THE WORDS TO BEGONE DULL CARE
Begone, dull care!Too much care
Will make a man turn grey
And too much care
Will turn an old man to clay
My wife shall dance and I shall sing
So merrily pass the day
For I hold it one of the wisest things
To drive dull care away.
HISTORY
The Regimental quick march for the Corps is known as "The
Royal Signals March". This march is based on the traditional airs "Begone Dull
Care" and "Newcastle".
The Regimental slow march entitled "The Royal Signals Slow March, Her Royal
Highness The Princess Royal", was specially written for the Corps by Mr R R
Ricketts, Musical Director of the Royal Signals Band from 1926 to 1939.
When a Corps march is played, officers and other ranks should remain still in
whatever position they are at the time and should keep silent. When playing a
march, the band should remain seated if already in that position.
We cannot trace this popular ditty beyond the reign of James II, but we believe
it to be older. The origin is to be found in an early French chanson. The
present version has been taken down from the singing of an old Yorkshire yeoman.
The third verse we have never seen in print, but it is always sung in the west
of Yorkshire.
Some Information Courtesy of Poets' Corner http://theotherpages.org/poems/ballad05.html