Corb Lund, Canadian Country Western singer who I just discovered, sings the perfect theme song for this blog. See the video here:
The song is from his album, Horse Soldier! Horse Soldier! and includes several cavalry oriented tunes including I wanna Be in the Calvary.
I’m not a military guy…just an avid history buff like this singer. Man, this song’s pure art – nice to hear songs with substance and especially well-accounted history! The line abt special forces riding those “wily Afghan horses” literally sent chills down my spine. Well done.
Greg in Mexico
I’m a hussar, I’m a Hun, I’m a wretched Englishman
Routing Bonaparte at Waterloo
I’m a dragoon on a dun, I’m a Cossack on the run
I’m a horse soldier, timeless, through and through
I’m a horse soldier, eternal, through and through
I’s with Custer and the 7th in ‘76 or ‘77
Scalped at Little Big Horn by the Sioux
And the tears and devistation of a once proud warrior nation
This I know ‘cause I was riding with them too
I drank mare’s blood on the run when I rode with the Great Khan
On the frozen Mongol steppe when at his height
I’s a White Guard, I’s a Red Guard, I’s the Tsar’s own palace horse guard
When Romanov was murdered in the night
I knew Salah al-Din and rode his swift Arabians
Harassing doomed crusaders on their heavy drafts
And yet I rode the Percheron against the circling Saracen
And once again against myself was cast
Well I’ve worn the Mounties crimson, if you’re silent and you listen
You’ll know that it was with them that I stood
When Mayerthorpe, she cried, as her four horsemen died
Gunned down in scarlet, coldest blood
I’s the firstest with the mostest when I fought for Bedford Forrest
Suffered General Wilson’s Union raid
Mine was not to reason why, mine was but to do and die
At Crimea with the charging light brigade
On hire from Swiss or Sweden, be me Christian, be me heathen
The devil to the sabre I shall put
With a crack flanking maneuver, I’m an uhlan alles uber
Striking terror into regiment of foot
I knew my days were numbered when o’er the trenches lumbered
More modern machinations de la guerre
No match for rapid fire or the steel birds of the sky
With a final rear guard action I retreat
No match for barbered wire or the armoured engines whine
Reluctant I retire and take my leave
Today I ride with special forces on those wily Afghan horses
Dostum’s Northern Alliance give their thanks
No matter defeat or victory, in battle it occurs to me
That we may see a swelling in our ranks
I’s with the Aussies at Beersheba took the wells so badly needed
And with the Polish lancers charging German tanks
Saw Ross’ mount shot down at Washingtown the night we burned the White House down
And cursed the sack of York and sons of Yanks
It is true, much of Human History was written in hoofprints.
Wherever man has left his footprint in the long ascent from barbarism to civilization we will find the hoofprint of the horse beside it.
~ John Trotwood Moore
I’m very impressed with the way the history is integrated into the lyrics. My only thought is that 95% of all of his listeners won’t get the major of the historical references. For example:”I’m an uhlan alles uber.” How many would realize that’s a reference to German / Prussian uhlan cavalry –ie. lancers?
[...] Interesting how this all comes together with the final chapter of my book, and the last part of the Corb Lund song of the same [...]
This is a great find!!! I did take me a while to figure out the “Uhlan uber alles” reference. I like the way he notes both sides “arabs v crusaders, forrest v. wilson, custer v. souix.” Well done!
This song is easily one of the most intelligent songs written in recent times. The depth of historic references impresses me and the way Corb strings them all together in a colourful story is most impressive. He truly has a gift for song, story telling and historical recollection. I look forward to many more from him.
Totally agree with Steven.