Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons

Subject: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 07 Sep 05 - 03:08 PM

I am putting together a 15 minute musical comedy sketch for a cast of around fifty 8-11 year old children based on Romans and Ancient Britons.

I already have some songs:
                  The National anthem of the Ancient Britons (Woad)
                  The Ladies of the Harem of the Court of King Caractacus
                  The Gladiator song

I could do with another song, preferably about or for the Romans. If it's not a well known tune, I would need both the melody and lyrics

Any ideas ?

DC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: GUEST,folkiefrank
Date: 07 Sep 05 - 03:12 PM

Matt McGinn's - The Heilan'man

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: GUEST,folkiefrank
Date: 07 Sep 05 - 03:14 PM

Put GRIGALOO in the search box, it's in the DT.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: MMario
Date: 07 Sep 05 - 03:32 PM

What about 'A pict song'?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: The Walrus
Date: 07 Sep 05 - 03:55 PM

Or, by the same author A Roman Centurian's Song .

W

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: Frank Maher
Date: 07 Sep 05 - 11:09 PM

Sensational new discoveries have been made at an archaeological dig at the site of a Roman army camp near Hadrian's Wall. When the legions were evacuated, orders were sent out to destroy all valuable military records. However, in the far-flung camps, lazy army bureaucrats simply pitched all the files into the nearest bog. Now archaeologists are recovering all the records, preserved in the highly tannic bog water.


Among the latest discoveries is what appears to be a Latin translation of a Pictish folk-song. No doubt the lonely legionaries on sentry duty on the wall heard the melodic strains drifting on the wind from the Pictish encampments to the north. Roman soldiers must have learned this traditional Pictish melody, which is the earliest folksong recorded in the British Isles.


Of particular interest is the chorus of syllabic vocables, remarkably similar to the Gaelic walking song which is not found in written records until almost 1000 years later. In fact, a remarkable similar chorus of vocables: I\ aigh i\ aigh o\ can be found in a walking song from Skye, "Tha baile aig sean-Mhac a' Domhnuill", in the Frances Tolmie collection.


Following is a transcription of the original manuscript:


Senex Macdonaldus habebat fundum, EIEIO
Et in ille fundum habebat porces, EIEIO
Cum oink oink hic, oink oink hoc
Oink hic, oink hoc, ubique oink oink
Senex Macdonaldus habebat fundum, EIEIO


Senex Macdonaldus habebat fundum, EIEIO
Et in ille fundum habebat boves, EIEIO
Cum moo moo hic, moo moo hoc
Moo hic, moo hoc, ubique moo moo
Senex Macdonaldus habebat fundum, EIEIO


Senex Macdonaldus habebat fundum, EIEIO
Et in ille fundum habebat oves, EIEIO
Cum baa baa hic, baa baa hoc
Baa hic, baa hoc, ubique baa baa
Senex Macdonaldus habebat fundum, EIEIO


Senex Macdonaldus habebat fundum, EIEIO
Et in ille fundum habebat anates, EIEIO
Cum quack quack hic, quack quack hoc
Quack hic, quack hoc, ubique quack quack
Senex Macdonaldus habebat fundum, EIEIO

Subject: Lyr Add: OF TREES AND HUMANKIND (Wendy Joseph)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 07 Sep 05 - 11:19 PM

I don't think this song is made for musical comedy but it's a terrific song & I take the first verses to be about ancient Britons (because a later verse is about their descendants colonizing Australia):

The trees of the forest grew tall,
The oak and the hazel, the ash and wild apple.
Their power respected by all,
Their strength safely guarded by priests of the lore.
Sacred the old ways, and earth's ancient pathways. No more.

Then strangers came onto the land,
They lacked comprehension their godheads were different.
They simply did not understand,
They laughed at the old ways with scorn and derision.
They raped and they slaughtered, and all was justified
By the word 'civilised'.
See the forests die.

