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by R P Weston and Bert Lee (1931)
Also known as Sam, Sam, Beat the Retreat, written in 1931 and performed by Stanley Holloway.
Since, in the story, Sam is 102 years old and recalling events at the age of 10, we can forgive him for getting a little confuddled. The exercise of 'Beating The Retreat' was initiated by the British Army in the 16th century as a means to call 'Time Out' when the senior officer deemed it was too dark for further fighting. Such retirement was natural for both sides and in no way implied capitulation. (Ref: Army website)
Sam refuses to "beat the retreat" but is willing to "beat the tattoo". In fact, the original meanings were quite similar in that 'tattoo' originates from the Dutch taptoe, which means closing the taps of beer caskets. Beating the tattoo was the drum signal calling soldiers to return to the barracks from the taverns. (The decorative tattoo made by inserting indelible ink into the skin originates from the Polynesian tatau.)
The stereotypical French expletive sacré bleu in this poem literally means 'sacred blue', which could be a profane reference to the Virgin Mary or a euphemism for sacré Dieu ('Sacred God'). Below, we see the translation (5th verse) as 'by gum'. And that translation is quite close, since the stereotypical Yorkshire expletive 'by gum' is a euphemism for 'by God'.
Then Boneyparte scratching his-self once again And scratching his-self undert'arm as he went, "Beat the Retreat on thy drum! said I, For two reasons I wouldn't beat the Retreat |
One of the most popular stories of Waterloo; Les Misérables