This recording is apparently of the Royal Regiment of Wales Band, sung on the 120th anniversary of the Battle of Rorke's Drift, in the church at Rorke's Drift.
Alas, for fans of the movie Zulu, it is unlikely this was sung at that battle. The regiment was not renamed the South Wales Borderers until two years after that battle, the regimental march at the time was "The Warwickshire Lads," and while there were a number of Welsh soldiers there, it seems likely that the majority were English.
Still, a rousing song for an army defending its people from murderous invaders.
14 comments:
Just to be sure, in my last sentence I'm commenting on the lyrics of the song, not the British Army in the Anglo-Zulu War.
Obviously, as you say.
It's kind of an unusual theme, defense of a strong point against an overwhelming enemy. There are songs sung about people who tried that and died -- the "Ballad of the Alamo," say -- but I'm having trouble thinking of any other songs on that theme from the perspective of the 'never yielding' successful. (It's different, too, from songs like "Battle of New Orleans," in which a mobile army advances on an invader and repels them.
I kinda think its the last one you mention -- invaders have attacked and Harlech men are called to expel them and secure the country. Here are the lyrics:
Tongues of fire on Idris flaring,
news of foe-men near declaring,
to heroic deeds of daring,
call you Harlech men
Groans of wounded peasants dying,
wails of wives and children flying,
for the distant succour crying,
call you Harlech men.
Shall the voice of wailing,
now be unavailing,
You to rouse who never yet
in battle's hour were failing,
This our answer crowds down pouring
swift as winter torrents roaring,
Not in vain the voice imploring,
calls on Harlech men
Loud the martial pipes are sounding
every manly heart is bounding
As our trusted chief surrounding,
march we Harlech men.
Short the sleep the foe is taking,
ere the morrows morn is breaking,
They shall have a rude awakening,
roused by Harlech men.
Mothers cease your weeping,
calm may be your sleeping,
you and yours in safety now
the Harlech men are keeping,
ere the sun is high in heaven
they you fear by panic riven
shall like frightened sheep be driven,
far by Harlech men.
(Although, if you are thinking of the movie version, they had lyrics written just for the movie. The above are from the actual regimental march and are the ones in the video.)
Here's another version, where the foe is identified as Saxon (so I suppose they had to be changed for British army service), and the end is very different.
Men of Harlech (another version)
March ye men of Harlech bold,
Unfurl your banners in the field,
Be brave as were your sires of old,
And like them never yield!
What tho' evry hill and dale,
Echoes now with war's alarms,
Celtic hearts can never quail,
When Cambria calls to arms.
By each lofty mountain,
By each crystal fountain,
By your homes where those you love
Await your glad returning,
Let each thought and action prove,
True glory can the Cymru move,
And as each blade gleams in the light,
Pray "God defend the right!"
Clans from Mona wending,
Now with Arvon blending,
Haste with rapid strides along
The path that leads to glory,
From Snowdon's hills with harp and song,
And Nantlle's vale proceeds a throng,
Whose ranks with yours shall proudly vie,
"And nobly win or die!"
March ye men of Harlech go,
Lov'd fatherland your duty claims,
Onward comes the Saxon foe,
His footsteps mark'd in flames;
But his march breeds no dismay,
Boasting taunts we meet with scorn,
Craven like their hosts shall flee
Like mists before the morn.
On the foemen dashing,
Swords and bucklers clashing;
Smite with will their savage band
Nor think of e'er retreating:
But with a firm unflinching hand,
In blood quench ev'ry burning brand,
And for each roof tree cast away
A Saxon life shall pay.
Thus each bosom nerving,
From no danger swerving,
Soon shall the invader feel
The doom of fate rewarding;
They firmly grasp the flashing steel,
And as ye strike for Cymru's weal,
Be this your cry, till life's last breath –
"Our Liberty or Death!"
You’re certainly right that I know the song chiefly and almost only from the movie. Then the rarity of such songs is even more striking, since we will have lost the chief example.
You know, I've always taken "The Battle of New Orleans" as just that -- a song about a successful defense. Sticking to the lyrics, while the US troops had to get to New Orleans, they set up a defense there and the rest of the song is about the successful defense.
Also, what about "The Star-Spangled Banner"? It's about the successful defense of Ft McHenry.
I'd never really thought about these musical themes before.
The Star Spangled Banner is a great example, although it is written from the perspective of one watching it from afar rather than from one participating in the defense. I am excluding the Battle of New Orleans because it's not a static defense, but a kind of maneuver warfare: "we took a little trip" and "met the bloody British," rather than an Alamo-like or Thermopylae-like defense of a strong point.
There have been some absolutely legendary static defenses that deserve mention. The Great Siege of Malta was fought almost to the last man, with a Grandmaster of the Order fighting with a sword defending the top of a stair (as I recall the story) while tied to a chair because he was no longer able to stand. It was fought with everything from such swords to hidden artillery. But I don't know any songs about it.
I see your point about the Battle of New Orleans, but I think it's at least close.
I guess we'll have some original songs to write when we start our outlaw Celtic punk alt country rock band.
I'm in!
LittleRed1
(keyboards, female vocals, bardic harp)
Hey! We have a musician now! This band's getting better! :D
Indeed, that marks literally infinite improvement.
Wow, are there really that many people here that don't play an instrument? That includes me. Interesting. I would have guessed most of you did and yet maybe not.
That is my favorite version of the song.
I know it from the Zulu film, but I love it because of Rick Rescorla, hero of 9/11. Apparently he sang a Cornish version- I can only find this part of the lyrics:
Men of Cornwall stop your dreaming;
Can’t you see their spearpoints gleaming?
See their warriors’ pennants streaming
To this battlefield.
Men of Cornwall stand ye steady;
It cannot be ever said ye
for the battle were not ready;
Stand and never yield!
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