The Night Was Dark
Sung by Norton Park schoolchildren.
The night was dark, the war was over.
The battlefield was shed with blood.
And there I spied a wounded soldier,
Lying dying as he said:
"God bless my home in dear old Scotland,
God bless my wife and only child.
And tell the people that I'm dying,
For I've won the Union Jack.
That's that!"
There is no obvious source for this ballad, which here is used for skipping but which was also useful for Halloween guising (and probably sung lugubriously then) — the vigor of this version clashes with the depressing text. The tune is derived from the first part of a brass band march. Should "shed" not be "red"? Davison has "Holding up the Union Jack."
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Various Artists
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Singing in the Streets: Scottish Children's Songs
- London Bridge Time: 0:17
- My Girl's A Corker Time: 1:26
- I've A Sweetheart in America Time: 0:51
- There Are Hundreds Of These Time: 1:08
- The Night Was Dark Time: 0:23
- Harry Lauder and Mussolini Are Dead Time: 0:25
- As I Went Down To Windsor Time: 0:32
- Chinese Government / Interview Time: 1:21
- The Wind, The Wind Time: 1:59
- Poor Mary Sat A-Weeping Time: 0:59
- Here's A Poor Widow Time: 0:17
- Little Sally Walker Time: 0:28
- On The Mountain Time: 0:17
- All The Boys In London Time: 0:34
- The Big Ship Sails Time: 0:23
- In And Out The Windows Time: 1:12
- Up Against The Wall Time: 0:42
- I Paula Tay Paula Taska / Interview Time: 0:41
- Here Comes A Bluebird Time: 0:32
- My Father Bought The Little Coat Time: 0:15
- A Tisket A Tasket Time: 0:30
- In and Out The Dusty Bluebells Time: 0:31
- He's A Navvy Time: 1:24
- Mother, Mother, I Am Ill Time: 0:28
- PK Penny Packet / Mrs Mopp / Chicka Tony Time: 0:25
- One Two Three Alairy Time: 0:22
- Eevy Ivy Over / Interview Time: 0:34
- All The Way To London Town / Interview Time: 1:13
- Queen Elizabeth Lost Her Shoe Time: 0:23
- It Has To Come Out Quite Unconsciously Time: 0:38
- Down In The Valley Time: 0:49
- There's Usually An Argument Which One's Which Time: 1:14
- Jelly On The Plate Time: 0:36
- Cowboy Joe / Ippetty Soopitty Time: 0:13
- My Mother / My Little House Time: 0:51
- Eetle Ottle, Black Bottle Time: 0:17
- Flip Flop Time: 0:36
- One Two Three Four Five Time: 0:20
- My Name Is Sweet Jenny Time: 0:51
- I'm A Little Orphan Girl Time: 0:58
- Broken Hearted, I Wander Time: 0:58
- The Bonny Sailor Boy / Interview Time: 1:21
- When I Was Single Time: 1:10
- An Angel Said To Me Time: 0:15
- All That Shivers / Canaa's Shore / The Burning Deck Time: 0:45
- The World Must Be Coming To An End Time: 1:02
- Robert Burns Time: 0:12
- Put Him In The Bathtub Time: 0:28
- I'm Goin' Awa In The Train Time: 0:19
- Paddy Knight Time: 0:21
- When I Was Young Time: 0:31
- Chairlie / The Cotton Spinners / The 42nd Time: 2:02
- Goose, Ducks, Stones, Fires And Rain Time: 1:08
- Aunty Mary Had A Canary / Woe O'Hara Time: 0:46
- The Donkey / The Croft / The Policeman Time: 0:54
- Oh Dear, What Can The Matter Be? Time: 0:11
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