It's called Of Trees And Humankind, written by Wendy Joseph, recorded by Margaret Walters, also by The Fagans, probably by lots of other people as well. Full lyrics at http://www.ecopella.live.com.au/oftrees.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 07 Sep 05 - 11:42 PM

Do you really have to post that thing at every possible opportunity, Frank? It's mildly amusing once, but rapidly becomes boring. In all conscience, a link to a previous iteration would be quite sufficient. Here are some previous copy-and-paste postings of it, mostly from you:

Lyr Req: Latin form of Old MacDonald's Farm
Lyr Req: Old McDonald / Old MacDonald Had a Farm
What are the oldest surviving tunes?
BS: Favourite postings by Lit'l John Cameron
Pictish folksong translated

Give it a rest, do.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: GUEST,Bill the Collie
Date: 07 Sep 05 - 11:55 PM

Roman in the Gloman

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: Paul Burke
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 04:44 AM

For sods sake don't teach them the Floozies of the Court of King Erectecus version.

There's the old game song:

Are you ready for a fight
For we are the Romans?
Are you ready for a fight
For we are the Roman soldiers?

We you ready for a fight
For we are the English!
We you ready for a fight
For we are the English soldiers.

We will set our dogs on you
For we are the Romans,
We will set our dogs on you
For we are the Romans soldiers.

We don't care for the dogs or you
For we are the English!
We don't care for the dogs or you
For we are the English soldiers.

Historically somewhat dubious, as the Anglo-Saxon invasions didn't start until about 50 years after the Romans rule collapsed. You could always try 'British' instead.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 05:36 AM

"Floozies of the Court of King Erectecus"

I don't remember Rolf Harris singing THOSE words...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: GUEST,Robin Madge
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 07:14 AM

John Kirkpatrick once claimed that "The Ivy and the Holly" (not the carol) was sung at Boudica's (spelling?) wedding. I don't know where that idea came from!

Robin Madge

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: Leadfingers
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 07:45 AM

Tim Brooks song 'So Far From Home' is based on the idea of a Roman soldier in Britain during the Roman Occupation -If you put so far from home in search you will find several threads and the lyrics .

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 08:02 AM

Roman Legion songs [allegedly!]
Giok

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: Paul Burke
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 10:45 AM

OK ft (make sure the kids aren't reading this thread):

Oh the floozies of the whorum of the court of King Erectecus
Were just passing by (xN)

The boys who put the powder up the noses of the floozies...

The bitches who put itches in the britches of the boys...

down to

The Nazis who put matches to the snatches
Of the midgets with their digits on the widgets
Of the Jocks who scratch the notches in the crotches
Of the bitches who put itches in the britches
Of the boys who put the powder up the noses
Of the floozies of the whorum of the court of King Erectecus
Were just passing by...

Don't sing it at kids' parties, that's all.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: bfdk
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 10:57 AM

Nick Keir's "Borderland" (McCalmans CD Tangled Web)

I can't find the lyrics online, but if you're interested yell here, and I'll type it up for you tonight.

Best wishes,

Bente

Subject: Lyr Add: MILITARY ROAD (Jez Lowe)
From: GUEST,Jacqued
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 03:00 PM

A nice gentle song:

MILITARY ROAD
Live at the Davy Lamp - Judy Dinning CD2
Jez Lowe

I met a man not dressed for weather,
And oh such weather the north wind bitterly it blows.
Through cruel lands that reach the border,
The bleakest border along the military road.
I asked him why he came to wander where none should wander,
But his marching never slowed.
He pulled his cloak about him tightly,
And made to pass me along the military road.

The song he sang it had no meaning,
Or maybe meaning that he alone could know.
A foreign tongue all but forgotten,
In sadness written along the military road.
And every word fell soft as rainfall, a young girl's name called,
From where the moon once glowed.
On hills and mountains softer, gentler,
Than those of winter along the military road.

A song of love there's no mistaking,
Of hearts still breaking though parted long ago.
Now there was no one left to listen,
So far the distance along the military road.
Young women all cling to your lover lest you discover,
How bitter tears can flow.
As young men march away together,
Away forever along the military road.

Young women all cling to your lover lest you discover,
How bitter tears can flow.
As young men march away together,
Away forever along the military road.


And isn't there one about woad - sung to Men of Harlech?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 03:18 PM

I remember a friend who took Latin in high school singing something like this:

Caesar habum unum legionum (sing this three times)
Unum bonum legionum!

