Kudos to Corb mentioning the tragic downfall of the 4 mounties at Mayerthorpe, Alberta. This is a great song, I've had this stuck in my head all afternoon, never can get enough of listening to it over and over again.
Very, very well written. There is an added verse on the CD, during 'fade out', referring to Australians at Beesrsheba in WW1 and the legend of the Poles charging panzers at Mokra on Sept.4th 1939.....
I think this goes down in the catalogue of great Canadian songs along with those of Gordon Lightfoot, Ian Tyson, and Neil Young. Fantastic lyrics and Corb's delivery is superb. The Hurtin' Albertans back it all beautifully. Thanks for posting this and thanks Corb for being a history nerd who can write lyrics and sing!
I like how he has like, a 2-step beat to "minor" music... meaning it's like, a Gypsy chord progression mixed like, with a country melody, giving it this unique sound. I was blown away when I heard this song, even after being in awe of what he did with the simplicity of (Gonna) Shine Up My Boots (like, with 2 chords he created this amazing melody and feel). I love Corb Lund.
Well, I'll take your disagreement winchester! Corb covers many nationalities in this song. This belongs in the pantheon of great tunes of the world. Period.
“Orders are that the Calvary should attack immediately!” “Attack? Attack! Attack! Attack!” “Attack what? Attack where?” “Guns, Mr Nolan?” “There! There my Lord! There is your enemy; there are your guns!!!”
The eternal spirit of the Horse Soldier lives on, although their descendant may now ride the sky in gunships and charge to battle in Stryker fighting vehicles. And yes, it maybe also a 'she' that now leans out of the open door of a hovering scout to engage insurgents with her M4 rifle. My heroes have always wore Stetsons.
I'm a Cheshire Yeoman who rode with The Light Dragoons in Iraq.... google both regiments chaps......don't worry about being a history nerd...,I'll watch your back...
(silly ipad change it and sent it before i finished) I meant Balaclava battle itself and the Charge of light brigade, a truly remarkable moment of battle worth to be remembered. Strange thing is, that previously I refer to the same article on Wikipedia then read about "The thin red line" but didn't remembered about two cavalry charges. Thanks again!
The eternal spirit of the Horse Soldier lives on, although their descendant may now ride the sky in gunships and charge to battle in cavalry fighting vehicles. And yes, it may be a she that leans out of an open door to engage insurgents with her M4 rifle. My heroes have always wore Stetsons.
I like his music and I like history. My minor bone is that it was the calvary of Prussia (an ally of Britain) that "routed Bonaparte at Waterloo." Brits would have lost it if they had not been rescued by the Germans.
Tumbs up for Corb Lund and this song! Can't get enought of listening it continiously for past three days! But could somebody explain to me the following words in this song: "Mine was not to reason why, mine was but to do and die At Crimea with the charging light brigade". I'd tried to clarify to myself facts, mentioned in this song, and got almost everything (even including Mayerthorpe tragedy), but this is still a mistery to me. What exact noteable cavalry action took place at Crimea and when?
Basically a Light Brigade of British Cavalry got incorrect/mixed up orders due to administrative failures, and got sent directly into prepared Russian artillery which ripped them to shreds. Despite this, they went in anyways and tried to carry out their orders. Then a marvelous poem was written commemorating them, "The Charge of the Light Brigade"
Except the French weren't really routed at Waterloo. They managed to retire well. It's not a rout until your cavalry pursuit the enemy to complete disintegration like at Jena-Auerstedt.
Ummm not really! The British, Dutch and Hanovarian armies had already held the line against the French when the Prussians arrived. The Prussian 1 Corps had been slowed by Durette when the Imperial Guard was sent to the attack and defeated by The British Foot Guards and 52nd Foot, routing the rest of the French Army. Besides, the song is about the cavalry and the Household and Union brigades had already charged, destroying a brigade of French horse, an infantry Division & capturing 2 eagles.
Poetic license or oversight, either way, it does not hurt the song. I hope some GI somewhere gets a shot of encouragement and validation of their role in the history they are making from this. The song manages to do those things without taking sides on the politics -- not becoming a patriotic rant nor a pacifist dirge. I'd like to see more great and honest songs/literature/movies, etc. acknowledging the real life and death crap we send the best of our people into.
This is one of my favorite serious Corb Lund songs - the history of horse soldiers right up to modern times. Awesome song writing talent.
Cheryl are you there
Kudos to Corb mentioning the tragic downfall of the 4 mounties at Mayerthorpe, Alberta.
This is a great song, I've had this stuck in my head all afternoon, never can get enough of listening to it over and over again.
One of the best songs ever written. Fact
That guy the song was dedicated to is one of my dad's friends ... i cried the first time i heard this.
Very, very well written.
There is an added verse on the CD, during 'fade out', referring to Australians at Beesrsheba in WW1 and the legend of the Poles charging panzers at Mokra on Sept.4th 1939.....
I think this goes down in the catalogue of great Canadian songs along with those of Gordon Lightfoot, Ian Tyson, and Neil Young. Fantastic lyrics and Corb's delivery is superb. The Hurtin' Albertans back it all beautifully. Thanks for posting this and thanks Corb for being a history nerd who can write lyrics and sing!
I like how he has like, a 2-step beat to "minor" music... meaning it's like, a Gypsy chord progression mixed like, with a country melody, giving it this unique sound. I was blown away when I heard this song, even after being in awe of what he did with the simplicity of (Gonna) Shine Up My Boots (like, with 2 chords he created this amazing melody and feel). I love Corb Lund.
one of my favorite songs of all time
This song is what made me follow his music
Absolutely amazing song. Normally I don't listen to much of this stuff, but there's something about this song that I can't get enough of.
