Scottish World War One Songs
WORLD WAR ONE SONGS
Songs made and sung by the soldiers themselves - usually short parodies, often bleakly humorous.
Recruiting songs - sung in Music Halls, usually vigorous and enthusiastic.
Popular songs - cheerful or nostalgic songs sung at home and in the trenches,
e.g. It's A Long Way To Tipperary
Pack Up Your Troubles
Keep The Home Fires Burning.
[You can find versions of all of the songs mentioned here on Youtube]
SCOTTISH SONGS - some of the below are old, some made recently with schools
The best known is Harry Lauder’s Music Hall song, Keep Right On To The End Of The Road.
Keep right on to the end of the road, keep right on to the end
Though the way belong, let your heart be strong, keep right on round the bend
Though you’re tired and weary, still journey on, till you come to your happy abode
Where all you love and you're dreaming of, will be there at the end of the road
Mademoiselle From Armentieres was sung by everyone, but here are some Scottish verses.
Mademoiselle from Armentieres, parlez vous?
Hadn’t been kissed for twenty years, parlez vous?
Who was it pinched the barber’s pole, and used it for fuel to save the coal
Inky pinky parlez vous?
Who was it tied his kilts with string, to stop them from doing the Highland Fling
Who was it met him out next morn, takin his troosers oot o the pawn
The Moon Shines Bright on Charlie Chaplin
TUNE: Redwing
Oh the moon shines bright on Charlie Chaplin
His boots are crackin, for want o blackin
And his auld baggie troosers they want mendin
Before we send him tae the Dardanelles
Oh the moon shines bright on Charlie Chaplin
His khaki uniform looks mair like sackin
His sad auld buttons they need shinin
Before we send him tae the Western Front
Oh the moon shines bright on Charlie Chaplin
His rifle’s mankie, it needs a hankie
And his helmet’s got a rusty pelmet
It’s time tae send him hame tae his maw
Wha Saw the 42nd
TUNE Wha Wouldna Fecht For Chairlie?
Wha saw the 42nd? Wha saw them gaun awa?
Wha saw the 42nd merchin doon the Broomielaw
Some o them had boots an stockins, some o them had nane at aa
Some o them had green umbrellas for tae keep the rain awa
There are versions of this old song from other Scottish cities. The following version was made for Bo'ness schools, featuring the Bo'ness Territorials. You could write your won local version.
Wha saw the Terriers, wha saw them comin here
Wha saw the Terriers merchin doon tae Bo’ness Pier
Some o them had boots an stockins, some o them had nane at aas
Some o them had green umbrellas fur tae keep the rain awa
Wha saw the Terriers, gettin off the boat in France
Feelin happy, feelin safe, think they’re goin tae a dance
Some o them will soon know better, when they’re trudgin through the mud
When they’re huddlin in a trench, hopin every shell’s a dud
Wha saw the Terriers, wha saw them comin here
Wha saw the Terriers merchin doon tae Bo’ness Pier
No Awa Tae Bide Awa
As we were merchin doon the street, every wan was cheerin
Sayin, ‘Goodbye lads, come home safe, thanks for volunteerin’
We’re no awa tae bide awa, we’re no awa tae leave ye
We’re no awa tae bide awa, we’ll soon come back and see ye
Hame for Christmas, that’s oor plan, big plum puddins eatin
We’ll be back wi medals in our packs, we’ll leave the Gerries greetin
We’re no awa tae bide awa, we’re no awa tae leave ye
We’re no awa tae bide awa, we’ll soon come back and see ye
Kaiser Bill
TUNE Yankee Doodle
Kaiser Bill is feelin ill, lookin peelie-wallie
Wanderin aboot Berlin, greetin fur his mammy
Kaiser Bill is feertie cause the Terriers will beat him
He will run when he hears oor guns, we will defeat him
We’ll go hame, safe and sound, singin Tipperary
Hullo Mum, hullo Dad, hullo darlin Mary
Kaiser Bill is feertie cause the Terriers will beat him
He will run when he hears oor guns, we will defeat him
