Fiddling the Day Away: "British Grenadiers"
Join the Frontier Culture Museum on our Scotts-Irish Farm for our new series: Fiddling the Day Away. Join some of our talented musicians as they explore songs from across time to see how music changes depending on the place and context it was being played.
Today's song is "British Grenadiers."
The British Grenadiers were units of the British military who were meant to act as shock troops. Typically taller than other soldiers, this song’s lyrics compare these soldiers to classical heroes, helping to establish their elite status within the British army. The composer of the song is not known, however, the lyrics that are commonly attributed to the tune likely dated back to the early 1700s. These are:
Some talk of Alexander, and some of Hercules
Of Hector and Lysander, and such great names as these.
But of all the world's brave heroes, there's none that can compare.
With a tow, row, row, row, row, row, to the British Grenadiers.
Those heroes of antiquity ne'er saw a cannon ball,
Or knew the force of powder to slay their foes withal.
But our brave boys do know it, and banish all their fears,
With a tow, row, row, row, row, row, for the British Grenadiers.
Whene'er we are commanded to storm the palisades,
Our leaders march with fusees, and we with hand grenades.
We throw them from the glacis, about the enemies' ears.
With a tow, row, row, row, row, row, for the British Grenadiers.
And when the siege is over, we to the town repair.
The townsmen cry, "Hurrah, boys, here comes a Grenadier!
Here come the Grenadiers, my boys, who know no doubts or fears!
Then sing tow, row, row, row, row, row, for the British Grenadiers.
Then let us fill a bumper, and drink a health of those
Who carry caps and pouches, and wear the loopèd clothes.
May they and their commanders live happy all their years.
With a tow, row, row, row, row, row, for the British Grenadiers.
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About the Frontier Culture Museum:
The Frontier Culture Museum is a living history museum located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. It tells the story of the thousands of immigrants who traveled from their native homelands to the Shenandoah Valley and how the culture evolved from the 1740s to the 1850s.
Visit the museum online at www.frontiermuseum.org
