REGIMENTAL QUICK MARCH - The Farmers Boy
The Regimental Quick March of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment was ‘The Farmers Boy’. It had connections with the former Regiments, The Royal Berkshire Regiment and The Wiltshire Regiment. As well as being indicative of the regiments origins and links with the south of England, ‘The Farmers Boy’ originated in North Oxfordshire as a folk ballad, and the tune is that of the patriotic song of the Napoleonic Wars ‘ To Sons of Albion’ It was collected and written down in 1909 by Janet blunt, the lady of Adderbury manor. She first heard it from the village singers at barn dances and harvest festival socials in Adderbury. The story combines the Christian ethic of good deeds and the promise of a better life, while the chorus emphasises the nostalgic pleasures of country life.
Regimental Band and Corps of Drums of the Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment.
The Farmer's Boy
The Farmers Boy
The sun had set beyond yon hill,
Across the dreary moor,
When weary and lame, a boy there came,
Up to the farmer's door,
"Can you tell me whe'ere I be,
And one that will me employ,"
To plough and sow, to reap and mow,
And be a farmer's boy,
And be a farmer's boy?
The farmer's wife cried "Try the lad
Let him no longer seek".
"Yes Father do" the Daughter cried,
While the tears rolled down her cheek:
"For those who would work, 'tis hard to want
And wander for employ".
Don't let him go, but let him stay,
And be a farmer's boy,
And be a farmer's boy?
The Farmer's Boy grew up a man,
And the good old couple died,
They left the lad the farm they had,
And the daughter for his bride;
Now the lad that was, the farm now has,
Oft he thinks and smiles with joy.
Oh, happy day he came that way,
To be a Farmer's Boy,
To be a Farmer's Boy.
In recognition of the Regiments Royal Navy connections and former service as Marines’ ‘Rule Britannia’ was usually played immediately after ‘The Farmers Boy’ on formal occasions and parades.
Both the Royal Berkshires and the Wiltshire’s played Rule Britannia at the end of all band performances. It was instituted by the Royal Berkshire Regiment following the 49th’s participation in the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 when Nelson was second-in-command of the British fleet.
The Wiltshire Regiment adopted the custom in commemoration of the 62nd Foot who, in 1758, were drafted to the Royal Navy for service as Marines and sailed in Admiral Boscwen’s fleet for the River St Lawrence in North America. Thomas Arne composed the patriotic song Rule Britannia in 1740 as part of the music for his masque Alfred, and the tradition was carried forward into the Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment.
The Regimental Slow March
Rule Britania
The Regimental Slow march of the Regiment was an old Scottish air ‘Auld Robin Grey’ which had been inherited from the former Wiltshire Regiment, and of the 99th (Duke of Edinburgh’s) prior to 1881.