Hitler has only got one ball, Göring has two but very small, Himmler is rather sim'lar, But poor old Goebbels has no balls at all…. Used to sing this to colonel bogey march
Hitler has only got one ball, The other is in the Albert Hall, His mother, the dirty bugger, Cut off him when he was small That's the version I remember
@@lauracrooks5629 I was an RAF skool kid in the '70s living in Germany,these are the lyrics we sang on the bus to and from school. There was another one "inky pinky parlez vouz???" So long ago and I was 7/8 and coming back to England when Thatcher got in I got into punk and all my school bus songs got forgotten!🏴
Hiya Joel, my son is a serving soldier in the British Army and it makes me so proud just to watch something like this, I find it very emotional and it gets me everytime. To me Joel, this is what we are all about. Perhaps when you come to the UK, you may be able to see something like this for real. Lyd x
I think that Joel is rapidly becoming an Anglophile! When he does make it over the pond, then I think that a lot of folk will happy to see him! We'll put the kettle on of course (for a cup of tea old bean).
@@johnmh1000 Hahaha yes John, I love the fact that he is so interested in our way of life (warts and all) and we definitely need to feed him Fish and Chips and nice cup of Rosey Lee haha
The Colonel Bogey march was written in 1914 by an Army bandmaster who later became a Royal Marine Director of Music (pen name Kenneth J Alford). Here played by the best military band in the world.
The Colonel Bogie March is one of the most-played marches ever, and there are tons of parodies of it - the most well-known being the WWI version ("Horace, what have you done to me?/Horace, you'll have to marry me/Horace, we'l call him Boris, & there'll be Horace and Boris and me.) and the WWII version about Hitler. It was written by a Lieutenant FJ Ricketts, who'd started life as a 'cockney sparrow' - an old term describing those who were born within the sound of Bow Bells in London - under the pseudonym Kenneth Alford, which sometimes leads to confusion. And yeah, it's difficult to listen to it without tapping a foot or a hand - which is, obviously, the purpose of a marching song - to get you moving!! I'd expect that's one of the reasons the song has endured throughout 2 world wars and is still one of the best-loved marches of all time. Ricketts went on to forge out a career in the Military; eventually becoming Director of Music for the Royal Marines. Now, try getting the tune out of your head for the rest of the day!
There is another version ! Sung by school kids back in the day .... cant print it all as I will get barred, but it starts Hitler, he only has one .... Himmler has two, but very small, but poor old Goebbels has no ...... at all !!! We used to think it was hilarious when I was 10 years old !
@@marycarver1542 that's similar but not exactly the way I remember it as a kid. " Hitler, has only got one ball. The other is in the Albert Hall. His mother, the dirty bugger, cut it off when he was only small. Himmler, had something similar" I forget more than that.
@@jamesmason3348 Hitler has only got one ball, the other Is in the Albert hall. Himmler has something similar, But poor old Geobbels has no balls at all 🤣🤣🤣🤣
The chap in the camouflage uniform and green cap and casually marching with them is a Royal Marine Commando, you wouldn't want mess with him believe me.
That's what I was about to comment! So basically I agree with you. My brother used to play the bass drum, when in the Boys Brigade band and wore slightly more padding than the other members!
@@Rob-bz5nn Did your band play a tune called "Over the Hills" by any chance? It may not be it's proper name/title and may be a short name so the band knew what they were playing next when ordered!...if yes, then do you know where I could find it? Cheers!
@@ian_bradley Hmmm… I don’t recall that one on our repertoire. I quick look on UA-cam throws up some suggestions, but not sure if it’s what you need. Sorry I can’t be of more help!
I notice nobody has posted the words. Well here they are courtesy of Wikipedia : Hitler has only got one ball, Göring has two but very small, Himmler is rather sim'lar, But poor old Goebbels has no balls at all. There are a lot of different suggestions for the source of the words. The one I like best is George Orwell, who was working in propaganda at the time.
I'm a 72 year old Great Grannie from England and I love how you have reacted to all the music you have recently heard from our bands and concerts. I think you are a smashing young fella and please keep doing what you're doing because there are a lot of us that enjoy it.
