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The Rout of the Blues

[ Roud 21098 ; Ballad Index ReSh082 ; trad.]

Robin and Barry Dransfield sang Rout of the Blues in 1970 as the title track of their Trailer album The Rout of the Blues. This track was also included in 1997 on their Free Reed anthology Up to Now. They commented in their original album's liner notes:

The Royal Horse Guards are known as the Blues. This song about their mustering was put together by Barry from The Idiom of the People, Ingledew's Yorkshire Ballads, and a vaguely remembered tune learned originally from Dave Howes of York.

Jon Boden sang The Rout of the Blues as the May 25, 2011 entry of his project A Folk Song a Day.

Brian Jones, Goff Jones and Ian Chesterman sang The Rout of the Blues at Wrexham in January 2009 or earlier:

Lyrics

Robin and Barry Dransfield sing The Rout of the Blues

As I crossed over Salisbury Plain,
'Twas a dainty fine sight I behold,
All the lasses were crying and tearing their hair,
𝄆 Oh the rout has just come for the Blues. 𝄇

Then each one home to their mothers do run,
Saying, “My heart is undone, it is true,
I'll pack up my clothes without more delay
𝄆 And boldly I'll march with the Blues.” 𝄇

The landlord and landlady walks hand in hand,
And so do they pretty girls too,
And each one pours out a bottle of gin
𝄆 To drink a good health to the Blues 𝄇

Our ship she is rigged and we all set sail,
And sweetly the French horns play too
And each one sets up a loud huzzah,
𝄆 “Success to King George and his Blues.” 𝄇

They're as gallant young fellows as ever you'll see,
Though you search bonny Britain all through.
When dressed in His Majesty's suit you'll agree
𝄆 There's none can compare with the Blues. 𝄇

(repeat first verse)

Links

See also the Mudcat Café thread Lyr Req: Rout of the Blues.