey
Over the hills and far away.
2. Through smoke and fire and shot and shell
Unto the very walls of hell
We shall stand and we shall stay
Over the hills and far away.
Chorus:
3. Now though I travel far from Spain
A part of me shall still remain
For you are with me night and day
And over the hills and far away.
Chorus:
4. So fall in lads behind the drum
With Colours blazing like the sun
Along the road to come-what-may
Over the hills and far away.
Chorus:
5. When evil stalks upon the land
I'll nyther hold nor stay me' hand
But fight to win a better day
Over the hills and far away.
Chorus:
6. If I should fall to rise no more
As many comrades did before
Ask the pipes and drums to play
Over the hills and far away.
Chorus:
7. Let Kings and tyrants come and go
I'll stand ajudged by what I know
A soldier's life I'll ne'er gainsay
Over the hills and far away.
Chorus:
Lili Marlene
Lili Marlene was based on a poem written by German soldier
Hans Leip during World War I (in 1915), and published in
1937. Norbert Schultze set the poem to music in 1938 and it
was recorded just before the war. It became a favorite of both
German troops when it was broadcast to the Afrika Korps in
1941. The immense popularity of the German version led to
a hurried English version done by Tommie Connor and
broadcast by the BBC for the Allied troops. Eventually, both
sides began broadcasting the song in both versions,
interspersed with propaganda nuggets. The German singer
was Lale Andersen, an anti-Nazi. But the most celebrated
singer was another anti-Nazi German, Marlene Dietrich,
began to sing it in 1943. The English version of the song
embellishes an already sentimental German original.
German Version
Vor der Kaserme vor dem großen Tor
stand eine Lanterne
und steht sie nach davor
so wollen wir da uns wieder sehen
bei der Lanterne wollen wir stehen
wie einst Lili Marlen
Unsere beide Schatten sahen wir einer aus
daß wir so lieb uns hatten
daß gleich man daraus
und alle Leute sollen es sehen
wie einst Lili Marlen
Schon rief der Posten,
sie blasen zapfenstreich
es kann drei Tage kosten
Kamrad, ich komm so gleich
da sagten wir auf wiedersehen
wie gerne wollt ich mit dir gehen
mit dir Lili Marlen
Deine Schritte kennt sie, deine Zierengang
alle abend brennt sie,
doch mich vergaß sie lang
und sollten mir ein leids geschehen
wer wird bei der Lanterne stehen
mit dir Lili Marlen?
Aus dem Stillen raume, aus der erder Grund
heßt mich wie un Traüme
dein verliebster Mund
wenn sich die Spaten nebel drehn
werd'ich bei der Lanterne stehen
wie einst Lili Marlen
English Version
There were several versions and translations of this song,
many tailored to the particular theatre of the war. This is one
of the more common translations, and one of the least
profane, as well.
Underneath the lantern by the barrack gate,
Darling I remember the way you used to wait,
'Twas there that you whispered tenderly,
That you loved me,
You'd always be,
My Lili of the lamplight,
My own Lili Marlene.
Time would come for roll call, time for us to part,
Darling I'd caress you and press you to my heart,
And there 'neath that far off lantern light,
I'd hold you tight,
We'd kiss “good- night,”
My Lili of the lamplight,
My own Lili Marlene.
Orders came for sailing somewhere over there,
All confined to barracks was more than I could bear;
I knew you were waiting in the street,
I heard your feet,
But could not meet,
My Lili of the lamplight,
My own Lili Marlene.
Resting in a billet just behind the line,
Even tho’ we’re parted your lips are close to mine;
You wait where that lantern softly gleams,
Your sweet face seems
To haunt my dreams,
My Lili of the lamplight,
My own Lili Marlene.
Marlene Dietrich sang another variation on the lyrics:
When we are marching in the mud and cold,
And when my pack seems more than I can hold,
My love for you renews my might,
I'm warm again, My pack is light,
It's you Lili Marlene, It's you Lili Marlene...
The D-Day Dodgers
Sung to the tune of “Lili Marlene.” This song was written by
some soldiers of the 8th Army in retaliation to Lady Astor for
her insulting comments regarding them being “D-Day
Dodgers,” and avoiding the “real fighting” at Normandy by
“taking it easy” in Italy. They had fought their way from
Africa to Sicily and up into Italy without relief and the
resulting discontent is evident in the sarcasm of the following
song.
We're the D-Day Dodgers, way off in Italy
Always on the vino, always on the spree;
Eighth Army scroungers and their tanks,
We live in Rome, among the Yanks.
We are the D-Day Dodgers, way out in Italy;(2X)
We landed in Salerno, a holiday with pay,
The Jerries brought the bands out to greet us on the 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.
Naples and Casino were taken in our stride,
We didn't go to fight there, we went just for the ride.
Anzio and Sangro were just names,
We only went to look for dames
The artful D-Day Dodgers, way out in Italy.
Dear Lady Astor, you think you're mighty hot,
Standing on the platform, talking tommyrot.
You're England's sweetheart and her pride
We think your mouth's too bleeding wide.
We are the D-Day Dodgers, in sunny Italy.
Look around the mountains, in the mud and rain,
You'll find the scattered crosses, some that have no name.
Heartbreak and toil and suffering gone,
The boys beneath them slumber on.
They are the D-Day Dodgers who stay in Italy.
