One thing I respectfully disagree with you on. The last stanza, I don't think it was merely a retelling of the start but singing about another young man being recruited, saying that this ongoing injustice of young men going off to fight pointless wars and being thrown asside once they're no longer if use was continuing. Our johnny was wounded abd left to beg in the streets and another young johnny is being recruited to replace him, and will likely replace him at his old begging spot too.
@BrandonF
Жыл бұрын
That’s definitely another interpretation that makes sense!
@Boomstickfan495
Жыл бұрын
It's actually a re-hashing of a very real old song "High Germany" , it's actually a folk song, the first half is the song the Dreadnoughts wrote themselves kzitem.info/news/bejne/tGtv0qSGeqdjnII It may be stated later in the video, but I just noticed this at the start and thought I'd add in
@Boomstickfan495
Жыл бұрын
so I guess @Nathan Lang deleted his comment or something, but actually yeah he's right, when I looked it up, the longest johns wiki actually says this: A medley arrangement of two separate songs that deal with popular folk music tropes, popularized by Canadian "Ciderpunk" band The Dreadnoughts. Though uncredited by the Dreadnoughts, this song's unique arrangement comes from Jon Loomes, who combined Steeleye Span's "Fighting for Strangers" with The Dubliners' rendition of the traditional "High Germany."
@kennethschlegel870
Жыл бұрын
This is exactly how I understood the last part as well.
@jordanmagnavox
Жыл бұрын
@@Boomstickfan495 They did not write any of it in fact. Its a mashup of High Germany as you say and a song called Fighting for Strangers by Steeleye Span.
@H_412
Жыл бұрын
I always heard the line as slingshot, chain shot, grape shot, with everything from literal slings upward being a metaphor for being on the recieving end of every terrible weapon the enemy used.
@brianboru2762
Жыл бұрын
Basically the same as "Everything and the Kitchen Sink"?
@Cdre_Satori
Жыл бұрын
yeah, I just assumed they just named every kind of shot they could think of. :D
@Tareltonlives
Жыл бұрын
I'm surprised the lyrics didn't go with gunshot to describe musket balls
@ps3exclusive
Жыл бұрын
I always thought it just meant the different possible situations the Army might fight, Slingshot be against Native populations in America or Africa, Chain Shot from serving on board a ship traveling to and fro and Grape Shot when fighting more European armies
@Tareltonlives
Жыл бұрын
@@ps3exclusive Thing is the natives in this part of America didn't use slings- they used bows and guns
@MWM499
Жыл бұрын
I’ve never actually considered this before but I’m absolutely a fan of The Dreadnoughts, The Longest Johns, and Stan Rogers.
@waterbears9874
Жыл бұрын
fellow dreadnoughts fan spotted
@joshuawells835
Жыл бұрын
Next song analysis-The Northwest Passage
@Eric_Hutton.1980
Жыл бұрын
Stan Rogers tragically killed in the Air Canada 797 fire.
@louisjov
Жыл бұрын
Stan Rogers is a legend! Northwest Passage, or the Bluenose would be interesting
@jamesfaulkner9968
Жыл бұрын
@@Eric_Hutton.1980 He survived the crash but went back to rescue other survivors and died later from smoke inhalation :( He was a hero.
@m1k3y48
Жыл бұрын
I figured the "half a ring" line referred to half the money needed to buy a wedding ring to marry his sweetheart. Making it all the more tragic when he returns horribly maimed
@InventorZahran
Ай бұрын
I thought it was a signifier of military rank. Officers usually wear one or more gold rings on their sleeves, so "half a ring" metaphorically describes a low-ranking soldier who's not even at officer level.
@GateCaptain
Жыл бұрын
My own personal interpretation for the line "Slingshot, chain shot, grape shot too" was that it was more of a metaphor for simply throwing whatever they had at the enemy. Even if taken literally it shows how fierce the fighting is that even when conventional ammunitions ran out they opted to use improvised weapons and munitions rather than retreating or surrendering.
@TheMwarrior50
Жыл бұрын
Into the North is probably one of the best albums ive heard. The Dreadnoughts holds a special place in my heart.
@thelegendaryarrox5559
Жыл бұрын
northwest passage ❤️
@lucasmatiasdelaguilamacdon7798
Жыл бұрын
When a Canadian punk band makes a non-stop shanty album and its their best album yet.. reminds me of that Italian punk band that had a concert presentation where they just beought out a kitchen set, made a pasta dinner and all sat to eat mid concert.
