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Origin of The Grand Old Flag

Demonland
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MELBOURNE

Founded: 1859

Club song: â€˜The grand old flag’

It’s a grand old flag

It’s a high flying flag

It’s the emblem for me and for you

It’s the emblem of the team we love

The team of the Red and the Blue

Ev’ry heart beats true

For the Red and the Blue

And we sing this song to you (What do we sing!)

Should old acquaintance be forgot

Keep your eye on the Red and the Blue

“It’s a Grand Old Flag” was taken from an American patriotic tune, “You’re a Grand Old Flag”.

The Melbourne theme song was written in 1912 and is one of the oldest club songs. A second verse was added by Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott, a Melbourne player, in the late 1930s.

“You’re a grand old flag” is an American patriotic march by George M. Cohan, and is a tribute to the American flag. The song was written for the musical George Washington Jr, which premiered in New York in 1906

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    Seriously though wouldn't it be great to have a song like the NZ or South African anthems ...one verse in English and one in an indigneous language

    Yes I know there are hundreds of indigenous languages so pick the one of the Wurundjeri people on whose lands the MCG sits

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    Have you heard the indigenous version of grand old flag? 

     

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      On 17/04/2020 at 12:33, Demonland said:

    MELBOURNE

    Founded: 1859

    Club song: â€˜The grand old flag’

    It’s a grand old flag

    It’s a high flying flag

    It’s the emblem for me and for you

    It’s the emblem of the team we love

    The team of the Red and the Blue

    Ev’ry heart beats true

    For the Red and the Blue

    And we sing this song to you (What do we sing!)

    Should old acquaintance be forgot

    Keep your eye on the Red and the Blue

    “It’s a Grand Old Flag” was taken from an American patriotic tune, “You’re a Grand Old Flag”.

    The Melbourne theme song was written in 1912 and is one of the oldest club songs. A second verse was added by Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott, a Melbourne player, in the late 1930s.

    “You’re a grand old flag” is an American patriotic march by George M. Cohan, and is a tribute to the American flag. The song was written for the musical George Washington Jr, which premiered in New York in 1906

    George M Cohan also wrote the music behind Hawthorn's song "  I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy' was the original song. Cohan was awarded a congressional medal of honour for his first world war song titled "over There'.

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      On 17/04/2020 at 12:44, Diamond_Jim said:

    Seriously though wouldn't it be great to have a song like the NZ or South African anthems ...one verse in English and one in an indigneous language

    Yes I know there are hundreds of indigenous languages so pick the one of the Wurundjeri people on whose lands the MCG sits

    I actually love the idea on an indigenous verse, but no. Leave my song alone please :) 

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      On 17/04/2020 at 22:36, Smokey said:

    I actually love the idea on an indigenous verse, but no. Leave my song alone please :) 

    But that's the problem...it's not our song.

    Bit like hanging on to God save the Queen but changing the words to God save the GG

    Edited by Diamond_Jim

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    Love our song. I can't get through the Herald Sun firewall to read about the background of the other songs but I remember on hearing the Adelaide one my first thought was that it's the same tune as the controversial song called The Sash (my father wore) sung by both Rangers supporters and unionists in Northern Ireland. Usually accompanied by a flute. 

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      On 18/04/2020 at 07:05, Rab D Nesbitt said:

    I remember on hearing the Adelaide one my first thought was that it's the same tune as the controversial song called The Sash

    One of the worst examples perhaps as it is of course the official song of the US marines.

    I suppose it can be defended on the basis that they stole the tune from a French operetta.

    Probably even worse is the Fitzroy/Brisbane theme sung to the tune of the French National Anthem.(Given their defence of almost every wine and cheese name known to man I'm surprised the French haven't sent Brisbane a please desist note.)

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    Good point about the French and the protection of their wine names, Diamond Jim.

    You can't even say "champagne comedy" any more, but instead have to use the phrase "sparkling wit".

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      On 18/04/2020 at 07:22, Diamond_Jim said:

    One of the worst examples perhaps as it is of course the official song of the US marines.

    I suppose it can be defended on the basis that they stole the tune from a French operetta.

    Probably even worse is the Fitzroy/Brisbane theme sung to the tune of the French National Anthem.(Given their defence of almost every wine and cheese name known to man I'm surprised the French haven't sent Brisbane a please desist note.)

    Here you go DJ. I'm a Rangers man myself but have no time for this sort of sectarian rubbish. It's the same tune as the Adelaide song though and is the only reason for me posting it. It's also been a while since we we're league and cup champions ? 

     

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    Since there is nothing else to talk about at the moment, here is a re-run of an article I wrote for Demonland a couple of years ago:

    Footy club Theme songs ( and their origins)

     

    We all know our own Club theme song, but singing such a thing has not always been done.  Over many, many years those songs have evolved, with the majority “borrowed” from other sources with the lyrics suitably adjusted. 

