Marching Along

Kentish Sir Byng stood for his King
Bidding the crop headed Parliament swing.
And pressing a troop unable to stoop
And see the rogues flourish and honest folk stoop.

Marching along fifty score strong
Great hearted gentlemen singing this song.

God for King Charles! Pym and such carles,
To the Devil that prompts them their treasonous parles.
Cavaliers up! Lips from the cup,
Hands from the pasty nor bite take nor sup,
Till you're

Marching along fifty score strong
Great hearted gentlemen singing this song.

Hampden to Hell! And his obsequies' knell
Serve Hazelrigg, Fiennes, and young Harry as well!
England good cheer! Prince Rupert is near!
Kentish and loyalists keep we not here.
But go

Marching along fifty score strong
Great hearted gentlemen singing this song.

God for King Charles! Pym and his snarls
To the Devil that pricks on such pestilent carles.
Hold by the right you double your might,
So onward to Nottingham fresh for the fight!

Marching along fifty score strong
Great hearted gentlemen singing this song.


This poem is the fruit of the Victorian fascination with the English Civil War. Written by Robert Browning in 1841, this work was adopted by the folk group Strawhead who added music from a C17th galliard, and is available on their CD Songs of the Civil War.

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