This performance is taking place on St Vincent Street in my hometown of Glasgow, Scotland right in the city centre! This tune has been featured in almost every British WW2 movie ever made. Folks used to sing a parody with "dirty" lyrics during the Second World War "Hitler has only got one ball, the other is in the Albert Hall"
...... Goering has two but very small Himmler is somewhat sim'lar, But poor old Goebels has no balls at all. I cannot assure the accuracy of the anatomical details. . Allegedly the tube has its origin in a two note whistled signal used by particular keen golfer when driving.
Just love experiencing the military brass bands and watching the precision of the marching sometimes in very complicated formations without losing the beat. It's been a treat in the last few years with Prince Philip's funeral, the Platinum Jubilee celebrations and then the Queens funeral. Greetings from South Africa that was part of the Commonwealth until our independence in 1960 when we became a republic.
you must watch the clip..in the classic oscar winning movie..."the bridge on the river quai"....a battalion of british captured soldiers (by the japanese)..as they walk into captivity, whistling this tune...its very emotional..and very british ..defiant..even in defeat...you must give it a watch
I remember my dad taking me to see BOTRK when it first came out and it's been one of my favourite films ever since. The scene where Obi Wan (Alec Guiness) falls onto the plunger at the end, is reminiscent of his demise in A New Hope. Sorry, mixing franchises there:)
the guy with the tiger/leopard skin is always the Base Drummer, the leather apron is more durable and hard wearing to withstand the wear and tear of that heavy base drum and to provide a little extra padding for the user. the fact it is the tiger skin is purely decorative and tradition, they would wear that for special occasions but just for practice etc when not in public view it would just be a leather apron. The tradition of it being an actual animal skin go back a long way hundreds of years, when the British army recruited African men in to the British army and they wore the skins as traditional decorations in their own ceremonies. It was also discovered that the African soldiers were also much better at keeping time on the drums (the base drum is what beats out the time, ie marching speed) so often they were used as the base drummers, and the wearing of the full animal skin for base drummers all stems from that.
This tune always reminds me of my passing out parade (RAF) in '84. We had a particularly nasty disip cpl (drill instructor), even for the time, a right b*rstard. Anyway, as he is marching our flight back to the armory to hand in our weapons he suddenly says you know the tune colonel bogey, start whistling. It was the first time in 6 weeks that he hadn't shouted, threatened, thrown something and was completely out of character. So were marching down this road at RAF Swinderby in best uniform, white gloves and belts, shiny bayonets fixed to rifles trying to whistle colonel bogey whilst trying not to crack up
My father loved military band music and we had Amazing Grace by pipe and drums for his funeral, people asked what was our connecwith the Scots Gaurds, nothing but dad loved it. You can feel the drums beat when you are there watching.
British troops in WW II had made up some lyrics to that tune. Hitler has only go one ball. The other is in the Albert Hall. Mother the silly bugger chopped it off when he was small. 🤣🤣
The skin that the chap is wearing is because he's holding the bass drum. I believe they call it an apron. One reason for wearing it is tradition, the other is because it protects the uniform of the drummer, because the bass drum is so much heavier. I've worn a bass drum before with just a plastic harness, and I wish I'd had something to pad it underneath - give me a tuba any day!
Correct: bass and tenor drums are very, and quite, heavy respectively, and, if you are marching about with them attached, they will jiggle about and wear down your uniform in no time. If the drum is braced with traditional cord, the whitener used on it also comes off on the uniform unless something is worn to protect it: if drums are braced with metal tighteners, that makes it more uncomfortable, and increases the wear on the uniform. Tiger or leopard skins made an ideal apron: the tail was used as a means of fixing by passing it through the legs and fastening it at the back. Over the shoulders, the front legs were used.
The TIger skins have been worn by the base drummers of the Royal Marines since 18th century. Now been replaced by a synthetic fur, although previously the skins were taken from tigers who died of natural causes.
The Royal Marines Band is the best. Check out the Retreat performances at horse guards (doesn't mean retreating from the enemy but calling soldiers back at the end of the day historically) A US band has also performed along side them. Love watching them march back along the mall.
Joel, I am so glad that you’re enjoying this, and learning about the UK and its traditions, TV shows, etc. We are very proud of our military, and this is what we really do very well indeed.
So glad someone posted the WWII words for Joel. I can see him giggling now as he tries to fit the words to the music and imagine the Marines singing the words silently as they march🤣🤣🤣
Every drummer in the Fusiliers up to 1899 was of African descent. These African drummers began the tradition of wearing the leopard skins when in uniform. These skins helped protect the uniform from wearing out because the drums were so large and bulky.