@user-ql6dq6zg6k
3 ай бұрын
@@lucasmatiasdelaguilamacdon7798Foreign Skies is still better imo, that or Roll and Go
@buzzmooney2801
Жыл бұрын
Half a ring was a supposedly common token for lovers, as the man marched off to war, to break a finger ring in half, so that the ring halves would show that he was, indeed, the enlisted lover. This is actually fairly common in folk songs. The song you showed is very similar to "The Dark-eyed Sailor", recorded by Steeleye Span. But yes, I have NOT actually documented this practice.
@filmandfirearms
Жыл бұрын
To me, that sounds a bit absurd. Breaking a metal ring in half with hand tools is not an easy task. That's kind of the point of the shape. There's also the fact that, since he wouldn't be married to the woman, the only people who would know who to tell if anything happened to him would be his mates, who wouldn't have any need for a separate piece of identification. He's certainly not going to forget about his girl back home, not unless he's the sort to change women every week, but that sort wouldn't have any need for a memento, so it isn't for his sake. For her sake, I would think that something more unique and personal would be both easier to come by and more meaningful than half a ring. This sounds like just another example of romanticization without any basis in reality
@00muinamir
Жыл бұрын
It's funny, because my first thought was, "isn't that supposed to be half a coin?" A bent/broken/altered coin has a little more substantiation behind it as a traditional love token. And I could see how the idea of identifying your lover using the token could be a skewed interpretation of proof of contract. Matching the two halves of a coin to prove the couple had promised to marry/were common-law married seems to parallel other contractual objects like tally sticks and indentures.
@Wotsitorlabart
Жыл бұрын
@@filmandfirearms 'Broken token' songs are very common in the English folksong tradition and the token usually takes the form of a ring. What more personal momento can there be than that of a ring given by one lover to another? Engagement rings, wedding rings, eternity rings all symbolise the union of two people. And he wouldn't be away for just a few months he might be posted abroad for years. On leaving he's callow youth but on his return a grizzled veteran.
@defnotthekgb8362
3 ай бұрын
I have a feeling they intentionally used “ring” in the lyrics here to make this clear, if they had said half a coin it would be much easier to misinterpret, especially following the stanza where he received pay.
@jaytea4093
Жыл бұрын
When I first heard this song maybe a year or two ago, I interpreted "half a ring" as meaning "at a very short notice," as in, Johnny was so enthusiastic about enlisting, that a bell would not even need to be rung one full time in order to get his attention.
@Tareltonlives
Жыл бұрын
That actually makes a lot of sense
@eddiev3052
Жыл бұрын
Yup. Like a ring of a bell. Plus, it’s more rhythmic and sounds much more period appropriate than saying “in two shakes of a lambs tail.”
@InventorZahran
Ай бұрын
That makes a lot of sense! In the era of telephones, 'picking up within half a ring' means answering very quickly, before the phone has time to fully ring once.
@joearledge1
Жыл бұрын
If I remember my Artillery classes properly, "Sling-Shot" is a nickname for a cousin of Chain-Shot. It was a type of Bar-Shot that was meant to lengthen in flight. 2 balls(or halves), each with a bar sticking out of it. At the tip of each bar is a metal loop. During manufacturing, loop #1 would be formed around bar #2, and loop #2 would be formed around bar #1. So that it would "telescope" and the loops around the bars would stop the 2 pieces from separating. Loaded it would be about 8" to 12", in flight, it would extend to 14" to 20"(guesstimates based on photos).
@JayBaddAssCutler
9 ай бұрын
I listened to this song almost daily as I was deciding to enlist into the Army. Now I am a broken man with a military pension and a medal from the crown… Time flies.
@sakkra83
Жыл бұрын
I know for a fact that the Prussian king issued the Iron Cross the first time in the 4th Coalition war. It was open for soldiers and civilians. Soldiers got them for valor in battle, civilian got them for finacial contributions to the war effort. "Gold gab ich für Eisen" comes to mind. lit: I gave gold for iron.
@sloshed-rat
Жыл бұрын
Is there any chance you'd want to create a series that takes a historical look at shanties? I'd certainly be more than interested.
@BrandonF
Жыл бұрын
I’d love to, but it depends on how well this video does, really.
