Cheer up, Buller!

This song reflects racist, misogynist and colonial ideas that were commonplace at the time but are no longer acceptable today.

As reproduced in  Songs and Music of the Redcoats (1970)

In former days the British race 
Was proud of heroes true. 
The more you toiled for England then, 
The more she honoured you. 
Today a famous soldier who 
Has served us long and well 
Is told to go – for what? We ask. 
For what we cannot tell.

Cheer up, Buller, my lad, 
Don’t say die.
We'll know the reason why,
To slight you some would try.
You've done your best for England,
And England won’t forget.
So cheer up, Buller, my lad,
You’re not dead yet.

For forty years he proved himself 
A soldier and a man. 
The fame of Buller was, and is, 
And shall be in the van. 
When future generations read 
About our heroes true, 
They will admit that Buller had 
The hardest work to do.

Let us remember all his past, 
Just think what he has done. 
Must we condemn the hero who 
The Cross of Valour won? 
Although he may have made mistakes, 
On Honours scroll we shall, 
Find Buller's Name – and written 'neath, 
"This Soldier Saved Natal!"

A Music Hall song from the time of the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) usually referred to in the UK as the Boer War – a particularly nasty conflict in which Britain fought the former Dutch settlers for control of two southern African states. Sir Redvers Buller was the British general first put in charge of the British forces. Under his command British troops suffered a series of disastrous defeats in the early months of the war and Buller was replaced. Despite this Buller was apparently still held in some affection by his men and arguably this was reflected in this song popular amongst the troops.

It was written and performed by FV St Clair who specialised in songs lauding the British Empire and its troops.

In the late 1960s it was recorded from the singing of Cecilia Costello, who had a huge repertoire of what she called “old-fashioned songs”. The recording can be accessed at the Vaughan Williams Memorial library website. Her complete recordings are collected on a Mustrad release.

Sources:

• VWML entry
• Kilgarrif Sing Us
• Lyrics and Sheet Music: Lewis Winstock, Songs and Music of the Redcoats (1970)
• Sheet Music : Sheet Music: Francis and Day’s 21st Comic Collection (Personal)
• Jeffrey Richards, Imperialism And Music: Britain 1876-1953
• Sleevenotes for Cecilia Costello, Old Fashioned Songs, Mustrad (MTCD363-4)

Last Updated on July 15, 2023 by John Baxter | Published: May 27, 2021