The Royal Marines have the most amazing bands. I have records of theirs with many marches most of them from the 1960s. Each RM bandsman must be capable of playing two instruments - to give greater flexibility. I assume they are also all trained in the medical support services.
All marching and playing in time takes some co ordination and more so when there are defects, such as that uneven piece of tarmac in the road as they were turning (3.24), not one put a foot out of step.
I love that I'm seeing so many different versions of the words for this tune. The one I learned as a kid went: "Herman, look what you've done to me. Herman I think it's pregnancy. Herman, you put your sperm in, and now it's Herman and Sherman and Me!" I think I learned these words before I even knew what sperm was!
Golf, it's all about golf. Before a hole on a golf course had a par rating, it had a "ground score." Bogey, derived from a Scottish song circa 1850-something about a man, or a goblin who lived in the shadows and would snatch people. ("I am the Bogey Man, catch me if you can") Now, once the idea of ground score was in the rule book, a game was underway and someone (I know he was an army officer) remarked that a player was quite the Bogey Man, or words to that effect. "Bogey" soon replaced "ground score," and players would say that they were playing against "Mr. Bogey." In 1892, Colonel Seely-Vidal was the secretary of a United Services Club in a Scotland. Since the United Services Club is a military club, they couldn't admit a MR. Bogey, so, they made him a colonel-- COLONEL Bogey.
worth noting the drumming at the start of this clip is not part of the march itself - the Royal Marines Band use the drum solos to intersperse their whole band playing to let the musicians have a short break, sort out music etc.
Music brings people together, sure you will agree. Music and songs people could sing to in a war time situation made you feel we are strong together and does lift the soul. The war time words to this particular tune will be found on a Google search but again served a purpose in bringing people together in harsh times. Whether you will live or die. You will see platoons in the US running with their leader calling out as they are running - same purpose, we are a unit. For another example look at Scottish regiments playing their bagpipes, wearing full kilted uniform, now that is something to see.
Highly recommend checking out Edinburgh castle bagpipes March when they walk down the royal mile. When I visited it was the most awe inspiring, moving thing I have ever seen. Have to be there for the full effect.
The answer to why their is a drummer with a Leopard skins: Every drummer in the Fusiliers up to 1899 was of African descent. These African drummers began the tradition of wearing the leopard skins when in uniform
The tiger skin is called a bear skin hitting the base drum beating out the rhythm the step according to the drum major with the mace at the from of the parade so they all March in step & time to the music of the Royal marines military marching band ! Enjoyed the you tube video greatly & one of my favourites to watch !
The Royal Marines have incredible marching bands and drill squads. The Colonel Bogey March is a British march that was composed in 1914 by Lieutenant F. J. Ricketts (1881-1945) (pen name Kenneth J. Alford), a British Army bandmaster who later became the director of music for the Royal Marines at Plymouth.
Hello . I'm sure I don't need to tell you this but Kenneth J. Alford wrote many other classic and highly popular marches for military and brass bands . I have heard that the inspiration came from when 'Kenneth ' was on a golf course with fellow military friends and was losing quite badly to a Colonel who kept scoring a 'bogey ' , and decided to name the march ( in good humour ) after him . K.J. A. has also been described as the ' British Sousa ' on many occasions . Regards , Mark .
if i remember what i was told by my uncle years ago the leopard skin is worn by the drummers to partly make them stand out on the battlefield as the drums are used for signalling. and also to protect the uniform and drummer from the heavy percussion instrument
There is nothing to beat the band of the Royal Marines! Highly recommend you find out about the film Bridge over the River Kwai which the tune is taken from. And of course Bootnecks are the finest fighting force in the world.
Hi Joel, The Colonel Boogie March became very popular with American high school marching bands in the early 60's. One school or another played it in every parade i went to as a kid for years. That was due in part to the enormous popularity of the movie Bridge over the River Kwai. A very powerful story of WWII in the South Pacific. It's worth a watch if you get the chance.
Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines. There are three bands throughout the UK based in the naval ports of Plymouth ,Portsmouth .Scotland has it's own R.M.band service. These 3 bands are often amalgamated to form the massed bands of the Royal Marines. They are one of the best military bands in the world.