@lordwunglerbeckett
Жыл бұрын
Right, well, I'm off to watch this again on every alt-account I own then
@morrisonnolan5687
Жыл бұрын
@@BrandonF The song Heart In Hand would be interesting for historical analysis. It's about the folkloric origin of a type of wedding ring popular in Ireland kzitem.info/news/bejne/un5s13yacKKKoWk
@oscarosullivan4513
Жыл бұрын
@@BrandonF Scarlett coat is to rhyme the use of the different rounds is also to rhyme. The Scarlett coat could also be the recruiting sergeant could have sold Johnny the idea of a long career as an enlisted man who will rise to be a sergeant. As for the medal and pension Johnny in the song likely was someone who played a crucial role in the defeat of the enemy and suffered serious injuries. Johnny would likely have been awarded a pension due to his loss of limbs. The woman’s lover and brothers may have been pressed into the Navy and joined the Royal Marines or as they were known originally as the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot and took part in the Spanish wars of succession. The end line of the cruel wars is about the cycle continuing as John could have been anyone as the name John was common.
@nonamejustbecause
Жыл бұрын
Talking about the chain shots, it's possible Jonny is being deployed from a ship because ya know England being a pond over other lands so the chain shots can be used to try and bring down a ship before it reaches land or just naval warfare on the way to the front lines
@krockpotbroccoli65
Жыл бұрын
Or they're fighting in the American revolution and the patriots are hurling whatever they can find at the British lines. American militia were notorious for scrounging any ordnance they could find ( including but not limited to cannon and ammunition taken ashore from ships).
@drfye
2 ай бұрын
🤔 possibly royal marines.
@gaslightstudiosrebooted3432
Жыл бұрын
With regard to press-gangs, the French army of the Bourbon period was notorious for occasionally outright kidnapping urban poor and rural peasants and more or less conscripting them into service. ranks. According to an admittedly tertiary source: Moulliard records that "everyone knew of pathetic scenes of impressments which degenerated at times into simple kidnapping."
@Guy-the-egg
Жыл бұрын
Did they do it through all of the bourbon reign
@gaslightstudiosrebooted3432
Жыл бұрын
@@Guy-the-egg Not to my knowledge no. This was largely post War of Spanish Succession to the end of the Seven Years War, when the French army needed to fill quotas in terms of sheer numbers.
@Guy-the-egg
Жыл бұрын
@@gaslightstudiosrebooted3432 ok thank you
@josephwalukonis9934
Жыл бұрын
The Prussian army was even more notorious for this than the French.
@Eserchie
Жыл бұрын
I had immidiatly made the connection between broken tokens and the half a ring line when I first heard the song, though thought it might be just as much used in a metaphorical sense - half way married/engaged.
@eindalton2638
Жыл бұрын
>lowkey admits to listening to "My Dad is a War Criminal" This is why I love this channel.
@BrandonF
Жыл бұрын
I will highkey admit to loving most turbofolk.
@louisjov
Жыл бұрын
I would watch this as a series. There are a lot of old songs I enjoy that I would love to learn more about, Rising of the Moon, Arthur McBride, etc
@matijaradulovic422
Жыл бұрын
i am really glad you touched this gem of a song, i always wanted to know meaning of second half and why tone changes so drasticaly
@atkinsm0607
Жыл бұрын
The cruel wars to me always held as a generalisation of warfare throughout history rather than a specific time period. To view a war/world at war through the eyes of a soldier or a civilian. Johnny, Tommy, Atkins, etc. It never changes to them
@mdccxcii6340
Жыл бұрын
I'm glad to see my two favorite topics (history & music) come together in a video. Thanks!
@elcatrinc1996
Жыл бұрын
you would think i would enter this video without, not only knowing the song already, but being able to sing it by heart at every moment im in idle?
@00muinamir
Жыл бұрын
This is like peak goals--make a piece of media that ends up getting a historical accuracy review from Redcoat Senpai.
@seanpoore2428
Жыл бұрын
I'm pretty sure "Johnny came to with half a ring" means "Johnny woke up with half a ring of the alarm bell because he was so excited and ready to go" And I think the last verse in the first section being a repeat is another johnny being recruited by another sergeant and the tragic cycle continuing
@Tommy-5684
Жыл бұрын
the song tome in places is referencing Johnny i Hardly Knew Ya a song that is talking about an Irish about a woman Lamenting her lover who took the kings shilling and lost an arm and a leg in the wars. interestingly the original melody for Johnny i Hardly Knew Ya has been lost so it uses the melody of "When Johnny Comes Matching Home" a much later song i belve
@jmiller1977
Жыл бұрын
I came across your channel when you did a breakdown on the assault in the movie. The Free state of Jones .came across that because I had found that clip and realize it was one of the greatest reenactment clips ever done. What a real advance looked like during the Civil War thanks for the good work.
