KING'S HORSES, THE (AND THE KING'S MEN)
(Noel Gay / Harry Graham)
Jack Hylton & His Orch. (vocal: Pat O'Malley) - 1930
Jack Payne & His Band - 1930
Ray Starita & His Ambassadors Band (vocal: Sam Browne) - 1930
Henry Hudson's Melody Men (vocal: John Thorne) - 1930
Bob & Alf Pearson - 1930
Bert Hirsch & The Hit Of The Week Orch. - 1930
James Barton (feat. in the Broadway Revue "Sweet And Low") - 1930
The Rhythm Maniacs - 1930
Milt Shaw & His Detroiters - 1930
The Rhythmic Troubadours - 1930
Jay Wilbur & His Band (Instr.) - 1930
Cecily Courtneidge (feat. in the London Revue "Folly To Be Wise") - 1931
Raie Da Costa (Instr.) - 1931
Lou Gold & His Orch. (vocal: Dick Robertson) - 1931
Ben Bernie & His Orch. - 1931
California Ramblers (vocal: Elmer Feldkamp) - 1931
Marius B. Winter & His Dance Orch. - 1931
The Biltmore Players - 1931
Charlie & His Orch. (vocal: Karl Schwedler) - 1941
Ted Heath & His Music (vocal: Dennis Lotis & The Stargazers) - 1951
Munn & Felton's Works Band (Instr.) - 1956
Ian Whitcomb & His Dance Band - 1988
Also recorded by: The Big Four; Pasadena Roof Orch.
The king's horses, the king's men,
Marched down the street and then marched back again,
The king's horses and the king's men.
They're in scarlet, they're in gold,
All dollied up, it's a joy to behold!
The king's horses and the king's men.
They're not out to scare the foe,
You might think so,
But oh dear no!
They're out because they've got to go
To put a little pep into the Lord Mayor's Show!
It's their duty, now and then,
To march down the street and then march back again,
The king's horses and the king's men.
The king's horses, the king's men,
Marched down the street and they marched back again,
The king's horses and the king's men.
They're in scarlet, dressed in gold,
All dollied up, it's a joy to behold!
The king's horses and the king's men.
They're not out to scare the foe,
You might think so,
But oh dear no!
They're out because they've gotta go
To put a little pep into the Lord Mayor's Show!
It's their duty, now and then,
To march down the street and then march back again,
The king's horses and the king's men.
(Contributed by Peter Akers - March 2010)
********************
As recorded by JOHN THORNE
with HARRY HUDSON'S MELODY MEN, 6th October 1930:
The King's horses, the King's men
Marched down the street and they marched back again
The King's horses and the King's men
They're in scarlet, they're in gold
All dollied up, it's a joy to behold
The King's horses and the King's men
They're not out to fight the foe
You might think so, but oh dear no!
They're out because they've got to go
To put a little pep into the Lord Mayor's Show
It's their duty, now and then
To march down the street and to march back again
The King's horses and the King's men
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
Humpty Dumpty had a big fall
All the King's horses and all the King's Men
Couldn't put Humpty together again
(Here we come gathering nuts in May)
(Nuts in May, nuts in May)
(Orchestral Interlude)
They're not out to fight the foe
You might think so, but oh dear no!
They're out because they've got to go
To put a little pep into the Lord Mayor's Show
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - August 2011)
*******************
As recorded by ELMER FELDKAMP with
the CALIFORNIA RAMBLERS, 2nd February 1931:
The King's 'orses, the King's men
They marched down the street and then marched back again
Who, the King's horses?
No, the King's men!
They're in scarlet, they're in gold
All dollied up, it's a joy to behold
Who, the King's horses?
No, the King's men!
Now, they're not out to fight the foe
You might think so, but oh dear no!
They're out because they've got to go
To put a little pep into the Lord Mayor's Show
It's their duty, now and then
To march down the street and to march back again
Who, the King's horses?
No, the King's men!
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - April 2017)
********************
TRIVIA:
Charlie & His Orchestra were an early 1940's Nazi-sponsored German propaganda
swing band. Jazz music styles were considered rebellious by the Nazis, but,
ironically, propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels conceived of using the style in
radio broadcasts aimed at Great Britain, Canada and the United States. British
listeners could hear the band every Wednesday and Saturday at around 9 pm.
The purpose of the band was to stir pro-Nazi sympathy, draw attention to World
War II Allied losses, convince listeners that Great Britain was a pawn for U.S. and
Jewish interests, and carry Adolf Hitler's messages in an entertaining form. The
songs stressed how badly the war was going for the target audience, and how it
was only going to be a matter of time before they would be beaten.
American swing and popular British songs were initially performed true to the
original, until about the second or third stanza where pro-German lyrics and
monologues would be introduced. The band was led by Lutz Templin with vocals
by Karl "Charlie" Schwedler. They made over 90 recordings between March 1941
and February 1943.
As recorded by CHARLIE & HIS ORCHESTRA:
The King's horses, the King's men
Marched down the street and then marched back again
The King's horses and the King's men
They're in scarlet, they're in gold
All dollied up, it's a joy to behold
The King's horses and the King's men
They're not out to fight the foe
You might think so, but, oh dear, no!
They're out because they've got to go
To put a little pep into the Lord Mayor's Show
It's their duty now and then
To march down the street and then march back again
The King's horses and the King's men
The King's horses and the King's men
Marched down to France and then marched back again
The King's horses and the King's men
They're avowed to march to the Rhine
And hang out their washing on the Siegfried Line
The King's horses and the King's men
They couldn't do a thing to fight the foe
You might think so, but, oh dear, no
All the men are feeling low
'Cause they couln't put some pep into Churchill's show
It's their duty now and then
Make a glorious retreat and be decorated again
The King's horses and the King's men
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - August 2011)
