Stories of Famous Songs, Vol 2

Histories, Lyrics, Background info - online book

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STORIES OF
And lie that will not drink his health, I wish him neither wit nor wealth, Nor yet a rope to hang himself, Withafal, lal, lal, lal, la!"
The statement in " Raikes's Journal'* that the national anthem was translated literally from the " cantique" which was sung- by the demoiselles de St. Cyr when Louis XIV. entered the chapel of the establishment to hear morning prayer is curious, but not convincing, though the simi-larity in the words is close (see p. 54). One of the most extraordinary additional verses lives in the special stanza which is believed to have been sung at Calais at the banquet given in honour of the Duke of Clarence, when, as Lord High Admiral of England, he took Louis XVIII. across the Channel. I quote from " Music in the Olden Time."
4t God save noble Clarence,
Who brings her king to France,
God save Clarence! He maintains the glory Of the British navy, O make him happy,
God save Clarence!"
Rather hard to sing I should imagine.
In all probability Henry Carey, who was capable of writing very bad verses at times,
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