Tuesday 25 August 2009

Hot Stuff


There seems to be some doubt whether this song is actually from the Seven Years War or later in the 1770s when it is first recorded - it's possible author Ned Botwood was supposedly a Grenadier in the 47th foot but there seems some doubt about that too. Anyway it's a great song that refers to the fact that the 47th (Lascelles) were issued with uniforms intended for Shirley's regiment - the 50th (see pic) who went into captivity along with the 51st.
HOT STUFF
Come, each death-doing dog who dares venture his neck,
Come, follow the hero who goes to Quebec,
Jump aboard of the transport, and loose every sail,
Pay your debts at the tavern by giving leg-bail.
And ye that love fighting, shall soon have enough,
Wolfe commands us, boys; we shall give them Hot Stuff!

Up the river St. Lawrence, our troops shall advance,
To the Grenadier's March, we will teach them to dance.
Cape Breton, we've taken, and next we will try,
At their capitol, to give them, another black eye.
Vaudreuil, 'tis in vain, you pretend to look gruff,
Those are coming who know how to give you Hot Stuff!

With powder in his periwig, and snuff in his nose,
Monsieur will run down, our descent to oppose.
And the Indians will come, but our Light Infantry,
Will soon oblige them to take to a tree.
From such rascals as these, shall we fear a rebuff?
Advance, Grenadiers! And let fly your Hot Stuff!

When the Forty-Seventh Regiment is dashing ashore,
While bullets are whistling, and cannons do roar,
Say Montcalm, "Those are Shirley's - I know their lapels."
"You lie!" says Ned Botwood, "We are with Lascelles."
Though our clothing has changed, yet we scorn the powder
puff, So at you! Ye bastards! Here's give you Hot Stuff!

With Monckton and Townshend, those brave Brigadiers,
I think we shall soon have the town about their ears.
And when we have done with the mortars and the guns,
If you please, Madame Abbess, a word with your nuns.
Each soldier shall enter the convent in buff,
And then, never fear, we shall give them Hot Stuff!

Circa 1774

Further study

3 comments:

  1. Sir,

    Not sure you saw this post under the black and white Roger's Ranger illustrations by Ron Embleton:

    I just wanted to thank your for your contributions, to date unknown by you, to my course - History 402 Colonial America with the American Public Univarsity system. I have found your articles here and on your other blog, an excellent source of reviews, unique information, and illustrations, to add to and enhance my course resources and notes. In particular, your Ron Embleton "leads", led this Yank to the fabulous Look and Learn site...
    I can't thank you enough and I look forward to more enlightenment in the future.
    My blog is at
    http://mymilitaryhistory.blogspot.com/

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  2. I like your blog - interesting indeed. Thanks for the kind comments.
    Ralph

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  3. Thanks,
    I give myself an "F" for mis-typing "University"!

    ReplyDelete