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by William de Courcy Stretton

Follow the colours
 (Sung text for setting by E. Elgar)
 Matches base text
Language: English 
Thousands, thousands of marching feet,
All through the land, all through the land.
Gunners and Sappers, Horse and Foot.
A mighty band, a mighty band.
    Follow the Colours, follow on,
    Where-e'er they go, where-e'er they go.
    Loyal the hearts that guard them well.
    'Twas ever so, 'twas ever so.
        March, march, march!
    Roll the drums, and blow the fifes,
    And make the bagpipes drone.
    Glory for some and a chance for all,
    Till we come again to our own.

England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales
Send forth their sons, send forth their sons.
Children of Empire seas beyond
Stand to their guns, stand to their guns.
    Follow the Colours, etc.

Some will return, and some remain,
We heed it not, we heed it not.
Something's wrong, to put it right's
The Soldier's lot, the Soldier's lot.
    Follow the Colours, etc.

Composition:

    Set to music by Edward Elgar, Sir (1857 - 1934), "Follow the colours", 1914, first performed 1914 [ solo voice and optional men's chorus and orchestra ], adapted from "Marching song"

Text Authorship:

  • by William de Courcy Stretton

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2009-02-05
Line count: 23
Word count: 139

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