{"id":10749,"date":"2021-05-27T07:51:02","date_gmt":"2021-05-27T07:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=10749"},"modified":"2023-07-15T15:19:06","modified_gmt":"2023-07-15T15:19:06","slug":"cheer-up-buller","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/cheer-up-buller\/","title":{"rendered":"Cheer up, Buller!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This song reflects racist, misogynist and colonial ideas that were commonplace at the time but are no longer acceptable today.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AKA<\/strong><\/td>You’re not dead yet<\/td><\/tr>
First Published<\/td>1901<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Writer\/composer<\/td>FV St Clair<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN24213<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>FV St Clair, Harriett Vernon<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Collected from the singing of:<\/strong>
Costello, Cecilia; England : Warwickshire; 1967<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
As reproduced in  Songs and Music of the Redcoat<\/a>s<\/em> (1970)\n\nIn former days the British race \nWas proud of heroes true. \nThe more you toiled for England then<\/em>, \nThe more she honoured you. \nToday a famous soldier who \nHas served us long and well \nIs told to go \u2013 for what? We ask. \nFor what we cannot tell.\n\nCheer up, Buller, my lad, \nDon\u2019t say die.\nWe'll know the reason why,\nTo slight you some would try.\nYou've done your best for England,\nAnd England won\u2019t forget.\nSo cheer up, Buller, my lad,\nYou\u2019re not dead yet.<\/em>\n\nFor forty years he proved himself \nA soldier and a man. \nThe fame of Buller was, and is, \nAnd shall be in the van. \nWhen future generations read \nAbout our heroes true, \nThey will admit that Buller had \nThe hardest work to do.\n\nLet us remember all his past, \nJust think what he has done. \nMust we condemn the hero who \nThe Cross of Valour won? \nAlthough he may have made mistakes, \nOn Honours scroll we shall, \nFind Buller's Name \u2013 and written 'neath, \n\"This Soldier Saved Natal!\"<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was written and performed by FV St Clair who specialised in songs lauding the British Empire and its troops. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>. Her complete recordings are collected on a Mustrad release.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n