Lyrics to theme song?

Was it 'The British Grenadiers', a well known war tune.
It goes like so:

Some talk of Alexander, and some of Hercules,
Of Hector and Lysander, and such great names as these,
But of all the world’s great heroes,
There’s none that can compare,
With a tow, row row row , row row row,
To the British Grenadiers.

None of these ancient heroes ne’er saw a cannon ball,
Nor knew the force of powder to slay their foes with all,
But our brave boys do know it and banish all their fears,
Sing tow, row row row , row row row,
For the British Grenadiers.

When e’er we are commanded to storm the palisades,
Our leaders march with fuses, and we with hand grenades;
We throw them from the glacis about the enemies’ ears,
Sing tow, row row row , row row row,
For the British Grenadiers.

And when the siege is over, we to the town repair.
The townsmen cry ‘Hurrah, boys, here comes a Grenadier’.
Here come the Grenadiers, my boys, who know no doubts or fears.
Sing tow, row row row , row row row,
For the British Grenadiers.

So let us fill a bumper, and drink a health to those,
Who carry caps and pouches, and wear the louped clouthes.
May they and their commanders live happy all their years.
Sing tow, row row row , row row row,
For the British Grenadiers.


I hope that helped!

"The face of evil is ugly to look upon. And as the pleasures increase, the face becomes uglier."

Great question and replies! I too have been looking a long time for the lyrics for Northwest Passage, and I was extremely happy find the lyrics listed in the replies. But I wonder if anyone has the lyrics for the song sung at the start of the Movie? Thanks much!

From what I can make out...

All the woodlands further westward
Men who are Indian-fighter born (?)
Rogers' Rangers braving dangers
Until their hearts will never go (?)

"Over the Hills and Far Away" was first published in Thomas D'Urfey's "Pills to Purge Melancholy," in 1706. It appeared in the comedy, "The Recruiting Officer," by George Farquhar. It is also a part of John Gay's "The Beggar's Opera" from 1728. It was very popular at the time of Rogers' Rangers, in colonial American and later during the Revolutionary period. The source of this information is: " Best Loved Songs of The American People and Songs from a Colonial Tavern."

"The British Grenadiers" is a marching song for the grenadier units of the British military during from the 17th Century to the 19th Century. So it too would have been used during the time of Rogers' Rangers.


Kenneth Rorie

The Main Title (Extended Version) music is available
on Napster as an mp3 for 99 cents! It has the
music heard at the close of the movie, the lovely
"Over the Hills and Far Away" theme, and the song
"Northwest Passage" which was played by the British
Troops when they marched in with the food near the
end of the movie. I've been looking for this for years!