| Here is a midi version of the Irish song,Garryowen. Gary Owen. Who is he? Well…it’s actually not a he…or even a person. Garryowen (all one word) comes from 2 different gaelic words (Garrai and Oein) that translate roughly to Owen’s garden. Garryowen is a town in County Limerick, Ireland. Thanks to a reputation as a rowdy, wild place it was immortalized in an Irish quickstep in around 1860. As the story goes, one of the Irish troopers in Custer’s command was singing the song while having a wee bit o’ spirits one night around the fire. The song is a natural for the cavalry as the beat translates well to the rhythm of galloping horses. LTC Custer heard the song and liked it so much it soon became a favorite of the Regiment. It was the last tune played by the Regimental band as they rode out towards Little Big Horn. The tune became the official “Air” of the Regiment in 1867 and actually became the official tune of the entire 1st Cavalry Division in 1981. The significance of the tune in the Regiment’s history led to it being incorporated into the Regimental crest, along with the raised saber.~Thanks Mac for bringing this this aspect of History to our attention. This is very interesting stuff here.~ k4ze |
| I dug out my 7th Calvary bugle. The bugle isn't authentic, but
the emblem is. This is the "crossed sabers" emblem.
"This was an
Irish song (author/composer unknown) that Col. Custer used as his
marching song. They would play it at the re-enactment, when we
(the troops) were in columns of two...moving. The distant sound
of this tune playing, would send tingles up the back of my neck.
It really gave me a sense for the 7th calvary of the time." ~W7LW |
"The unofficial marching song of Custer's 7th."
Let Bacchus' sons be not dismayed
But join with me, each jovial blade
Come, drink and sing and lend your aid
To help me with the chorus:
Chorus
Instead of spa, we'll drink brown ale
And pay the reckoning on the nail;
No man for debt shall go to jail
From Garryowen in glory.
We'll beat the bailiffs out of fun,
We'll make the mayor and sheriffs run
We are the boys no man dares dun
If he regards a whole skin.
Chorus
Our hearts so stout have got no fame
For soon 'tis known from whence we came
Where'er we go they fear the name
Of Garryowen in glory.