@yacobbaker4916
Жыл бұрын
Well, the feel is right, but the advancing column looks atrocious, I don't think we'll ever get a good depiction of linear warfare in hollywood
@Spineless-Lobster
Жыл бұрын
Oh my god what a surprise! I’m a massive fan of The Dreadnoughts and The Longest Johns so waking up from a nap and seeing this in my subscription feed made me very excited lol
@BrandonF
Жыл бұрын
Glad to be of service!
@greenmountainhistory7335
Жыл бұрын
Yes people still say “slaps” usually in a semi ironic manor
@tomthedespoiler
Жыл бұрын
The utter sincerity of your ad reads is delightful. More often than not I skip past sponsor messages but I watch yours, and they have a absurdist style that fits your channel very well
@HistoryNerd1814
Жыл бұрын
I've managed to come across a book in my area that mentions a British Soldier who was a veteran from the Napoleonic War who settled in Niagara Region to a town called Fort Erie who helped Canadian Prisoners to the Fenains who escaped from the Fenains
@dakotadurham4788
Жыл бұрын
The Fenian Invasion of Canada is the biggest meme ever
@OcarinaSapphr-
Жыл бұрын
This made me think about 'Whiskey in the Jar' & 'The Highwayman'- they only have brief mentions of 18th century military, but they were fantastic songs, nevertheless...
@nevarraven9048
10 күн бұрын
Do you mean the Phil Ochs Highwayman or a different song by the same name
@OcarinaSapphr-
9 күн бұрын
@@nevarraven9048 The song by the super-group, The Highwaymen (Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, & Willie Nelson)
@w0lfr0gue53
Жыл бұрын
Always a good day when historical review video is released
@thepoglin8479
Жыл бұрын
i like to think that the line about grapeshot, chainshot, slingshot being unrealistic is said to represent all the chaos and confusion of war and how the innocent soldier doesnt understand them.
@PumpkinsAmongUs
Жыл бұрын
I'd love more videos like this on some of their other songs, or those by the Longest Johns or Sabaton like you put up on screen!
@anielabogusz2719
Жыл бұрын
sabaton fans when they hear "war is when cool boys do the shooting, tanks tanks tanks in poland, let's go" with a cheap synth tune (it's the deepest song they've ever heard)
@anoninunen
Жыл бұрын
When I heard the lyrics "half a ring", I assumed that it meant "half the money for a wedding band", based on the traditional minimum value of such
@henryspadt6160
Жыл бұрын
When are you gonna make a turn review. The clothing absolutely terrible compared to the patriot if not the same quality and definitely is good versus absolute evil it warrants a series!
@BrandonF
Жыл бұрын
Well I have one video about a Turn battle at least
@laughingseagull000
Жыл бұрын
Well they tried a bit to humanize the British with Baker, or whatever the kind redcoat was named from the first season.
@henryspadt6160
Жыл бұрын
@@BrandonF with the amount of clothing and plot details we need a saga haha
@Fyrethorne
Жыл бұрын
Been a minute since I stopped by this channel, and I must say I appreciate the dapper coat!
@wetwillyis_1881
Жыл бұрын
I would love to see your take on the book “Happy Odyssey” by Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart. I’ve been reading it, and getting a deeper appreciation for the time period, and the romanizations of soldiering. This was a great video easy, and I’m glad we have you to talk about these niche history things with us.
@sawyermauthe5400
Жыл бұрын
Very well put introduction statement. Brilliant!
@buzzmooney2801
Жыл бұрын
Yeah, chain shot is a weird choice. I've HEARD of (not documented) an incident in the ACW, in which a battery got hold of chain shot with a REALLY long chain. (extremely unlikely) that they loaded into TWO guns. according to the story. However, one of the guns didn't fire immediately, so the other end, when fired, scythed through the crews of BOTH guns. A HIGHLY unlikely story, but an interesting concept. But slingshot?!?