Hi Joel..well the explanation about the Tiger skin has been given and the cheeky lyrics we sing to this song..I'm a 62 yr old woman and I was sing singing along with the Hitler one..well yes..literally one..haha..🤣😂 that is the British sense of humour..after all these yrs we still sing those words making fun which as children was the best thing to do..so that's another reason this tune is sooo popular..
I take this sort of thing so much for granted! Changing of the guard in my town is something I usually avoid, but its nice to see your joy!! I must go and people watch next time!!
This song is also famous for being in the 1957 WWII War Film "Bridge over the river Kwai" which starred the late Alec Guinness. the rude version was often sung in my school when kids played war games....
The Royal Marines Bandsman Base Drum Player wears a Tiger skin and it is either called full skin or an apron, it goes back to 1700’s. Africans that joined the Army were good at playing drums and keeping the beat, these drummers joined the 29th Regiment of Foot and later the Royal Fusiliers, the same Fusiliers where sent to Canada in 1773 and served in Montreal, Quebec, Fort Chambray, and Fort St. Johns, every drummer in the Fusiliers up to 1899 was of African descent, the African drummers began the tradition of wearing the leopard skins when in uniform, these skins helped protect the uniform from wearing out because the drums were so large and heavy, the tradition continues in certain British and Canadian regiments today.🧐
Real tiger skin pelts worn by Royal Marine drummers are to be replaced by synthetic fur. The skins are traditionally worn by the Bass Drummers of the Band Service of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines. There is one Bass Drummer per band and there are currently five Royal Marine bands.
The Leopard skin apron is traditionally worn by Bass drummers in the British military bands. I t protects the drummers uniform from wear fro the drum. Also that serious looking dude in the Green Beret is a Royal Marine Commando.
Vocally I remember singing it as 'Turra Turra Boomm Tee Ay, Turra Turra Boom Tee Ay, Turra, Turra RaRa, Tarra Boom Tee Aye. I was a child, so have no idea why we used these sounds to sing this march.
I`m not sure where I first heard it, whistled by P.O.W.`s in the Colditz tv Series/similar war films or as the theme tune to the War film (The Bridge On The River Kwai) starring Sir Alec Guiness.
These are lyrics composed by ‘who knows’ during WW2. British obviously. Once you have them in your head and hear colonel Bogey there is no getting rid of them. Hitler has only got one ball, Göring has two but very small,[a] Himmler is rather sim'lar,[b] But poor old Goebbels has no balls at all 😝😝
That's different to the version I learned. Hitler has only got one ball. The other is in the Albert hall. His mother the dirty bugger chopped off when he was small. I am sure there might be many others.
@@neilgayleard3842 Yes this one Hitler, he only has one ball. The other is in the albert hall. His mother, that dirty bugger, chopped if off when he was small. lol
Jps , now you must watch the 1957 film ' Bridge Over The River Kwai . ' Set in a Japanese prisoner of war camp during WW2 . Although hugely fictionalized , the film shows how over 13,000 British , Commonwealth , Dutch and American prisoners of war were worked to death on the notorious Burma-Siam Railway . The tune to the Colonel Bogey March is used , with great effect in the film , to boost moral among the prisoners , and to offer defiance to the Japanese prison camp guards .
This is a fantastic piece of music. Listen carefully as there are in fact, two melodies being played, neither of which is similar to the other. I love it. By the way, my memory of the wartime version went like this: Bollocks, that’s all the band could play. Bollocks, they played it night & day. Etc.
The words to the tune that my Dad always sang from WW2 opened as follows: Don't throw the lamp at Father, wait 'till he gets in bed and bite his bollocks, Bollocks is all the band could play, Bollocks and the same to you! Other irreverent versions exist. If you see the film "Bridge on the River Kwai" the prisoners whistle this tune as they enter the camp, which is an act of defiance towards the Japanese guards who would be unaware of the meaning.
I think these are Royal Marines. When I was a kid in the US Navy, not very much older than you are now, I was Petty Officer of the Watch on my ship on the morning that Malta achieved Dominion status (?) Commonwealth status (?) - I'm no longer sure which, but it was quite a to do. There appeared on the quay a band very like this one, only they were in tropical kit, and immediately after colors, they began to play national anthems for all nations that had sent representatives. I stood saluting as this excellent band played the national anthems of: Malta, the UK, the US, France, Germany, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece, and one or two that I may have forgotten. It was quite an experience. British military bands have no peers. Especially when they have pipes present. (There were no pipes at Valletta.)
