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Poet: Sir Henry Newbolt
Poem: Drake's Drum
Comment 3 of 3, added on July 20th, 2006 at 4:16 PM.
Drake was consigned to the deep sewn up in his hammock, which as was customary among seamen was used as his shroud. We learned the poem in school in England in the early 1950's, and yes, the tune is stirring. Play up, play up and play the game was also a school favorite. And Kipling...! Good times!
Sonia Murray from United States
Comment 2 of 3, added on June 16th, 2006 at 9:58 PM.
(Just a correction to my earlier note; the name of the pub was, of course, the _Beetle_ and Wedge, not _Bettle_ and Wedge. Sorry about the typo.--N.F.)
Neal Fellers
Comment 1 of 3, added on June 16th, 2006 at 4:52 PM.
Fellow fans of the great P.G.Wodehouse will recall Lord Ickenham's mention of this lyric in a chat with his friend, butler Bert Peasemarch, in the book _Cocktail Time_. Having a spot of port with the butler in his pantry,
-- "This," said Lord Ickenham some moments later, "is the real stuff. The poet probably had it in mind when he spoke of the port of heaven. 'If the Dons sight Devon, I'll quit the port of heaven an' drum them up the Channel as we drummed them long ago.' Sir Henry Newbolt. Drake's Drum. Are you familiar with Drake's Drum? But of course you are. What am I thinking of? I've heard you sing it a dozen times round the old camp fire in our Home Guard days."
--"I was always rather partial to Drake's Drum, m'lord."
--"And how you belted the stuffing out of it! It was like hearing a Siberian wolf-hound in full cry after a Siberian wolf..."
(from pages 83 & 84 of the Overlook Press edition, published in 2004; original version published 1958)
--and later in the story, Bert renders the song at the Bettle and Wedge pub, after his fourth glass of the local home-brew; while still later, Lord Ickenham cautions Bert's bride-to-be,
--"...if, as you stand at the altar, Bert starts singing Drake's Drum, give him a nudge."
--"We are going to be married at a registrar's."
--"Oh, then that's all right. These registrars are good sports. Yours will probably join in the chorus."
(ibid, page 208.)
I wonder if one could still learn the tune somehow? Stirring, no doubt.
Neal Fellers from United States
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Drake was consigned to the deep sewn up in his hammock, which as was customary among seamen was used as his shroud. We learned the poem in school in England in the early 1950's, and yes, the tune is stirring. Play up, play up and play the game was also a school favorite. And Kipling...! Good times!
Sonia Murray from United States