"My Brother Sylvest'" also known as "Big Strong Man", is an American song, but often performed by English folk singers and Irish bands.

History

My Brudda Sylvest' was written in 1908, words by Jesse Lasky and Sam Stern, music by

Fred Fisher Fred Fisher (born Alfred Breitenbach, September 30, 1875 – January 14, 1942) was a German-born American songwriter and Tin Pan Alley music publisher. Biography Fisher was born in Cologne, Germany. His parents were Max and Theodora Breitenba ...

. The song is written in an Italian-American dialect about the singer's eponymous brother, described in hyperbolic terms as a man of legendary strength capable of extraordinary feats. The original lyric has him blowing out a house fire, pushing the ocean away to allow him to walk to

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

, killing fifty thousand ative AmericanIndians, and drinking the ocean dry. A 1955 version of the sheet music states that it is "sung by Sam Stern" and "Dedicated to my friend Sam Dody". Subsequent versions changed the references from the boxer

John L. Sullivan John Lawrence Sullivan (October 15, 1858 – February 2, 1918), known simply as John L. among his admirers, and dubbed the "Boston Strong Boy" by the press, was an American boxer recognized as the first heavyweight champion of gloved boxing ...

to the " Jeffries-Johnson fight" of 1910, to American boxer

Jack Dempsey William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey (June 24, 1895 – May 31, 1983), nicknamed Kid Blackie and The Manassa Mauler, was an American professional boxer who competed from 1914 to 1927, and reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926. ...

, who started boxing in 1914, and even to

John Conteh John Anthony Conteh, (born 27 May 1951) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1971 to 1980. He held the WBC light-heavyweight title from 1974 to 1978, and regionally the European, British and Commonwealth titles between 1 ...

of Great Britain, who fought in the 1970s. Other changes have included the saving of the , sunk during the first World War, and swimming from

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, drinking all the water in the sea, playing every instrument in a brass band in a visit to Japan. The song was popular with Canadian soldiers in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. My Brudda Sylvest' has been popular in the North of England, having been performed by

Mike Harding Mike Harding (born 23 October 1944) is an English singer, songwriter, comedian, author, poet, broadcaster and multi-instrumentalist. Harding has also been a photographer, traveller, filmmaker and playwright. Early life and education Harding's ...

The Houghton Weavers The Houghton Weavers are an English folk music band formed in 1975, in Westhoughton, Bolton, Greater Manchester ( historically part of Lancashire), England. The current band members are David Littler ( acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, banjo ...

Fivepenny Piece The Fivepenny Piece were a five-piece band, originally formed in 1967 in the area of East Lancashire around Ashton-under-Lyne and nearby Stalybridge in Tameside. The band met and performed on Wednesday nights at Ashton's Broadoak Hotel, which ...

, Gary and Vera Aspey, and other

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancashi ...

folk singers. Lancashire comedians such as

Little and Large ''Little and Large'' were a British comedy double act comprising straight man Syd Little (born Cyril John Mead; 19 December 1942) and comic Eddie Large (born Edward Hugh McGinnis; 25 June 1941 – 2 April 2020). Comedy duo They formed their p ...

have also performed it. The song is also known as Big Strong Man, sung under that name by the

Wolfe Tones The Wolfe Tones are an Irish rebel music band that incorporate Irish traditional music in their songs. Formed in 1963, they take their name from Theobald Wolfe Tone, one of the leaders of the Irish Rebellion of 1798, with the double meaning of ...

Recordings

Artists and groups who have recorded the song include: *Arthur Collins & Byron Harlan, recorded in October 1908,Can be seen on Youtube *

The Wolfe Tones The Wolfe Tones are an Irish rebel music band that incorporate Irish traditional music in their songs. Formed in 1963, they take their name from Theobald Wolfe Tone, one of the leaders of the Irish Rebellion of 1798, with the double meaning of ...

, on their 1969 album '' Rifles of the I.R.A.'' *

, as a 1976 single *

Houghton Weavers The Houghton Weavers are an English folk music band formed in 1975, in Westhoughton, Bolton, Greater Manchester ( historically part of Lancashire), England. The current band members are David Littler ( acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, banjo ...

, on their 1978 Album
Sit Thi Deawn
' *

Orthodox Celts Orthodox Celts is a Serbian band formed in Belgrade in 1992 which plays Irish folk music combined with rock elements. Despite their uncharacteristic genre in their home country, the band is one of the top acts of the Serbian rock scene and has ...

, on their 1996 album '' Muzičke paralele'' *

Brobdingnagian Bards The Brobdingnagian Bards are a Celtic music group from Austin, Texas, United States. History Marc Gunn, formerly of Austin Texas' alternative rock bands Skander and Breastfed, released a solo album (''Geography'') featuring himself on autoharp a ...

, on their 2002 album '' Songs of Ireland'' *

Carbon Leaf Carbon Leaf is a quintet from Richmond, Virginia, known for their alt-country, Celtic, and folk-infused indie rock. Though some of the band members have changed through the years, Carbon Leaf has been consistently creating and performing music ...

, on their 2003 album ''

5 Alive! ''5 Alive!'' is the first live album released by the band Carbon Leaf. It was recorded over five concerts in the autumn and winter of 2002 and released in 2003 on the band's own label, Constant Ivy Music. It is their last release on their own la ...

'' *

Derek Warfield Derek Warfield (born 15 September 1943) is an Irish singer, songwriter, historian, and a former member of the musical group The Wolfe Tones. Personal life Born in the Dublin suburb Inchicore, Warfield was educated at Synge Street CBS. He was ap ...

, on his 2005 album '' Songs for the Bhoys'' *

Blaggards Blaggards are an American Celtic rock band from Houston, Texas. The Houston Press has described them as "H-town's heir to the emerald throne of Phil Lynott and Shane MacGowan". History Blaggards are led by guitarist and singer Patrick Devlin, ...

, on their 2005 album ''Standards''

References

{{authority control 1908 songs American songs