Hitler has only got one ball, The other is in the Albert Hall, His mother, the dirty bugger, Chopped it off when Hitler was small. She threw it into the apple tree, the wind blew it into the deep blue sea, Where the fishes got out their dishes, And ate scallops and bollocks for tea.
JPS the guy in the animal skin is the base drummer who has the task of maintaining the correct beat for the entire band. Effectively he is a metronome for the rest of the parade to keep step. The skin is worn partly so others can spot him and focus on his beat but also serve to both keep his uniform clean and keep the drum safe from being scratched by the buttons on his uniform. I noticed that you were referring to the skin as a Tigerskin but I didn’t get a clear view of it and normally when I see a band the base drummer is wearing a Leopard skin.
By tradition the bass drummer was also the regimental blacksmith as his main role. A blacksmith has to be very strong to fulfill his duties, particularly if he is with a mounted regiment, because he is also the farrier, and has to handle the horses. He is ideal to carry the weight of the drum for long periods of time. The apron is a traditional item worn by the blacksmith. My grandfather's brother was a regimental blacksmith many years ago.
glad to see you enjoyed that , always good to see any band of the British Army. I have a suggestion for a watch you might enjoy and even be amazed at, I come from a small town in the Southwest of England called Bridgwater ( no e in the middle) every year in November there is a carnival like no other, would be worth you checking it out, just keep watching but I am not suggesting you watch for a couple of hours .
I've heard that tune before, but I never knew what it was called. All I knew is that I heard it in the film 'A Bridge Too Far', which remains one of my favourite films to date.
My brother used to play the bass drum when he was in the Boys Brigade band and wore slightly more padding than the other members! Not as fancy as the one shown in this video though! One of the tunes they played was "Over the Hills" and loved hearing it, but I'm not sure if it is the correct title to it and I can't find it anywhere! Would so love to hear it again!
Hi Ian, the tune you are referring to could be "Over The Hills & Far Away", see :- ua-cam.com/video/jBnJr-YDgxk/v-deo.html It was also the theme tune to the (Sharpe) tv drama Series about the Napoleonic Wars. see :- ua-cam.com/video/WOeYPpOblAw/v-deo.html Personally, I love the latter version, probably because that`s when I first heard of it.
There was a very famous version of it sung in WW2 and it went like this, Hitler has only got one ball, the other is in the Albert hall.... his mother, the dirty bugger... anyway I know it all but I'll leave it there, go google it lol... It's sung to the Colonel Bogey March tune. I was born in 68, but even I can remember singing this as a kid lol.. Don't know who or where I first heard it, but, guess it was still sung back then. :D
The Colonel Bogey march (neat title eh?) was written by Lt Ricketts (AKA Kenneth Alford). He was a bandmaster in the Army, with strong links to the Royal Marines (I think that this band in the clip are Marines). The tune was whistled by captured British soldiers as they marched to work on the railway over the River Kwai. There's a film 'The Bridge over the River Kwai' where the tune is featured. Alec Guinness stars, long before he defected to the Force as Obi Wan Kenobi!
The lion skin is because (base?) drummers were usually recruited from Africa because they were good at keeping bears and they started wearing Leopard skins to protect uniform. This tradition continues in most regiments.
The tigerskin is an apron worn by the bass drummer. It seems as if it is a traditional institution in the British military. And can be seen in the bands ex-colonies. Briefly
I recommend the start of The Bridge On The River Kwai.
Hitler has only got one ball,
Göring has two but very small,
Himmler is rather sim'lar,
But poor old Goebbels has no balls at all…. Used to sing this to colonel bogey march
Hitler has only got one ball,
The other is in the Albert Hall,
His mother, the dirty bugger,
Cut off him when he was small
That's the version I remember
I cannot hear this tune without thinking of those lyrics.. 😂
@@lauracrooks5629 I was an RAF skool kid in the '70s living in Germany,these are the lyrics we sang on the bus to and from school. There was another one "inky pinky parlez vouz???" So long ago and I was 7/8 and coming back to England when Thatcher got in I got into punk and all my school bus songs got forgotten!🏴
I wondered if some one would say that. Well done you beat me to it.😁😁😊😊
@@lauracrooks5629 this is the one I remember, intact soon as they started playing i started singing those lyrics
Hiya Joel, my son is a serving soldier in the British Army and it makes me so proud just to watch something like this, I find it very emotional and it gets me everytime. To me Joel, this is what we are all about. Perhaps when you come to the UK, you may be able to see something like this for real. Lyd x
I think that Joel is rapidly becoming an Anglophile! When he does make it over the pond, then I think that a lot of folk will happy to see him! We'll put the kettle on of course (for a cup of tea old bean).
