Join the imperialist foreigner singalong!
Oct. 29th, 2004 04:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gogmagogWell, my big project for this semester has been finishing the transcription of my step-great-great-great-aunt Louise Galt's Boxer Rebellion diary (which I've posted part of before in my LJ; link is friends-only), since my Senior Honors Thesis is going to be based primarily on this document. But this part that I just transcribed was so cool I couldn't not post it.
Louise writes that one of their fellow missionaries composed a song called "Peking Siege," telling the story of their experiences to date. She then proceeds to give all the lyrics and the tune that it's to be sung to, which is so frickin' cool, speaking as a historian. (Generally you wouldn't be able to find the lyrics of an old song unless it had been published.) So without further ado, here it is (note that all spelling irregularities are Louise's, not mine):
PEKING SIEGE (sung to the tune of "Tramp, Tramp"; the link has a MIDI version of the tune)
July 26th 1900 C.H. Fenn.
In the city of Peking with its ancient walls of brick,
And its streets of mud and filth so far renowned,
We have been besieged for weeks, by a beastly Chinese trick,
And the buildings all around us burned to ground.
Chorus: Tramp, tramp, tramp the boys are marching
Cheer up, comrades, they will come.
And beneath our various flags, we will breathe fresh air again,
Of the free-land in our own beloved homes.
They have poured in shot and shell, with an aim so far from true
That the most of us still live to tell the tale;
Six pound shot and schrapnel fierce, wall and barracks have passed through,
Yet in every wild attack they always fail.
From all nations we have come, a peaceful mission sent,
Be it preaching, missions, customs, or what not,
China wanted not our help, so she stupidly has sent
For the Boxers to exterminate the lot.
We’ve four hundred brave marines who have borne fatigue and pain,
And have seen some scores of comrades fall in death.
But we feel it certain, sure, that no enemy can gain
Our strong fortress while these men have vital breath.
We have rice and corn and wheat, store of grain for weeks to come,
Pony stew and steak we find not bad to eat;
Why need we at all to count on Imperial favors crumb,
Be it watermelon, squashes, or fresh meat.
We’ve a cannon old and tried, from a junk shop, say by chance,
Which we fire upon the enemy with glee.
When they first did hear it roar, how it made them hop and dance,
For our “Betsy” is a wonderful for to see.
We’ve been kept in best of cheer by the blessed ladies fair,
Who have worked with might and main to help the men;
Of the wounded and the sick, they have taken best of care,
And have made a “million” sand bag lacking ten.
There is news in from Tien Sien that our troops are on the way,
Three & thirty thousand men of valor tried,
So in joyful hope we wait, sure that they will bring the day
Of relief to us and death to China’s pride.
...I'm gonna be humming this all day. XD
Louise writes that one of their fellow missionaries composed a song called "Peking Siege," telling the story of their experiences to date. She then proceeds to give all the lyrics and the tune that it's to be sung to, which is so frickin' cool, speaking as a historian. (Generally you wouldn't be able to find the lyrics of an old song unless it had been published.) So without further ado, here it is (note that all spelling irregularities are Louise's, not mine):
PEKING SIEGE (sung to the tune of "Tramp, Tramp"; the link has a MIDI version of the tune)
July 26th 1900 C.H. Fenn.
In the city of Peking with its ancient walls of brick,
And its streets of mud and filth so far renowned,
We have been besieged for weeks, by a beastly Chinese trick,
And the buildings all around us burned to ground.
Chorus: Tramp, tramp, tramp the boys are marching
Cheer up, comrades, they will come.
And beneath our various flags, we will breathe fresh air again,
Of the free-land in our own beloved homes.
They have poured in shot and shell, with an aim so far from true
That the most of us still live to tell the tale;
Six pound shot and schrapnel fierce, wall and barracks have passed through,
Yet in every wild attack they always fail.
From all nations we have come, a peaceful mission sent,
Be it preaching, missions, customs, or what not,
China wanted not our help, so she stupidly has sent
For the Boxers to exterminate the lot.
We’ve four hundred brave marines who have borne fatigue and pain,
And have seen some scores of comrades fall in death.
But we feel it certain, sure, that no enemy can gain
Our strong fortress while these men have vital breath.
We have rice and corn and wheat, store of grain for weeks to come,
Pony stew and steak we find not bad to eat;
Why need we at all to count on Imperial favors crumb,
Be it watermelon, squashes, or fresh meat.
We’ve a cannon old and tried, from a junk shop, say by chance,
Which we fire upon the enemy with glee.
When they first did hear it roar, how it made them hop and dance,
For our “Betsy” is a wonderful for to see.
We’ve been kept in best of cheer by the blessed ladies fair,
Who have worked with might and main to help the men;
Of the wounded and the sick, they have taken best of care,
And have made a “million” sand bag lacking ten.
There is news in from Tien Sien that our troops are on the way,
Three & thirty thousand men of valor tried,
So in joyful hope we wait, sure that they will bring the day
Of relief to us and death to China’s pride.
...I'm gonna be humming this all day. XD
