Real song or nonsense?

[hillwalker]

Uncle who served with the 8th army used to sing us these songs. Family now wondering if they are real songs or did he make them up. Anyone know how or where I could find out - thank you for any help.

lst song - sung like an army marching song

I'll relate to you a story that may perhaps be true
But you needn't be too particular about it being true
About G J Jolly Boy of Mal Maladore
Went to call upon old rooky ram of Bing Bangalore ...


2nd song
Rise, Jock, rise, the birds are all singing
Lying sleeping in your bed, you'll never never thrive
So early in the morning, just as the sun is rising
Johnny, are ye wokin' yet
Its half past five ...

[ABerrant]

In regard of the 2nd, I am not able to verify that it is the same song but in an autobiography written by 19th century Scottish comedian W. F. Frame he makes reference to a (well known) song by W. H. Lannigan titled "Rise, Jock, Rise". He is writing of the time shortly before his first first role as music-hall artiste in 1867.

The relevant passage can be viewed on page 29 of this digitised version of the book...
http://www.archive.or...uoft#page/28/mode/2up

[hillwalker]

That is most interesting, ABerrant. Thank you so much for this info which I'll follow up.

[grletcher]

My grandfather, who's own father immigrated to the US from Glasgow about 1880, sang Rise Jock Rise to me as a child (with a great burring of the Rs), and I sang it to my own kids when they were wee ones. The words were slightly different than you cite above; we used ""bells are all a-rrrriinging", and "so early in the morning, you'll hear rrrrrelations calling..." Thanks for the memories.