@@johnmh1000 Hahaha yes John, I love the fact that he is so interested in our way of life (warts and all) and we definitely need to feed him Fish and Chips and nice cup of Rosey Lee haha
@@johnmh1000 the way he’s going, they’ll just give him a Brit passport lol 😂👍
@@thombt963 🤣
@@scokeatia 😊
The Colonel Bogey march was written in 1914 by an Army bandmaster who later became a Royal Marine Director of Music (pen name Kenneth J Alford). Here played by the best military band in the world.
Whenever I hear this what comes to mind is "Hitler etc" I'm sure most of you will know the rest.
Yes indeed 🤭
Something to do with the testicals of the nazi leadership team.
Only has one...
The Colonel Bogie March is one of the most-played marches ever, and there are tons of parodies of it - the most well-known being the WWI version ("Horace, what have you done to me?/Horace, you'll have to marry me/Horace, we'l call him Boris, & there'll be Horace and Boris and me.) and the WWII version about Hitler.
It was written by a Lieutenant FJ Ricketts, who'd started life as a 'cockney sparrow' - an old term describing those who were born within the sound of Bow Bells in London - under the pseudonym Kenneth Alford, which sometimes leads to confusion. And yeah, it's difficult to listen to it without tapping a foot or a hand - which is, obviously, the purpose of a marching song - to get you moving!! I'd expect that's one of the reasons the song has endured throughout 2 world wars and is still one of the best-loved marches of all time. Ricketts went on to forge out a career in the Military; eventually becoming Director of Music for the Royal Marines.
Now, try getting the tune out of your head for the rest of the day!
So glad I'm not the only one who remembers the Hitler one XD
There is another version ! Sung by school kids back in the day .... cant print it all
as I will get barred, but it starts Hitler, he only has one .... Himmler has two, but very small,
but poor old Goebbels has no ...... at all !!! We used to think it was hilarious when I was
10 years old !
@@marycarver1542 that's similar but not exactly the way I remember it as a kid. " Hitler, has only got one ball. The other is in the Albert Hall. His mother, the dirty bugger, cut it off when he was only small. Himmler, had something similar" I forget more than that.
@@jamesmason3348
Hitler has only got one ball, the other Is in the Albert hall.
Himmler has something similar,
But poor old Geobbels has no balls at all
🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@montyzumazoom1337 that’s the one. Private Pike (Ian Lavender) notably started singing it in a Dad’s Army episode.
The chap in the camouflage uniform and green cap and casually marching with them is a Royal Marine Commando, you wouldn't want mess with him believe me.
The tiger skin is a cushion for the harness used to make carrying the big bass drum more comfortable. Plus it looks dope.
That's what I was about to comment! So basically I agree with you. My brother used to play the bass drum, when in the Boys Brigade band and wore slightly more padding than the other members!
Yes! I played in a Boys’ Brigade band and our bass drummer wore/wears a leopard!
@@Rob-bz5nn Did your band play a tune called "Over the Hills" by any chance? It may not be it's proper name/title and may be a short name so the band knew what they were playing next when ordered!...if yes, then do you know where I could find it? Cheers!
@@ian_bradley Hmmm… I don’t recall that one on our repertoire. I quick look on UA-cam throws up some suggestions, but not sure if it’s what you need. Sorry I can’t be of more help!
I notice nobody has posted the words. Well here they are courtesy of Wikipedia :
Hitler has only got one ball,
Göring has two but very small,
Himmler is rather sim'lar,
But poor old Goebbels has no balls at all.
There are a lot of different suggestions for the source of the words. The one I like best is George Orwell, who was working in propaganda at the time.
Exact same thing came to mind.
I remember they sung that in a Danny La Rue film! It had the words for you to singalong!!! 😂😂😂
I posted the lyrics earlier. First time I heard it was Pike singing it in Dad’s Army.
@@suetatlock8328 that was whistle while you work….
@@suetatlock8328You vill also go on ze list! vat is your name?
I'm a 72 year old Great Grannie from England and I love how you have reacted to all the music you have recently heard from our bands and concerts. I think you are a smashing young fella and please keep doing what you're doing because there are a lot of us that enjoy it.