No More Soldiering For
Me
(Sung to the tune of “What a Friend We Have in Jesus)”
When this bleeding war is over;
Oh! How happy I shall be.
When I get my civvy clothes on,
No more soldiering for me.
No more church parades on Sundays,
No more asking for a pass.
We can tell the Sergeant Major
To stick his passes up his arse!
Sod 'Em All
(To the tune of “Bless 'Em All”)
Sod 'em all, sod 'em all,
The long and the short and the tall,
Sod all the sergeants and WO ones,
Sod all the corporals and their bastard sons,
For we're saying goodbye to them all,
As back to their billets they crawl,
You'll get no promotion
This side of the ocean,
So cheer up, my lads, sod 'em all.
Deutscher, Deutscher
(Sung to the tune of the German National Anthem)
Deutscher, Deutscher, uber alles,
In the Sands outside Tobruk,
Saw a Jerry acting wary,
Thought I'd go and take a look.
He was sitting, pants down shitting,
Down a little shady pass,
Put a trifle up my rifle,
Aimed, and shot him up the arse.
Kiss Me Goodnight
Sergeant Major
Kiss me goodnight Sergeant- Major
Tuck me in my little wooden bed
We all love you Sergeant- Major
Even when your neck grows rather red
Don't forget to wake me in the morning
And bring me up a nice hot cup of tea
Kiss me goodnight Sergeant- Major
Sergeant- Major be a mother to me
Hitler Has Only Got
One Ball
(sung to the tune of “Colonel Bogey”)
Hitler
Has only got one ball,
Goering
Has two, but very small
Himmler
Has something similar,
But poor old Goebbels
Has no balls
At all!
Der Fuehrer's Face
Written by Oliver Wallace, performed by Spike Jones and
His City Slickers, recorded July 28, 1942. This song was
written before the true horrors of the Nazi reign of terror
were made clear to the American public. The melody is a
parody of the “Horst Wessell Lied,” a Nazi anthem. The
American parody was used in the animated cartoon Donald
Duck in Nutzi Land , which won Walt Disney a special
Academy Award.
Ven der Fuehrer says, “Ve iss der Master Race!”
Ve Heil! heil! right in der Fuehrer's face.
Not to love der Fuehrer iss a great disgrace,
So ve heil! heil! right in der Fuehrer's face.
Ven Herr Goebbels says, “Ve own der Vorldt und space!”
Ve Heil! heil! right in Herr Goebbel's face.
Ven Herr Goering says, “Dey nefer bomb dis place!”
Ve heil! heil! right in Herr Goering's face.
Are ve not der Super Men, Aryan-pure Super Men?
“Ja! Ve iss der Super Men, Super-dooper-super men.”
Iss der Nazi land so goot—-vould you leave it iff you could?
“Ja! Dis Nazi land iss goot--ve vould leave it iff ve could.”
Ve bring der vorldt New Order
Heil Hitler's vorldt New Order!
Ef'ry one off foreign race
Ve love der Fuehrer's face,
Ven ve bring to der vorldt dis(-) order.
Home On The Range
This may be thought to be a rather American tune to be
included in a page of songs for British soldiers, but there is a
story behind this one. A British soldier told his wife that
when he came back from being deployed in France with the
BEF, she would know he was home, because he would sing
their song, “Home On The Range.” That way, she’d know it
was him. However, it turned out that they shared “their song”
with quite a few other couples, and a whole company
marched past her home singing the song after returning from
Dunkirk.
Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day
Home, home on the range
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day
How often at night when the heavens are bright
With the light from the glittering stars
Have I stood there amazed and asked as I gazed
If their glory exceeds that of ours
Home, home on the range
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day
Where the air is so pure, the zephyrs so free
The breezes so balmy and light
That I would not exchange my home on the range
For all of the cities so bright
Home, home on the range
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day
Oh, I love those wild flow'rs in this dear land of ours
The curlew, I love to hear scream
And I love the white rocks and the antelope flocks
That graze on the mountaintops green
Home, home on the range
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day
You Are My Sunshine
There are accounts of soldiers singing this ditty while marching along through Burma, believe it or not.
You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are grey
You'll never know, dear,
How much I love you
So please don't take
My sunshine away
All Things Bright and
Beautiful
Words based on Genesis 1:31 by Cecil Frances Alexander
(1818- 1895)
This version of the tune is from a 17th Century English
melody.
Refrain: All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
God made their glowing colors,
And made their tiny wings.
Refrain
The purple- headed mountains,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning
That brightens up the sky.
Refrain
The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden:
God made them every one.
Refrain
God gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.
Abide With Me
You may remember this song being sung by the wounded British soldiers at the end of “A Bridge Too Far.”
1 ABIDE with me! fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide!
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me!
2 Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O thou who changest not, abide with me!
3 I need thy presence every passing hour:
What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who like thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me!
4 I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless:
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness:
Where is death's sting? where, grave thy victory
I triumph still, if thou abide with me!
5 Reveal thyself before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee:
In life and death, O Lord, abide with me!
Jerusalem
This is a very traditional British hymn, based on the poem
by William Blake. It comes from the British tradition that
holds Jesus travelled to England during the “missing years”
in the New Testament.
And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark Satanic mills?
Bring me my bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrows of desire:
Bring me my spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire.
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.
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