2:32 reversed the lyrics, "Mine was not to Reason Why, Mine was but to Do or Die", still very good live version this thanks for uploading :)
This is *dynamite*! That lead guitar is straight *fire*.
Well, I'll take your disagreement winchester! Corb covers many nationalities in this song. This belongs in the pantheon of great tunes of the world. Period.
the album version mentions polish hussars and some other stuff. wish there was an extended version
oh man, I love this guy beyond all words.
It's such a great subject for a great tune like this. The eternal horseman, nature's syncretism.
What a great song.
I love this song so much!
Love the long hair! This album is my favorite of his.
How the hell did he remember the words?? a complicated lyric... great song though. Cord is a great entertainer.
He didnd.t
Fuck yeah!
“Orders are that the Calvary should attack immediately!”
“Attack? Attack! Attack! Attack!”
“Attack what? Attack where?”
“Guns, Mr Nolan?”
“There! There my Lord! There is your enemy; there are your guns!!!”
Apparently he just won best Folk song writer of the year.
The eternal spirit of the Horse Soldier lives on, although their descendant may now ride the sky in gunships and charge to battle in Stryker fighting vehicles. And yes, it maybe also a 'she' that now leans out of the open door of a hovering scout to engage insurgents with her M4 rifle.
My heroes have always wore Stetsons.
...Old Horse soldiers....ride on!
Love the song. Hurray for history nerds!
Yeah winchester - am in NWT and also used to live in Labrador for about 11 years. Totally agree on loving the northlands!
I'm a Cheshire Yeoman who rode with The Light Dragoons in Iraq.... google both regiments chaps......don't worry about being a history nerd...,I'll watch your back...
(silly ipad change it and sent it before i finished) I meant Balaclava battle itself and the Charge of light brigade, a truly remarkable moment of battle worth to be remembered. Strange thing is, that previously I refer to the same article on Wikipedia then read about "The thin red line" but didn't remembered about two cavalry charges. Thanks again!
The eternal spirit of the Horse Soldier lives on, although their descendant may now ride the sky in gunships and charge to battle in cavalry fighting vehicles. And yes, it may be a she that leans out of an open door to engage insurgents with her M4 rifle. My heroes have always wore Stetsons.
support this artist, go see their shows, buy their merch!
love this song so much
WTG Corb & the Hurtin Albertins!
This song should be the Cavalry Theme Song. Hooah to all my fellow Cav Soldiers!
If you ain’t Cav, you ain’t shit! Scouts out!
If you like this clip and the others i have posted, i have a full dvd of the entire show from the Hideaway BBQ.
cant wait for the video to come out.
Hmm you left the last verse out there Corb, no mention of burning down the white house LOL
Great song
Canada's answer to "The Highwaymen" by the Highwaymen.
@aziggen1 Thank you for a tip! I've just read about Balaclavas
does it really matter this is a amazing song historically accurite or not
It's truly a sin what happened to those young men. I think "Mayerthorpe's cries" were heard by all of Canada. God Bless the Mounties.
I like his music and I like history. My minor bone is that it was the calvary of Prussia (an ally of Britain) that "routed Bonaparte at Waterloo." Brits would have lost it if they had not been rescued by the Germans.
Tumbs up for Corb Lund and this song! Can't get enought of listening it continiously for past three days!
But could somebody explain to me the following words in this song:
"Mine was not to reason why, mine was but to do and die
At Crimea with the charging light brigade".
I'd tried to clarify to myself facts, mentioned in this song, and got almost everything (even including Mayerthorpe tragedy), but this is still a mistery to me. What exact noteable cavalry action took place at Crimea and when?
Basically a Light Brigade of British Cavalry got incorrect/mixed up orders due to administrative failures, and got sent directly into prepared Russian artillery which ripped them to shreds. Despite this, they went in anyways and tried to carry out their orders. Then a marvelous poem was written commemorating them, "The Charge of the Light Brigade"
Quite true, although I think we can put that down to poetic license
@alanIgutnov
Look up the Charge of the Light Brigade and the Crimean War on Wikipedia for the answers you seek...
the french army didnt route as a whole but fought as they retreated...
Except the French weren't really routed at Waterloo. They managed to retire well. It's not a rout until your cavalry pursuit the enemy to complete disintegration like at Jena-Auerstedt.
POLISH CALVARY IN WW2 HAD BALLS charging German tanls and machine gun wielding Infantry with lances and sabers
That has been proven fake numerous times. They charged an infantry battalion and retreated when armored cars/tanks were brought into the battle.
Ummm not really! The British, Dutch and Hanovarian armies had already held the line against the French when the Prussians arrived. The Prussian 1 Corps had been slowed by Durette when the Imperial Guard was sent to the attack and defeated by The British Foot Guards and 52nd Foot, routing the rest of the French Army. Besides, the song is about the cavalry and the Household and Union brigades had already charged, destroying a brigade of French horse, an infantry Division & capturing 2 eagles.
Poetic license or oversight, either way, it does not hurt the song. I hope some GI somewhere gets a shot of encouragement and validation of their role in the history they are making from this. The song manages to do those things without taking sides on the politics -- not becoming a patriotic rant nor a pacifist dirge. I'd like to see more great and honest songs/literature/movies, etc. acknowledging the real life and death crap we send the best of our people into.
IYACYAS
Could this have been writeen by an american? Canada rocks!