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Wiltshire Community History

Folk Song Information

There were 1 items found.

Book Title

Author

Date

Notes

Song Title	You gentlemen of England
Roud No.	18526
Collected From	Ball, David
Location	Aston
County	Oxfordshire
Collected By	Williams, Alfred
Alternative Title
Tune
Date
Source Primary	WSRO: 2598/36 Packet 3 - Oxfordshire: Williams, A: MS collection No Ox 192
Source Secondary	Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard, 1st April, 1916, p 3, Part 25, No. 13: Williams, A: Folk songs of the upper Thames, 1923 p 201, 202
Recording

Song Lyrics
Verse 1 You gentlemen of England That live at home at ease, Ah! Little do you think upon The dangers of the seas. Verse 2 Give ear unto the mariners, And they will plainly show All the cares, and the fears, When the stormy winds do blow. Verse 3 If enemies oppose us, When England is at wars With any foreign nations, We fear not wounds or scars. Verse 4 Our roaring guns shall teach them Our valour for to know, Whilst they reel on the keel, When the stormy winds do blow. Verse 5 Then courage, all brave mariners, And never be dismayed! Whilst we brave bold adventurers We shall never want a trade. Verse 6 Our merchants will employ us To fetch our wealth, we know; Then be bold, work for gold, When the stormy winds do blow.

Print Song Lyrics

Notes
Note 1 Williams, Alfred: WGS: 'Not purely a folk song, but as it was sung by the villagers of Aston, Coate and Shifford at the inns, and at club festivals, I have included it in my list. Obtained of David Ball, Aston, Oxfordshire.' Williams, Alfred: FSUT: 'Not purely a folk song, but as it was sung by the villagers of Aston, Coate and Shifford at the inns, and at club festivals, I have included it in my list. Obtained at Aston, Oxfordshire.' Note 2 There is a note in the folder stating that the manuscript is missing. Transcribed and edited by Chris Wildridge, 2010.