The tune is the same as "John Brown had a little Indian." It may have been a counting song.

Perhaps other catters can check my grammar and supply more words. This has the advantage that it would be quick to learn.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: Willa
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 04:34 PM

Check this.
http://www.guntheranderson.com/v/data/woad.htmUsed to sing this at school.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 05:03 PM

When Julius Fabricius, Sub-Prefect of the Weald,
In the days of Diocletian owned our Lower River-field,
He called to him Hobdenius—a Briton of the Clay,
Saying: "What about that River-piece for layin' in to hay?"

And the aged Hobden answered: "I remember as a lad
My father told your father that she wanted dreenin' bad.
An' the more that you neeglect her the less you'll get her clean.
Have it jest as you've a mind to, but, if I was you, I'd dreen."

So they drained it long and crossways in the lavish Roman style—
Still we find among the river-drift their flakes of ancient tile,
And in drouthy middle August, when the bones of meadows show,
We can trace the lines they followed sixteen hundred years ago.

The opening verses (it goes on for ages) of The Land, by Rudyard Kipling, set to music by Peter Bellamy on his album Keep On Kipling.

It follows this particular piece of land down through the ages until modern times, with descendants of that old Hobden working it for whoever the landowner happens to be. No matter who has the deeds and pays the taxes, it says, it's the one who understands it and maintains it who really owns it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 05:08 PM

Thanks for the replies. Some good ones to chew over.

"The Heilan'man" is pretty good but I might find it difficult to work easily into the sketch as it stands.

I quite like the idea of "Senex Macdonaldus" even if it has been the subject of multiple threads. I think I could use that.



DC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: Jim McLean
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 05:26 PM

An addition for Guest, Bill the Collie:
Roaman in the glomin wi a lassie (highland collie) by his side.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: GUEST,LynnT
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 10:02 PM

Another Kipling, with tune by Leslie Fish, that may not be suitable for kiddies: Lalage

Lalage

it's a good marching tune; I used to sing it walking the four miles to high school (uphill both ways, of course!)

I think Clam Chowder's Bob Esty wrote a couple Pictish songs too; I'll see what I can dredge up of those.

LynnT

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 10:13 PM

You didn't say WHEN you needed the songs by, but I trust I'm still in time...

Rosemary Sutcliff, in her famous historical novel "Eagle of the Ninth", has included a nice little marching song that could be sung to any number of tunes (probably plenty in this database!) From memory, the lyrics of the first verse go:

"Oh when I joined the Eagles
As it might be yesterday,
I kissed a girl at Clusium
Before I marched away...."

It could be sung to the tune of "I Left My Love a Letter (in the Holler of a Tree)" - just one more idea, and if you pick a popular melody the kids might even join you on the chorus... :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 02:43 AM

You didn't say WHEN you needed the songs by, but I trust I'm still in time.........

We start rehearsals this weekend but the show is not until February.

We start by teaching the all of the kids all of the songs. There will be a few weeks grace before we need a definitive script with allocated parts, so at this stage I can be flexible so long as I have formed a strong idea of where we are heading.

I have 3 songs to go at already, so I have a week or two before I need to make a final decision.


.........and if you pick a popular melody the kids might even join you on the chorus... :)


I won't be singing the songs. This numbers is strictly kids only – once the curtain comes up, they are out there on their own.


DC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: GUEST,SallyP
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 10:06 AM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: The Walrus
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 01:28 AM

GUEST (8 Sept 10:13hrs) wrote
"Rosemary Sutcliff, in her famous historical novel "Eagle of the Ninth", has included a nice little marching song that could be sung to any number of tunes (probably plenty in this database!) From memory, the lyrics of the first verse go:

"Oh when I joined the Eagles
As it might be yesterday,
I kissed a girl at Clusium
Before I marched away...."..."

I seem to remember this being used as the theme music for a dramatised seriel of "Eagle of the 9th" on British TV

As I recall the verse goes somerthing like:


"Oh when I joined the Eagles
And it might be yesterday,
I kissed my girl at Clusium
Before I marched away,
A long march, a Long march
Twenty years or more
Since I kissed my girls at Clusium
Beside the threashing floor".