@wayneantoniazzi2706
Жыл бұрын
There WAS a double-barreled cannon used by the Confederates on an experimental basis and DID use two balls chained together, one down each barrel. As the saying goes "It seemed like a good idea at the time!" The thing was a flop.
@userjb1yb5yq3t
Жыл бұрын
Absolutely love the dreadnoughts and the accuracy of the songs has always intrigued me wanting to know what inspired these amazing songs. Thank you for this amazing video
@elchjol2777
Жыл бұрын
That first part put the image of an interesting battle in my head. Lets say the force opposing the British are defending a port town and have stripped the guns off some their ships to use on land,thus some of the strange ammo types. The barren land line makes me think that the land around the town might have been put to the torch by the defender to deny some supplies to the enemy. As for Jonny's award, should the unlikely happen and the fighting moves in to the town itself, the close and more personal nature of such a fighting environment could make it more likely for any act of valor Johny does to be seen and attributed to him as a specific soldier. Though I have a feeling such a fight against such a stubborn defender might be unlikely in the era depicted. This era a bit of a blind spot in my study of history though so its just an interesting theoretical battle.
@luisandres5310
Жыл бұрын
Hi Brandon! On the subject of medals and recognition; there was a common form of award in the spanish armed forces( french too I think) prior to the extended use of metalic medals. It consisted of embroided cloth circles or ovals that were sewn on the sleeve of the uniform. I don't know if this was common practice among other european armys. You'll certantly know more about this subject than me (Sorry if I spelled something wrong, english is not my first language)
@kevinlove4356
Жыл бұрын
Love the video! Since the song is Canadian, I wonder if it was inspired to some extent by "Farewell to Nova Scotia." Lyrics are: Farewell to Nova Scotia, the sea-bound coast, let your mountains dark and dreary be. for when I'm far away on the briny ocean tossed, Will you ever heave a sigh or a wish for me? 1. The sun was shining in the west, The birds were singing on every tree. All nature seemed inclined to rest But still there was no rest for me. Chorus 2. I grieve to leave my native land, I grieve to leave my comrades all, And my aging parents whom I've always loved so dear, And the bonnie, bonnie lass that I do adore. Chorus 3. The drums they do beat and the wars they do alarm, The captain calls, I must obey. Farewell, farewell to Nova Scotia's charms, For it's early in the morning and I'm far, far away. Chorus 4. I have three brothers and they are at rest, Their arms are folded on their chest. But a poor simple sailor just like me, Must be tossed and driven o'er the deep dark sea.
@connorhansen1640
Жыл бұрын
Already been mentioned at least once, but also the first half of the song has quite a few similarities with the Irish song Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya as well. Both involve a soldier leaving his sweetheart to go off to war and returning without many of his limbs. For instance, in Cruel Wars the verse runs "You haven't an arm, you haven't a leg, the enemy nearly slew ya. You'll have to go out with a bowl to beg, oh poor Johnny what'll happen to ya?" And in the Irish original it runs "Ye haven't an arm and ye haven't a leg, Ye're an armless, boneless, chickenless egg, Ye'll have to put with a bowl out to beg, Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye."
@goldleadergaming340
Жыл бұрын
i personally like the darker red uniform more than the more vibrant one
@lauriethebomb807
Жыл бұрын
I would love to see Brandon talk about Sabaton. I’m not a historian but I think they are pretty accurate. Love the channel!
@DaezieDoodle
3 ай бұрын
Brandon, I believe the "half a ring" refers to a gimmel ring. It was a 2 to 3 part ring, where 1 part was kept by the lady and the other part by the man at the wedding proposal, then reunited into 1 ring when they were wed.
@SlimRhyno
Жыл бұрын
5:10 This is the best creator-made ad I have EVER seen! Will it make me play Raid? No. But, did watching it make me happier than I previously was? Oh yeah. And I don't know of many ads... well, ever, that I can say that about 😁
@MortalWombat1988
Жыл бұрын
Dreadnoughts fan here. So interesting!! A lot of (in my opinion acceptable) fast and loose play with historical precision here, I learned so much! Thank you, and I hope this comment helps to sate the unquenchable blood thirst of the youtube algorithm gods and makes this work reach more interested people!
@danylara3530
Жыл бұрын
I think that the slingshot mention in the lyrics could be the dreadnoughts being kind of jokingly saying: It was a fustercluck and everything was being fired everywhere, as a sort of coment about the horrors of a battle and the confusion One might feel, and How, to a regular soldier it might look like the end of the world itself due to Its hellish nature. Love your Channel btw I just found it and Its amazing.
