A traditional British marching song

Some talk of Alexander, and some of Hercules
Of Hector and Lysander and such great heroes as these
But of all the world's great heroes, there's none that can quite compare
With a tow, row, row, row, row, row to the British grenadiers!

Those heroes of antiquity ne'er saw a cannonball
Or knew the force of powder to slay their foes withal
But our brave boys do know of it and cast away all their fears
Sing tow, row, row, row, row, row for the British grenadiers!

Whene'er we are commanded to storm the palisades,
Our leaders march with fusils and we with hand grenades
We throw them at the glacis, about the enemy's ears
With a tow, row, row, row, row, row to the British grenadiers!

And when the siege is broken, we to the town repair
The townsmen cry, 'Hurrah, boys, here comes a grenadier!'
Here come the Grenadiers, my boys, who know no doubts or fears,
So sing tow, row, row, row, row, row to the British grenadiers!

So let us fill a bumper and let us drink to those
Who carry caps and pouches and wear the looped clothes
May they and their commanders live happily for all their years,
With a tow, row, row, row, row, row for the British grenadiers!

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Written in the early 17th century, author unknown
Introduced as a British military march by King William III

10 MAY 2018