The Warwickshire Lad
The Warwickshire Lad |
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(lyrics below)
The words of this spirited song were written by David Garrick for the Shakespeare Jubilee Festival at Stratford-on-Avon in 1769. The music has been adapted as the Regimental March of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. The song is best taken in strict time with no break between the verses. There might be a speeding up in the repeat lines of the last verse. For massed singing the addition of a bass drum in some verses is effective, the four beats between the verses being always played on the drum. The piano part can be used independently for marching purposes. The music is by Charles Dibdin, and we based our version on the arrangement by P.J.Lees - although I don't suppose our midi version is anything like he originally intended!
The bells of St. Mary's Church (St.Mary's page) play the Warwickshire Lad every Friday - so listen out for it at 9 am, midday, 3 pm, 6 pm and 9 at night. For anyone interested for historical reasons - or those who just like a good sing! - here are the words.
Ye Warwickshire lads and ye lasses,
See what at our Jubilee passes;
Come revel away, rejoice and be glad,
For the lad of all lads was a Warwickshire lad, and the lad was a Warwickshire lad,
Warwickshire lad! All be glad,
For the lad of all lads was a Warwickshire lad.
(all verses; last 2 lines repeat)
Be proud of the charms of your county,
Where nature has lavish'd her bounty,
Where much has been given, and some to be spared,
For the bard of all bards was a Warwickshire bard, and the bard was a Warwickshire bard
Warwickshire bard, Never paired;
For the bard of all bards was a Warwickshire bard.
Old Ben, Thomas Otway, John Dryden,
And half a score more we take pride in;
Of famous Will Congreve we boast too the skill,
But the Will of all Wills was a Warwickshire Will, and the Will was a Warwickshire Will,
Warwickshire Will! Matchless still!
For the Will of all Wills was a Warwickshire Will.
Our Shakespear compared is to no man,
Nor Frenchman, nor Grecian, nor Roman;
Their swans are all geese to the Avon's sweet swan,
And the man of all men was a Warwickshire man, and the man was a Warwickshire man,
Warwickshire man, Avon's swan,
For the man of all men was a Warwickshire man.
There never was sure such a creature
Of all she was worth he robbed Nature;
He took all her smiles, and he took all her grief,
And the thief of all thieves was a Warwickshire thief, and the thief was a Warwickshire thief,
Warwickshire thief, He's the chief,
For the thief of all thieves was a Warwickshire thief.
Visit the Regimental Museum at St. John's House, Coten End, Warwick to find out more about the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Our thanks to Brig. J. Chater for the background music to our "Warwickshire Lad" page.