    So where did they come from, and what insights into the team and its own history do they give?

     

    Richmond:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxMHbg3R00g

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cz92GzEt2I

     

    This clip explains a lot about Richmond supporters.  Remember this when you next hear it! Especially the sexual overtones…..no, doesn’t bear thinking about….

     

    But the best version of their team song is this one:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBD49n36F9k

     

     

    Fremantle:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDsuU6v2gYE

     

    Original:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-qz4Icl3_Q

     

    Freo supporters should be serious vodka drinkers……

     

    Melbourne: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIHJ3NYIRro&list=PL79A42F90C35FD143

     

    Original:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvdHKS-rskA

     

    Sorry for the American overtones…..

     

    Adelaide:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3zS83-IQ3k

     

    Original:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itUDOuFcWb4&feature=related

     

    …and even more American overtones…..

     

    Essendon:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL0DRyhUt1c

     

    Original:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCN9KIPfMPE

     

    Visions of the prohibition era…..not much has changed at the Dons!

     

    Brisbane:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2OnZG6VnJk

     

    Original:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K1q9Ntcr5g&feature=related

     

    There was something wrong with this played at the Grand Final in front of 100,000 Australians

     

    Collingwood:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chRE_oHWG9g

     

    Original:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvvNbV5IORM

     

    It’s bad enough listening to the original song that they pinched but their supporters haven’t changed over the history of the club:

     

    http://www.convictcreations.com/football/collingwood.htm

     


    Geelong:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akAkWj7kXt0

     

    Surprisingly they tried this version in 1992, when they thought they would parody “Pinball Wizard” by the Who:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQFwnOIpej4

     

    Original:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXzsVb1pPFY

     

    …you have to wait a bit for the chorus to recognise it…..

     

    Hawthorn:

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2pumIAeS0c

     

    Original:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StDpLge_ITM

     

    More Americanism, but gotta love Cagney!

     

    Carlton:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPpe2LVfgwo

     

    Original:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4NMnwrKwpk

     

    If you listen to the words it simply wouldn’t be written today!

    The song was No. 21 on the White star line orchestra play list i.e  the Titanic. 

     

    St.Kilda:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--f9cjE9h4s

     

    Original:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyLjbMBpGDA

     

    Shortest lyrics of any club song. Satchmo is great regardless!

     

    Sydney:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1oQjBUeqAE

     

    Original:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSd_l508dwA&feature=related

     

    What does shake down the thunder from the sky mean?

     

    West Coast:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr5vcF66lH8

     

    Original:

    http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=iVQPsro2p0A

     

    Why do all Mike Brady songs sound the same?...Very 80’s

     

    Footscray:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCWSiW7vKrA

    Original:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGbdoQk9EIA

     

    The song is based on an old sea shanty called “Sons of the Sea”

     

    Port Adelaide:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2cUM71RA24

     

    The original was penned local composers Quentin Eyers ( who plays in a Sikh band ) and Les Kaczmarek (the original bass player with Cold Chisel).  Like the people who support the club, it is a shocker, and the alternative lyrics are probably more appropriate:



    We've got no Power at all
    Our [censored] are so small
    Come on, Port Adelaide are wankers
    We are the Bogans from Port
    We're always in court
    It's true Port Adelaide tradition
    We'll never stop, stop, stop
    Growin our drug, drug crop
    There's history here in the making
    Port supporters are sad
    No-one knows who's their dad
    Paternity tests is ours for the taking

    With our drug network so strong
    We can't go wrong
    We're the Alberton crowd
    Port Adelaide proud
    And the losers are those
    Who've earned the right
    To wear the silver - teal
    And black and white
    And the Port supporters
    Oh so small
    > > >>True Ferals
    > > >>One and all

     

    Gold Coast:

    Original:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGPHbeNUDFg

     

    However I much prefer the Kazakhstan version ( rarely heard):

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkVKyXDv81I

     

    GWS:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epvc4wDWQCQ

     

    Put together by Harry Angus of The Cat Empire! But could he have recently attended a Jewish wedding when he composed this piece?

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BMtlNLnXxI

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      On 17/04/2020 at 22:11, drysdale demon said:

    George M Cohan also wrote the music behind Hawthorn's song "  I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy' was the original song. Cohan was awarded a congressional medal of honour for his first world war song titled "over There'.

    My mate and I always refer to the Melb v Hawthorn game as the Cohen Cup!

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      On 17/04/2020 at 13:48, The Lobster Effect said:

    Have you heard the indigenous version of grand old flag? 

     

    Would be great if they could somehow combine it with David Bridie's version...

     

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    A few other facts I read about it years ago. George Cohan's inspiration for the song was an ex Civil War soldier he sat near on a train who was carrying his original confederate flag from the civil war as he was heading to some memorial event. As George mentioned it was written for the musical but it became the number one hit in America. In those days that was assessed by how many copies of the music were bought. 

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