''For the Irish Republican song see

The Boys of the Old Brigade The Boys of the Old Brigade is an Irish rebel song written by Paddy McGuigan about the Irish Republican Army of the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921), and the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising. Lyrics The song describes a veteran of t ...

'' The Old Brigade is a slow march composed in 1881 with music by Irishman

Edward Slater Edward Charles Slater (16 January 1917 – 26 March 2016), also known as Bill Slater, was an Australian biochemist who spent most of his career at the University of Amsterdam. Early life and education Slater was raised in Australia. He recei ...

, and words by

Frederic Weatherly Frederic Edward Weatherly, KC (4 October 1848 – 7 September 1929) was an English lawyer, author, lyricist and broadcaster. He was christened and brought up using the name Frederick Edward Weatherly, and appears to have adopted the spelling 'F ...

. It was popularised by a recording of 1926 by Peter Dawson. This is a slow march that is always played in Britain at the annual

Festival of Remembrance The Royal British Legion (RBL), formerly the British Legion, is a British charity providing financial, social and emotional support to members and veterans of the British Armed Forces, their families and dependants, as well as all others in ne ...

and at the

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Remembrance Sunday Remembrance Sunday is held in the United Kingdom as a day to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts. It is held on the second Sunday in Nov ...

when the

Chelsea Pensioner A Chelsea Pensioner, or In-Pensioner, is a resident at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, a retirement home and nursing home for former members of the British Army located in Chelsea, London. The Royal Hospital Chelsea is home to 300 retired British sold ...

s march.

Lyrics of the ''Old Brigade''

Where are the boys of the old Brigade,
Who fought with us side by side?
Shoulder to shoulder, and blade by blade,
Fought till they fell and died!
Who so ready and undismayed?
Who so merry and true?
Where are the boys of the old Brigade?
Where are the lads we knew? ''Then steadily shoulder to shoulder,''
''Steadily blade by blade!''
''Ready and strong, marching along''
''Like the boys of the old Brigade!'' Over the sea far away they lie,
Far from the land of their love;
Nations alter, the years go by,
But Heav'n still is Heav'n above,
Not in the abbey proudly laid
Find they a place or part;
The gallant boys of the old Brigade,
They sleep in old England’s heart.
''Then steadily shoulder to shoulder,''
''Steadily blade by blade!''
''Ready and strong, marching along''
''Like the boys of the old Brigade!'' These words are now in the

public domain The public domain (PD) consists of all the creative work A creative work is a manifestation of creative effort including fine artwork (sculpture, paintings, drawing, sketching, performance art), dance, writing (literature), filmmaking, ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Old Brigade Old Brigade, The Old Brigade, The Songs written by Frederic Weatherly