@CostcoComrade
6 ай бұрын
the newer renditions of the song that the dreadnoughts perform replaces the "sling shot, chain shot, grape shot too" line with "chain shot, ape shot, grape shot too"
@superjeff8916
Жыл бұрын
I dropped everything to see this, Brandon never disappoints.
@pooch7245
Жыл бұрын
You actually got me to watch a Raid Shadow Legends ad, I did not think it could ever be done
@venomtheultimate434
10 ай бұрын
11:45 I Did a song analysis on The Cruel Wars Back in school, the "Half a Ring" was referring to calling back home and not getting a response back. The whole Purpose of the song is meant to convey the message of the dangers that war can bring and that men shouldn't be so enthusiastic about enlisting.
@theroundtable6371
Жыл бұрын
Lets go, a review of one of my favorite sea shanties and potentially linked to Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya Edit: Thin Red Line could refer to the troops themselves, suggesting they were low on men?
@Leetjesliedjes
Жыл бұрын
I've actually thought about the slingshot part and I interpreted it as if they meant the risk of getting into naval warfare as they are traveling to and/or from the Continent?!
@JackCrow0
11 ай бұрын
With the term Slingshot I think you're right about it being a modern term, but I think it's in regards to musket fire more than any kind of artillery a small lead ball like what would be used for muskets would be perfect for a kid with a sling shot. Growing up my grandfather had a sling shot that he used such metal balls with.
@Cjinglaterra
Жыл бұрын
First time I ever stopped skipping ahead and rewound to listen to an ad. I hate all the silly game stuff, but you made it entertaining. I don’t blame you for taking them as a sponsor, by the way.
@windygusset6857
5 ай бұрын
The thin red line refers to a tactic employed by British infantry. It was a means by which more guns were brought to bear rather than the packed ranks employed by other formations
@flyboymike111357
Жыл бұрын
Oh man. I remember asking about this song when you did that fictional documentary about the battle of Culloden Moor. I'm so excited to see you deep dive into it.
@joearledge1
Жыл бұрын
I always thought this was written as a prequel, or to be the first in a trilogy of songs about "The Old Lie". 1st = Cruel Wars(the story begins with some foreshadowing) 2nd = When Johnny Comes Matching Home(from the perspective of those left at home) 3rd = Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya( the end of the story), 2 and 3 being foreshadowed in 1 to an extent.
@edwardharris3547
Жыл бұрын
The thought occurs to me that, rather than "Johnny came to" as in coming to consciousness after sleep or passing out, that it is"Johnny came too." Given that the "recruiting sargeant marched away" it makes sense to me that "Johnny came too" as in, he accompanied the sergeant.
@RisingChaosWriting
Жыл бұрын
Don't worry man, I still say "slaps" to describe music. Stay strong
@amtmannb.4627
Жыл бұрын
I'm happy that you like the song. I'm myself a reenactor (French infantry in 1803 and civilian in 18th and early 19th century). I loved "High Germany" years before The Dreadnoughts made their Album. I think that the women riding at the side of a soldier is a very true picture. We know it from other armies too such as the Spaniards arriving in Hamburg depicted by Suhr in the Napoleonic wars or a picture of French infantry in Leipzig in 1806 drawn by Geißler and showing a lot of details of ordinary military life. We see correct shoes, we see such soldier's wifes selling food like sausages. I love The Dreadnoughts too. They played in Freiburg more then 10 years ago with one of the best fiddlers I ever saw in Folk or Folkpunk. Great band. Thank you for talking about the song and thank you for your work.
@arethmaran1279
Жыл бұрын
This video and the concept around it slap, Brandon, please make more.
@TrueOpinion99
Жыл бұрын
"...its a pretty negative portrayal..." ...well, yeah...because war is hell, no matter the era.
@BrandonF
Жыл бұрын
Touché!
@SmurmBreep
Жыл бұрын
This is not a review I knew I needed! I love this song, and I love your channel.
@Alexlalpaca
7 ай бұрын
I am baffled that anyone but me would ever care about this particular combination of topics but I'm also glad to know many do.
