The lilies of France - Anonymous

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"Published in 1756 under the original title of "The Fair English rose". A patriotic song for performance at the London pleasure gardens (here presented in the extant sparse harmonization) stirring public opinion at the outbreak of the Seven Years War. Another set of words to the same tune, even less equivocal in its attitude towards the French, was penned by a participant of the assault on Quebec, 1759, under the title Hot stuff (Anonymous)."

◈ Genre / Form → Folksongs ♬ Voicing → solo high ¶ Language → English

Parts 1

Instruments Keyboard

Pages 3

CPDL # 71436

Editor Christopher Shaw

Posted 2022-11-05

License Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike

¶Lyrics / Text

The lilies of France and the fair English rose Will never agree, as old history shews; But our Edwards and Henrys those lilies have torn, And in their rich standards such ensigns have borne, To shew that Old England, beneath her strong lance, Has humbl'd the pride and the glory of France. What would these monsieurs, would they know how they ran? Why, look at the annals of glorious Queen Anne; We beat 'em by sea and we beat 'em by land, When Marlb'rough and Russell enjoy'd the command; We'll beat 'em again boys, so let 'em advance; Old England despises the insults of France. Why, let the Grand Monarch assemble his host And threaten invasion of England's fair coast; We bid them defiance, so let them come on, Have at them: their business will quickly be done; Monsieur, we will teach you a new English dance To our Grenadiers' March, that shall frighten all France. Let's take up our muskets and gird on our swords And, monsieurs, you'll find us as good as our words. Beat drums, sound trumpets and huzza for our king, Then welcome Bellisle with what troops thou can'st bring; Huzza for Old England, whose strong pointed lance Shall humble the pride and the glory of France.