You gentlemen on t'other side (John Wall Callcott)

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• (Posted 2021-02-08)  CPDL #62767: 

Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2021-02-08).   Score information: A4, 5 pages, 293 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.

General Information

Title: You gentlemen on t'other side
Composer: John Wall Callcott
Lyricist: Anon

Number of voices: 3vv   Voicing: ATB

Genre: Secular, Glee

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1804
Description:  Callcott's glee, "Ye gentlemen of England" appeared c.1794, and achieved instant popularity, being incorporated into several theatrical productions, and attaining the status of a national air. This parody (words of unknown authorship, fitted to Callcott's music by Samuel Wesley) was issued in 1804 at the zenith of recruitment of volunteers to counter the threat of invasion; a threat dispersed in the following year as a result of the Battle of Trafalgar.

Original text and translations

English text

You gentlemen on t'other side who live at home on frogs,
How rightly do you estimate old England's valiant dogs;
Consult our loyal volunteers and they will tell you more
How we use "Parlez vous" if they dare attempt our shore.

When, guardians of their native land, our martial hosts appear,
How the frogs will begin to jump about in the belly of mounseer;
How pale will grow his lantern jaws when English cannons roar.
Sink their boats, cut their throats, or drive them from our shore.

Then, citizen and emperor, upon your throne sit still;
Your fawning Frenchmen must submit, but Britons never will;
For not a single French jackboot shall teach your country more
Should your slaves cross the waves and trespass on our shore.

Let all unite with hand and heart to shew the Gallic chief
How the stomach of a Frenchman turns at the taste of English beef;
That soldiers can the pride maintain which tars have won before,
And while these rule the seas, how their comrades guard the shore.