“A Song for the Fourth of June”

.

The Eton Boating Song is probably the best loved of all English school songs and yet it is not the official one for Eton College. Their ‘official’ one is a rather solemn affair called The Carmen and not surprisingly is virtually unknown outside the college.

The Eton Boating Song is, however, known all over world both for the words and its stirring tune.

The song’s lyric was written by an Eton master called William Johnson (1823-92), who was born at Torrington in Devon. The poem was first published as “A Song for the Fourth of June” being the day of Eton’s of river celebrations.

At this time there was still no tune. This was composed much later by a former pupil of Johnson’s called Algy Drummond.

The earliest recorded printed edition of the song dates from 1878 .....so it has been popular for quite a few years.

I have to admit that 50 odd years ago....before all this PC rubbish came about, we at school were heard to sing alternative words in the chorus -

For we're all 'queers' together, excuse us while we go upstairs.

For we're all 'queers' together, that's why we go round in pairs!

And to finish, as usual, something to make you smile...

There was a young lady from Eton,

Whose body had plenty of meat on;

She said “Marry me, dear,

And you’ll find that my rear

Is a nice place to warm your cold feet on !”

.