The British Grenadiers

Elite Soldiers

In the 17th centuy a grenadier was a soldier who carried and threw grenades; afterward, he was one of a company attached to each regiment or battalion, taking post on the right of the line, and wearing a peculiar uniform. In more modern times ( early 19th century onward), he was a member of a special regiment or corps; as, a grenadier of the guard of Napoleon I, or one of the regiment of Grenadier Guards of the British army.

In American history the British played the musical piece "British Grenadiers" on the battlefield at Brandywine, September 1777. Its origins can be traced back to a song entitled "The New Bath" found in the early Playford dance books in the late seventeenth century. It is first found in America in William William's 1775 manuscript, printed in Pautuxit, Rhode Island. In their manuscripts, both Henry Brown (1789), and Mr. Thompson (1790), both of New Hampshire, name this melody "Vain Britons, Boast No Longer;" obviously capitalizing on post-revolutionary nationalism. In the Edinburg Musical Miscellany (1738), British Grenadiers appears with the following lyrics:

Some talk of Alexander, and some of Hercules,
Of Conon and Lysander, and some miltiades;
But of all the world's brave heroes
There'd none that can compare
With a tow, row, row, row, row to the British Grenadiers
But of all the world's brave heroes
There'd none that can compare
With a tow, row, row, row, row to the British Grenadiers

The Music
The British Grenadiers
[ 1:10 ] [ 15k ]

The Song
The song in this book which is sung to the tune of
"The British Grenadiers"

1. British Grenadier

The British Grenadiers

Some talk of Alexander,
And some of Hercules
Of Hector and Lysander,
And such great names as these.
But of all the world's great heroes,
There's none that can compare
With a tow, row, row, row, row, row,
To the British Grenadier.

Those heroes of antiquity
Ne'er saw a cannon ball
Or knew the force of powder
To slay their foes withall.
But our brave boys do know it,
And banish all their fears,
Sing tow, row, row, row, row, row,
For the British Grenadier.

Whene'er we are commanded
To storm the palisades
Our leaders march with fusees,
And we with hand grenades.
We throw them from the glacis,
About the enemies' ears.
Sing tow, row, row, row, row, row,
The British Grenadiers.

And when the siege is over,
We to the town repair
The townsmen cry, "Hurra, boys,
Here comes a Grenadier!"
Here come the Grenadiers, my boys,
Who know no doubts or fears!
Then sing tow, row, row, row, row, row,
The British Grenadiers

Then let us fill a bumper,
And drink a health to those
Who carry caps and pouches,
And wear the louped clothes.
May they and their commanders
Live happy all their years
With a tow, row, row, row, row, row,
For the British Grenadiers.