| Author | Topic: Add: Nelson's Death | |
| dmcg | Posted - 26 Jan 03 - 02:31 pm | |
Nelson's Death Old England long expected heavy news from the fleet - It was commanded by Lord Nelson the French for to meet - The news it came over, through the country was spread, That the French were defeated but Lord Nelson was dead. Chorus: Rule, Britannia, Britannia rules the waves, Britons never never never shall be slaves. Not only Lord Nelson but thousands were slain, A-fightin' the French on the watery main, To protect our own country both honour and wealth, But the French they would not yield until they yield unto death. The merchants of Yarmouth when they heard so Said "Come, brother sailor, to church let us go; And there we will build a most beautiful pile In remembrance of Nelson, the hero of the Nile". "Your plans", said Britannia, "are excellent and good, A monument for Lord Nelson and a sword for Collingwood. Let it be of good marble and 'petuate his name; Letters in bright gold wrote, 'He died for England's fame'." Our soldiers and sailors as I have been told Keep themselves in readiness their rights for to hold; Their rights to maintain, the cause to expose, If in an invasion to save British ports. Our soldiers and sailors many brave deeds have done While fighting in foreign many battles have won. If the Nile could but speak or did Trafalgar declare, All the world with Lord Nelson they would not compare. Source: Palmer, R, A Ballad History of England,BT Batsford Ltd, 1979 Notes: This song was collected from Harry Cox by Peter Kennedy in 1953 and commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Database entry is here. | ||
| masato sakurai | Posted - 26 Jan 03 - 03:55 pm | |
Several editions of "Nelson's Monument" are at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads. One is: Nelson's monument ("Britons long expected great news from our fleet ...") Firth c.12(48) Printer: Such, H. (London) Date: between 1863 and 1885 Imprint: H.P. Such, Machine Printer and Publisher, 177, Union Street, Borough, S.E. NELSON'S MONUMENT BRITONS long expected heavy news from our fleet, Commanded by Lord Nelson the French for to meet At length the news it came over, through the country was spread, That the French were defeated, but Lord Nelson was dead. Not only brave Nelson, but thousands were slain, By fighting of the French upon the watery main, To protect England's glory, its honour and its wealth, We fought and would not yield, till we yield unto death. The merchants of Yarmouth hearing us say so, Said, come brother sailor to church let us go, And there we will build a most beautiful pile, In remembrance of Nelson the hero of the Nile. Your plan, says Britannia, is excellent and good, A monument for Lord Nelson, a sword for Collingwood. Let it be of polished marble to perpetuate his name, And in letters of gold, write "He died for England's fame." All the seamen and soldiers as I've been told, They've ordered themselves in readiness to hold, Their rights to maintain, their cause to support, And from any invasion to keep each British port. Both soldiers and sailors mighty deeds they have done, Their sons in foreign parts many battles have won; If the Nile could but speak, or Egypt declare, All the world with Lord Nelson they could not compare. | ||
| Mary in Kentucky | Posted - 28 Jan 03 - 12:39 am | |
I noticed that the chorus of this song has the "Rule Britannia" melody that I know. (Actually I questioned whether the three nevers in the chorus were correct...but they fit the music in the midi.) So, not really knowing anything about this, I looked a little on the net and found this site which states that: The poem "Rule Britannia" by James Thomson (1700-48) was put to music by Thomas Augustine Arne (around 1740) and is sung as an unofficial national anthem. Is this considered by "Brits" (don't really know what else to call y'all) much as we (in the US) consider "America the Beautiful"? Are there snippets of this tune in several symphonies? names? | ||
| Jon Freeman | Posted - 28 Jan 03 - 12:50 am | |
Drifting way of topic but... I think "Rule Brittania" would come into that sort of patriotic song - English though, not Brits in any broader sense of the term. Personaly, I don't like the song and in any case am not that patriotic. Maybe I'm weird but although I'd always support the country of my birth, England (Shrewsbury, Shropshire) in sport at say a rugby match I'd rather be singing the Welsh "Calon Lan" or maybe even in Scotland, Roy Williamsons "Flower Of Scotland"... Jon | ||
| Mary in Kentucky | Posted - 28 Jan 03 - 01:07 am | |
I started to mention "Flower of Scotland" and "A Man's a Man, For a That." It seems to me that just hearing the melodies without the words or having any emotional ties to the songs, they are quite beautiful. Then I'm facinated by all the Bonnie Prince Charlie Songs...thread drifting, I know... | ||
| Jon Freeman | Posted - 28 Jan 03 - 01:20 am | |
Maybe you should Mary... I must admit that today I had singled out a song from "The Scottish Students SongBook", a book I picked up second an and nearly posted "Will Ye No Come Back Again". Maybe tommorrow... "Flower Of Scotland" does seem to carry emotion but it is too modern and I'm sure copyrighted to add to the songdb. BTW Mary, have you ever heard the Corries? Jon | ||
| Mary in Kentucky | Posted - 28 Jan 03 - 03:37 am | |
Heard them...no...heard of them...yes! Will Ye No come Back Again is probably my favorite of the BPC songs. I think you're right about Flower of Scotland. BT has it in his songbook with permission. | ||
| Richard Hubbard (guest) |
Posted - 11 Jan 10 - 02:45 pm | |
Back to Nelson's Death The Palmer edition calls it Nelson's Monument and as I type this I#m looking out to sea and can see the monument in Great Yarmouth. The monument predates Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square in London by several years and is an idication of the high standing that Nelson had here in Norfolk during his life. He landed in Yarmouth some time after his suceess at the Battle of the Nile and was awarded the freedom of the town. Still held in high regard Nelson is celebrated in many traditional songs in Norfolk. | ||
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