4615. Trelawny (by Robert Stephen Hawker)

Also known as "The Song Of The Western Men" this song, by Robert Stephen Hawker) tells the tale of how the Cornish bishop, Jonathan Trelawny, was imprisoned along with six other bishops, by Parliament in 1688 during a time of great political unrest. He had great support from fellow Royalists in his native Cornwall, and they were urged to march on the Tower of London, where Trelawny was imprisoned, to release him. He was imprisoned because he didn’t agree with a Church of England decree to allow Catholics the freedom to worship. There was outrage that a son of Cornwall should be imprisoned in this way and the song recounts the tale of the Cornish call to arms to spring him free. In fact, when he went to trial, he was acquitted and made Bishop of Exeter. The song was named the official anthem of Cornwall in 1881 at the laying of the foundation stone of Truro Cathedral and has since become a song synonymous with the fighting Cornish spirit.
Lyrics and Chords:
G
A good sword and a trusty hand,
…... D7
A merry heart and true!
…...….. G ……………............ C
King James’s men shall understand
……...... G …..…. D7 …....... G
What Cornish lads can do.
…….... C ………………..........….. D7
And have they fixed the where and when?
…......… C ………….....… D7
And shall Trelawny die?
……......…. C …………........….. D7 …...… G
Here’s twenty thousand Cornish men
….....…. D …….... A7 ...…… D
Will know the reason why!
Chorus:
And shall Trelawny live?
Or shall Trelawny die?
Here’s twenty thousand Cornish men
Will know the reason why!
Out spake their Captain brave and bold:
A merry wight was he:
“If London Tower were Michael’s hold,
We’d set Trelawny free!
We’ll cross the Tamar, land to land,
The Severn is no stay:
With ‘one and all’, and hand in hand,
And who shall bid us nay?”
“And when we come to London Wall,
A pleasant sight to view,
Come forth! come forth ye cowards all,
Here’s men as good as you!
Trelawny he’s in keep and hold:
Trelawny he may die:
But twenty thousand Cornish bold
Will know the reason why!”
I am now posting lyrics to the information panels on all my videos. Any that are too long to post in full will be found on my website: raymondsfolkpage.wordpress.com

[@AbandonedNorthJersey]

Out spake their Capt brave and bold 🎵🎶🎶🎵

[@raymondcrooke]

Thank you for listening.

[@DanielKellyFolkMusic]

Was this the song that the Fisherman’s Friends sung in their movie as the ‘UK national anthem’? Great job Raymond!

[@raymondcrooke]

I believe so, though I haven't see the movie.