Calling-on Song

Many sword-dances of Northern England are preceeded by what is termed a Calling-on song, which is sung unacompanied. The song used by Bristol Rapper is based on the one from the village of Earsdon. In the song, the dancers are introduced as being the "sons" of famous military men, namely: the sons of (1) Lord Heathfield Elliot, (2) Admiral Lord Duncan, (3) Admiral Lord Nelson, (4) the Duke of Wellington and (5) Napoleon Bonaparte respectively. Surprisingly, only one the above was actually English, namely Nelson (born in Norfolk). The Duke of Wellington is thought of as being English, but he was born in Dublin, Ireland. Elliot and Duncan were both Scottish. Napoleon was of course French, and the arch-enemy of Britain as well!

For the technically-minded, the tune is in the Mixolydian Mode; unlike the modern major and minor keys (where the semitone intervals occur between the third/fourth and seventh/eighth notes), in the Mixolydian mode the semitone intervals occur between the third/fourth and sixth/seventh notes:

Although interesting, the song is rather long and chant-like, and probably not suitable for performance to most modern audiences. However, Grant Glanville (the captain of Bristol Rapper) always likes to sing it if he gets the chance (although we usually try to dissuade him!) As a compromise, he will sometimes just sing the first, second and last verses - or just the first and last verses.

The verses of the version of the calling-on song (as performed by Grant) appear below:

Good people, give ear to my story,

We have called in to see you by chance;

Five heroes I've brought, blithe and bonny,

Intending to give you a dance.

For Bristol is our habitation,

It's the place we were all born and bred;

There are no finer lads in the nation,

And there's none are more gallantly led!

'Tis not for your gold nor your silver,

Nor yet for the gain of your gear;

But we come just to take a night's pleasure,

To welcome the incoming year.

My lads, they are all fit for action,

With courage and spirits so bold;

They are born of a noble extraction,

Their fathers were all heroes of old!

Now this is the son of brave Elliot,
The first youth to enter the ring;
So proudly rejoice I to tell it,
That he fought for his country and King.
When the Spaniards besiegèd Gibraltar,
Brave Elliot defended that place;
And he soon caused their plans for to alter,
Some died, others fled in disgrace!
	Lord Heathfield Elliot (1717-1790)

	Now the next handsome youth that does enter,
	Is a boy there are very few such;
	His father beat that great de Winter,
	And defeated the fleet of the Dutch.
	His father was that great Lord Duncan,
	And he played the Dutch ne'er such a prank;
	They fled out of their harbours, ran funkin',
	And fled off to that great Dogger Bank!
Admiral Lord Duncan (1731-1804)

Now this is the son of Lord Nelson,
The hero who fought at the Nile;
Few men of such courage and talent,
The Frenchmen he did them beguile.
The Frenchmen they nearly decoyed him,
But he managed the battle so well;
In their fortress he totally destroyed them,
And scarce one got off home for to tell!
	Admiral Lord Nelson (1758-1805)

	The next handsome youth that does enter,
	Is a boy of ability bright;
	Five thousand gold guineas I'd venture,
	That he like his father would fight.
	At Waterloo and Tarryvarry,
	Lord Wellington made the French fly;
	You scarcely could find such another,
	He'd conquer or else he would die.
The Duke of Wellington (1769-1852)

And the last handsome youth that does enter,
Is a boy who is both straight and tall;
He is the son of the great Bonaparte,
The hero who conquered them all.
He flew over the Lowlands like thunder,
Made the nations to quiver and quake.
Many thousands stood gazing in wonder,
At the havoc he always did make.
	Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)

Now you've seen all my five noble heroes,

My five noble heroes by birth;

And each has as good a character,

As any such heroes on earth.

And if they be as good as their fathers,

Then their deeds are deserving re-cords;

Now 'tis all the whole company desires,

To see how they handle their swords!