W

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 01:49 AM

Which seems to fit the tune of "Brighton Camp"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: GUEST,Lorraine
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 08:38 PM

Wod?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 11:04 PM

Julius Ceasar
That Roman Geezer
Crushed his wife,
In a lemon-squeezer.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: GUEST,Jacqued
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 03:08 PM

Guest, you might find Tom Lewis put the music to "Old Hobden". Sometime ago Tom was staying with us (name dropper extrordinaire!!!) and tried it out on us before breakfast. We had a cold breakfast that day!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: GUEST,Jayne Davis
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 11:35 PM

I'm looking for the words of a song, sung to the tune of "Men of Harlech". It begins, or has in it, the words "When the Romans crossed the Channel/ All dressed up in tin and flannel". Can anyone help, please?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: Bert
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 12:12 AM

The song you are looking for is Woad

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: Howard Jones
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 09:05 AM

This link has the words to The National Anthem of the Ancient Britons which are more as I remember them. I learned it around boy scout campfires by proper folksong oral transmission, but it seemed to have undergone very little if any change from the published version.

The final line, "Go it, ancient B's" was criticised in this thread as being rather awkward, but I feel it is preferable to the "W O A D Woad" line given in the Digitrad, which doesn't rhyme with "fleas". "Go it!" was a rather schoolmasterly expression of encouragement which sounds rather old-fashioned now but is exactly right for the period when it was written, as are the spats and hats.

I have never heard the "Bollocks to the breeze" line quoted in the other thread and given as an alternative in Digitrad. This certainly wouldn't have been in the original, which was written by a schoolmaster at Eton in the 1920s for the school's scout troop. It has a certain robustness but doesn't to my mind naturally follow from the preceding lines.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: Joe_F
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 05:58 PM

Kipling's "Rimini":

And I've tramped Britain, and I've tramped Gaul,
And the Pontic shore where the snowflakes fall,
As white as the neck of Lalage --
As cold as the heart of Lalage!
And I've lost Britain, and I've lost Gaul,
And I've lost Rome, but worst of all,
I've lost Lalage!

(But don't sing it to Leslie Fish's tune, or you will be forced to mispronounce "Rimini" & "Lalage" as she does. In English, they are dactyls.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 06:27 PM

You could try the 16 verse epic from Con 'Fada' Ó Drisceoil which begins:

You may cheer and sing of Mackey and Ring and the greats of the hurling game,
Of athletes bold who compete for gold and footballers of great fame,
Of horses like Arkle who galloped and sparkled, and followers hearts did stir;
But the charioteer who knew no fear was the driver they called Ben Hur.

In his youth he was a force at water sports, at Olympus he swam for Rome,
He excelled in rowing with a style so flowing as his boat skimmed across the foam.
His career aquatic by the leg rheumatic was ended, despite his fame,
So he bought an ould chariot from Judas Iscariot and tried out the racing game.

Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: Amos
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 07:08 PM

What's the use of wearing braces,
Hats or spats or boots with laces,
Coats and vests you buy in places
Down on Brompton Road?
What's the use of shirts of cotton,
Studs that always get forgotten?
These affairs are simply rotten--
Better far is woad.

Woad's the stuff to show men,
Woad to scare your foemen
Boil it to a brilliant blue
And rub it on your back and your abdomen.
Ancient Britons never hit on
Anything as fine as woad to fit on
Neck or knees or where you sit on--
Tailors, you'll be blowed!
Romans crossed the English Channel
All dressed up in tin and flannel;
Half a pint of woad per man'll
Clothe us more than these.
Saxons, you can keep your stitches,
For making beds for bugs in britches
We have woad to clothe us which is
Not a nest for fleas.

Romans, save your armors,
Saxons, your pajamas,
Hairy coats were made for goats,
Gorillas, yaks, retriever dogs and llamas.
March on Snowdon with your woad on
Never mind if you get rained or snowed on.
Never need a button sewed on,
W-O-A-D woad (or, Glory be to woad!)(or, Bollocks to the breeze!)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Romans or Ancient Britons
From: MartinRyan
Date: 02 Apr 12 - 11:49 AM

To hear Con Fada tell the tale of Ben Hur mentioned above by Jim Carroll

Click here

Regards