@josephvissarianovich943
Жыл бұрын
Interesting, I had heard an extra verse at the end of High Germany, which goes "My friends I do not value nay my foes I do not fear Now my love has left me I'll wander far and near And when my baby it is born and a smiling on my knee I'll think of lovely Willy in high Germany" I don't know whether that goes back to the 18th century or was added later on (possibly by the Dubliners)
@ObsidianHunter99
Ай бұрын
I knew it was a composition piece but I didn't realize the latter half was mostly a song from the actual time period, fascinating
@Abaudahdine
9 ай бұрын
The half-ring reference is admitted to be to the half-token so-called custom. Oh and the stanza where they say "'You haven't an arm, you haven't a leg, the enemy nearly slew ya", as well as the next one, are a direct pick from Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya, an anti-war Irish folk song.
@wayneantoniazzi2706
Жыл бұрын
Love the old-timey sound of the Dreadnoughts! Brandon, have you heard any of the songs of British folk singer Martin Carthy? Carthy specializes in traditional English songs and ballads and his version of "High Germany" is excellent. By the way, the melody to "High Germany" surfaced as a late Civil War song sung by Confederates. It went like this: "Oh Polly, oh Polly it's for your sake alone, "I left my dear old father, my country and my home, "I left my dear old mother to weep and to mourn. "I am a Rebel soldier and far from my home!" "It's grapeshot and musket and the cannon lumber loud, "There's many a mangled body a blanket for a shroud, "There's many a mangled body left on the field alone, "I am a Rebel soldier and far from my home!" Interesting, huh? Great video today, even the Raid commercial! Thanks!
@garylancaster8612
Жыл бұрын
I love the song "Rebel Soldier". Watch various VC versions on KZitem. Didn't know it was the tune to High Germany.
@wayneantoniazzi2706
Жыл бұрын
@@garylancaster8612 I first heard "Rebel Soldier" on a cassette tape of Civil War songs I bought about 30 years ago. When I heard "High Germany" for the first time I recognized the melody instantly. It's an interesting thing, but the melodies of many folk songs were so good they've been used over and over again with different lyrics over the centuries.
@garylancaster8612
Жыл бұрын
@@wayneantoniazzi2706 That's very true. Apparently the melody to "The Star spangled banner" is itself an old English drinking song.
@wayneantoniazzi2706
Жыл бұрын
@@garylancaster8612 Right! "To Anachreon In Heaven" is the song, and some pretty good arrangements are on KZitem if you go looking for them. And by the way, the Star-Spangled Banner itself is made of ENGLISH wool! Ironic, isn't it?
@sigurdviskum978
Жыл бұрын
Oh mr. Brandon, you really shouldn't have made a video specifically for me 💜
@jamesverhoff1899
Жыл бұрын
You hit on something at the end that I think is worth exploring more deeply: "authentic feeling". I think there's a difference between capturing the physical goods of a time period, and capturing the FEEL of the time period. There is no reason to presuppose that an artwork (painting, movie, TV show, song) is going to be 100% historically accurate to the time it addresses; even contemporary pop songs, where the facts can be determined by simply walking down a street, often get facts about the time wrong. But they don't do so trivially. They do so to present a certain sense of what's going on. To take this to an extreme, something like Animal Farm is completely inaccurate in nearly every detail, yet captures the feel of the rise of Communism in the Soviet Union. These sorts of things give an interesting window into how people viewed life at the time the piece was written. Interestingly, mass media--stuff made for the average person--is more useful here because it shows what the average person is presumed to have thought. A popular sitcom shows what the average person thinks is funny; pop songs show what the average person thinks is catchy. Popular songs in the 18th century would have served the same role, showing how people viewed themselves, the military (in this case), and the relationship between the two of them.
@dukeofcreepington5605
Жыл бұрын
If i might add, U did my own research when I first heard the song. I noticed that most likely slingshot refers to canister shot. Seeing as though the balls in canister shot are roughly equal in size to those used in a sling
@one_schizfreud
Жыл бұрын
sling shot refers to Johnnys innocence as he doesn't understand his predicament, grape shot slingshot what dose it matter to him. chain shot probably means he has heard Storys but obviously doesn't quite understand what he is getting into.
@captainjohann7708
Жыл бұрын
I love the way you 18th-centuried your sponsor! Very witty and funny; made my day! :)
@macaronncheese
Жыл бұрын
What a great video! I look to more song reviews if there are ever any more!
@amityexe8326
Жыл бұрын
I think the part about Johnny came to with half a ring would be in reference to a hang over but I think it more likely that he got his sign on bonus and then went out drinking with it.
