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OLD TUNES – RULE BRITANNIA

Posted on: October 1st, 2012 by hauleymusic No Comments

RULE BRITANNIA. “Smile America.” The music was composed by Dr. Thomas Augustine Arne for his masque of Alfred (some sources say the opera was The Judgement o’ Paris),* first performed as the end of an entertainment before Frederick, Prince of Wales, at Clivedon House, near Maidenhead, August, 1740, under the title “When Britain First.” The opera was revived in 1759 and the song was printed in Clio and Euterpe’s Or British Harmony, Vol. 1 (1758) under the “Rule Britiannia” title.** Lyrics were the work of Scottish poet James Thomson. The song was inspired by imperialistic fervor from the War of Jenkins’ Ear, in which England vied with Spain in dispute of access to the South American continent from 1739 to 1748, with major operations largely ended by 1742; it could be argued that the words referred to the alleged Spanish aggression against British merchant vessels that caused the war.***

As a nationalistic song it was a favorite of British troops in the American Revolution, who also used the titles “When Britain First by Heav’ns Come” and “Hail Britain, Hail thou Glory’s Pride.” As with several popular British songs, the tune was parodied by the Americans with new lyrics, and appears in the Henry Beck Manuscript (pg. 9) of 1786 as “Smile America.” Transported to America the tune was renamed, becoming “Smile America.”****
Rule, Britannia is strongly associated with the Royal Navy, but also used by the British Army. The tune also appears in the New and Complete Instructions for the Fife By G. Goulding c. 1787 as “When Britain First” on page 25.

The below version is taken from Clio and Euterpe or British Harmony. For sheet music and all six verses, please email rhauley@nycap.rr.com

Rule, Britannia
Lyrics as sung
When Britain fi-i-irst, at heaven’s command,
Aro-o-o-ose from out the a-a-a-zure main,
Arose, arose, from out the a-azure main,
This was the charter, the charter of the land,
And guardian A-a-angels sang this strain:
Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.
Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.

The nations, no-o-o-o-ot so blest as thee,
Must i-i-i-i-in their turn, to ty-y–yrants fall,
Must in their turn, to ty-y-rants fall,
While thou shalt flourish, shalt flourish great and free,
The dread and e-e-e-e-nvy of them all.
Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.
Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.

Still more maje-e-estic shalt thou rise,
More dre-e-e-e-eadful from each foreign stroke,
More dreadful, dreadful from each foreign stroke,
Loud blast above us, loud blast that tears the skies
Serves but to ro-o-o-ot thy native oak.
Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never will be slaves.
Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never will be slaves.

Variations: Never, never, never is sometimes sung as a single “never” over the same melodic phrase.

An AMERICAN PARODY on the OLD SONG or “RULE BRITANNIA.”*****

When Britons first, By Heaven’s Command,
Arose from out the azure Main;
This was the Charter of the Land,
And Guardian Angels sung this Strain:
Rule Britannia, rule the Wave,
Britons never will be Slaves.

To spread bright Freedom’s gentle Sway,
Your Isle too narrow for its Bound,
We trac’d wild Ocean’s trackless Way,
And here a safe Asylum found.
Rule Britannia, rule the Waves,
But rule us justly —not like Slaves.

While we were simple, you grew great;
Now swell’d with Luxury and Pride,
You pierce our peaceful free Retreat,
And haste t’enslave with Giant-stride.
Rule Britannia, Rule the Waves,
But rule us justly—not like Slaves.

When life glides through thy Veins,
We’ll the our final Fondness prove,
Bound only by the welcome Chains
Of Duty, Gratitude, and Love.
Rule Britannia, rule the Waves,
But never make your Children Slaves.

For thee we’ll toil with cheerful Heart
For thee we’ll labour—but we will be free—
Our Growth and Strength to thee impart,
And all our Treasures bring to thee.
Rule Britannia, rule the Waves,
We’re Subjects—But we’re not your Slaves.*

References
*Percy A. Scholes, The Oxford Companion to Music, First Edition, Oxford University press, 1938

**Clio and Euterpe or British Harmony an admired and rare Collection… London: John Welcker, 1758

***Emmerson, George S. A Social History of Scottish Dance: Ane Celestial Recreatioun. Montreal, Quebec, and London, Ontario: McGill-Queen’s Univ. Press, 1972.

****Chappell, William. Popular Music of the Olden Time: A Collection of Ancient Songs, Ballads and Dance Tune. 2 Vols. London: Chappell & Co., 1855-1859.

*****Norwich Packet, Vol. II No. 57, THURSDAY, October 27 – THURSDAY, November 3, 1774. Norwich, Connecticut: Alexander and James Robertson and John Trumbull. 1774. P. 2.