Several different recruiting songs with the name "Your King and Country Want/Need You" were popularised in Britain at the beginning of the First World War. Your King and Country Want You with words and music by Paul Rubens was published in London at the start of the war in 1914 by Chappell Music.[1] It was written as a "Woman's Recruiting Song" to be sung with the intention of persuading men to volunteer to fight in the War. Profits from its sale were given to "Queen Mary's Work for Women Fund";[1] the song raised over half a million pounds for the fund.[2]
The song lyrics were written to be sung by a woman, but alternative words could be used (listed in brackets) if sung by a man or by a mixed ensemble. The following complete set of lyrics are taken from the original sheet music:[1][3]
Verse 1:
We've watched you playing cricket And every kind of game
At football, golf and polo, You men have made your name,
But now your country calls you To play your part in war,
And no matter what befalls you, We shall love you all the more,
So come and join the forces As your fathers did before.
Refrain (to be sung after each verse):
Oh! we don't want to lose you but we think you ought to go
For your King and your Country both need you so;
We shall want you and miss you but with all our might and main
We shall cheer you, thank you, kiss you When you come back again.
Chorus (to be sung after each refrain):
Oh! we don't want to lose you but we think you ought to go
For your King and Country both need you so;
We shall want you and miss you but with all our might and main
We shall cheer you, thank you, kiss you When you come back again.
Verse 2:
We want you from all quarters So, help us, South and North
We want you in your thousands, From Falmouth to the Forth,
You'll never find us fail you When you are in distress,
So, answer when we hail you, And let your word be "Yes"
And so your name, in years to come Each mother's son shall bless.
Encore Verse:
It's easy for us women (people) To stay at home and shout,
But remember there's a duty To the men who first went out.
The odds against that handful Were nearly four to one,
And we cannot rest until It's man for man, and gun for gun!
And every woman's (body's) duty Is to see that duty done!
Recordings
Artists who have recorded the song, and the record company and recording date (where known) include:
your, king, country, want, other, versions, your, king, country, need, pelham, your, king, country, need, trevor, several, different, recruiting, songs, with, name, your, king, country, want, need, were, popularised, britain, beginning, first, world, with, wor. Other versions Your King and Country Need You Pelham Your King and Country Need You Trevor Several different recruiting songs with the name Your King and Country Want Need You were popularised in Britain at the beginning of the First World War Your King and Country Want You with words and music by Paul Rubens was published in London at the start of the war in 1914 by Chappell Music 1 It was written as a Woman s Recruiting Song to be sung with the intention of persuading men to volunteer to fight in the War Profits from its sale were given to Queen Mary s Work for Women Fund 1 the song raised over half a million pounds for the fund 2 Original sheet music from 1914 Contents 1 Lyrics 2 Recordings 3 References and notes 4 External linksLyrics EditThe song lyrics were written to be sung by a woman but alternative words could be used listed in brackets if sung by a man or by a mixed ensemble The following complete set of lyrics are taken from the original sheet music 1 3 Verse 1 We ve watched you playing cricket And every kind of game At football golf and polo You men have made your name But now your country calls you To play your part in war And no matter what befalls you We shall love you all the more So come and join the forces As your fathers did before Refrain to be sung after each verse Oh we don t want to lose you but we think you ought to go For your King and your Country both need you so We shall want you and miss you but with all our might and main We shall cheer you thank you kiss you When you come back again Chorus to be sung after each refrain Oh we don t want to lose you but we think you ought to go For your King and Country both need you so We shall want you and miss you but with all our might and main We shall cheer you thank you kiss you When you come back again Verse 2 We want you from all quarters So help us South and North We want you in your thousands From Falmouth to the Forth You ll never find us fail you When you are in distress So answer when we hail you And let your word be Yes And so your name in years to come Each mother s son shall bless Encore Verse It s easy for us women people To stay at home and shout But remember there s a duty To the men who first went out The odds against that handful Were nearly four to one And we cannot rest until It s man for man and gun for gun And every woman s body s duty Is to see that duty done Recordings EditArtists who have recorded the song and the record company and recording date where known include Bessie Jones HMV 1914 4 Helen Clark Unknown company 1914 5 Edna Thornton HMV 1914 4 5 Robert Howe HMV 1914 4 Miss Ainell HMV 1914 4 Stanley Kirkby Regal c 1914 citation needed Eileen Boyd Jumbo c 1915 citation needed References and notes Edit a b c Your King amp Country Want You Sheet music Chappell amp Co Ltd 1914 Pegler Martin Soldiers Songs and Slang of the Great War Osprey Publishing 2014 ISBN 9781427804150 page 254 Copyright Status Paul Rubens died on 5 Feb 1917 so the lyrics for this song have been out of copyright in the UK since 1 January 1988 a b c d The AHRC Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music Retrieved 4 May 2013 a b First World War com Helen Clark and Edna Thornton Retrieved 4 May 2013External links EditCover by Stanley Kirkby on YouTube Cover by Helen Clark on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Your King and Country Want You amp oldid 1087458114, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