@upyr1
Жыл бұрын
Great video, I love this song. Listening to the first section I always thought of "Johnny We Hardly Knew you"
@markneuman9795
Жыл бұрын
Steelers Span also sings this. Other songs that mention a broken token (ring) are "The Plains of Waterloo" and "Dark-eyed sailor".
@markneuman9795
Жыл бұрын
STEELEYE SPAN.
@markneuman9795
Жыл бұрын
"ADIEU, SWEET LOVELY NANCY" ALSO MENTIONS SWAPPING RINGS.
@Wonkt
Жыл бұрын
I like how the song is just a great listen. Historical accuracy aside, it feels great. Maybe you could do a video on Roll Northumbria, its another song by The Dreadnoughts and is like an alternate reality song.
@codex3845
11 ай бұрын
I would assume that the half a ring part is the ringing of either a marching drum or the recruiting sergeant's marching order.
@user-ln2bs4jp4b
Жыл бұрын
My personal interpretation of half a ring is that of a bell, as in Johnny awakening amidst the ringing of the first bell for church services and remembering the night before.
@pastadeadman4594
Жыл бұрын
My fellow history punk/metal fans, ever listened to 1914? I only ask because I rarely hear people talk about them, despite how badass their music is (imo)
@cutekrizu8214
Жыл бұрын
it'd be amazing for more song... reviews? Johnny I hardly knew ya would be a fun one
@jacksonhamilton6302
10 ай бұрын
The song is, I think, an obvious allusion to "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya" and is, in fact, seemingly canonical with it. Therefore, I think a time and place can be placed here. "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya" is about an Irishman from Athy (Ernest Shackleton's hometown) being sent to Ceylon in the early 19th century to fight a colonial war. At least, the first part, before High Germany, which would contradict that. If, however, the allusion is to "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya", that would be early 19th century Sri Lanka.
@WendiGonerLH
Жыл бұрын
“Col. Ossifer McInchargeman” The pinnacle of comedy. It’s all downhill from here
@jackdelane
Жыл бұрын
I thought half a ring upon first hearing the song was the morning bells, half a ring just an exaggerated way of saying promptly and enthusiasticly... neat to see there's more to it
@sterlingwilkes3240
18 күн бұрын
Tbf “a scarlet coat” fits the rhythm much better that “a kind of ruddy madder red coat”
@waterbears9874
Жыл бұрын
well damn didnt expect to see a video covering this song on my feed today, im interested
@Riceball01
Жыл бұрын
One minor correction or maybe addendum re camp followers, this was a thing for a long time before the Napoleonics and continued for some time after as well. The concept of camp followers dates back as far as to the Roman Legions whenthey weren';t allowed to marry. So they had what could be noew considered common law wives who would follow them around from posting to posting and sometimes even from campaign to campaign.
@SHAd0Eheart
7 ай бұрын
Chugging a beer with a coin at the bottom seems like a potential choking hazard ⚠️🍺🪙😵☠️⚠️
@the-white-eye
Жыл бұрын
i think many of the mistakes in the song, like the half ring, the use of chain shots or the exact shade of red used in the suits, could still be argued as somewhat historically accurate when you view the song as being written by a singer maybe not overly familiar with the war personally themselves, but more stories by those returning
@sidneyadnopoz3427
Жыл бұрын
Hey Brandon are you perhaps a fan of dear old Stan Rogers or Peter Bellamy?
@pastyman001
6 ай бұрын
The Dreadnoughts is a brilliant folk punk band from Vancouver
@maxrlx5467
Жыл бұрын
This is exactly what I've been hoping for, thanks Brandon!
@bigtiddymoth4853
Жыл бұрын
On your assessment of the first stanza, when you mention the offer of potentially becoming an officer through the ranks, a recruiter will lie, in the US, in the UK, in Germany, anywhere, and the temptation of promotions or positions you "could" rise to and pay grades you "could" receive are ABSOLUTELY something a recruiter would, and does even today use as an incentive to enlist.
@Zeppflyer
10 ай бұрын
Steeleye Span has some really weird pieces, but I love them along with all of Maddy Prior's work. Steeleye's rendition of 'Gaudete' is the only purely Latin, a cappella song to get near the top of the charts in Britain.
@thelegendaryarrox5559
Жыл бұрын
Brandon giving light to The Dreadnoughts?? My favorite band?? Today is a good day!!
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