I totally agree . I guess you have seen the Floral Dance video ? I really liked his reaction to that . Best wishes , Mark .
Well done grannie I find this young lady a gem and so respectful🥰👍
This performance is taking place on St Vincent Street in my hometown of Glasgow, Scotland right in the city centre! This tune has been featured in almost every British WW2 movie ever made. Folks used to sing a parody with "dirty" lyrics during the Second World War "Hitler has only got one ball, the other is in the Albert Hall"
Ye took me a while to realise it was Glasgow - im quite chuffed for some reason
...... Goering has two but very small
Himmler is somewhat sim'lar,
But poor old Goebels has no balls at all.
I cannot assure the accuracy of the anatomical details. . Allegedly the tube has its origin in a two note whistled signal used by particular keen golfer when driving.
I made one about the main leaders of the Irish ultra right
Just love experiencing the military brass bands and watching the precision of the marching sometimes in very complicated formations without losing the beat. It's been a treat in the last few years with Prince Philip's funeral, the Platinum Jubilee celebrations and then the Queens funeral. Greetings from South Africa that was part of the Commonwealth until our independence in 1960 when we became a republic.
you must watch the clip..in the classic oscar winning movie..."the bridge on the river quai"....a battalion of british captured soldiers (by the japanese)..as they walk into captivity, whistling this tune...its very emotional..and very british ..defiant..even in defeat...you must give it a watch
I remember my dad taking me to see BOTRK when it first came out and it's been one of my favourite films ever since. The scene where Obi Wan (Alec Guiness) falls onto the plunger at the end, is reminiscent of his demise in A New Hope. Sorry, mixing franchises there:)
the story was written by a French author.
Excellent classic!
Pure fiction.
I played baritone horn in high school and college….loved playing the baritone’s soaring interlude in this piece……what a thrill!
the guy with the tiger/leopard skin is always the Base Drummer, the leather apron is more durable and hard wearing to withstand the wear and tear of that heavy base drum and to provide a little extra padding for the user. the fact it is the tiger skin is purely decorative and tradition, they would wear that for special occasions but just for practice etc when not in public view it would just be a leather apron. The tradition of it being an actual animal skin go back a long way hundreds of years, when the British army recruited African men in to the British army and they wore the skins as traditional decorations in their own ceremonies. It was also discovered that the African soldiers were also much better at keeping time on the drums (the base drum is what beats out the time, ie marching speed) so often they were used as the base drummers, and the wearing of the full animal skin for base drummers all stems from that.
BASS drum!
Well. I think you are now well educated about what enters the brains of most of the UK population when they hear this tune!!!!!
🤣🥰🤣
This tune always reminds me of my passing out parade (RAF) in '84. We had a particularly nasty disip cpl (drill instructor), even for the time, a right b*rstard. Anyway, as he is marching our flight back to the armory to hand in our weapons he suddenly says you know the tune colonel bogey, start whistling. It was the first time in 6 weeks that he hadn't shouted, threatened, thrown something and was completely out of character. So were marching down this road at RAF Swinderby in best uniform, white gloves and belts, shiny bayonets fixed to rifles trying to whistle colonel bogey whilst trying not to crack up
Has anyone noticed that people walking along on the side are walking in step, because you can't help it.
Come on, who started singing 'Hitler has only got one ball' 😜
Hahahaha all the Brits!!!
Course we did! 🤣
Of course!
Hitler has only got one ball,
Göring has two but very small,
Himmler is rather sim'lar,
But poor old Goebbels has no balls at all.
And you sir beat me to it. Hell, we all did, we're British.
My father loved military band music and we had Amazing Grace by pipe and drums for his funeral, people asked what was our connecwith the Scots Gaurds, nothing but dad loved it. You can feel the drums beat when you are there watching.
British troops in WW II had made up some lyrics to that tune.
Hitler has only go one ball.
The other is in the Albert Hall.
Mother the silly bugger chopped it off when he was small. 🤣🤣
Yeah, I seem to vaguely remember a second verse that ended with something about bollocks abd scallops for tea? Ring any bells?
Obviously, the military have their own lyrics to this as you can imagine !!!
Yes I learned them as a kid growing up in the U K that I truly miss
But did he only have one ball???
I remember this now! I had no idea this was the name. I just knew it as that tune people used to take the piss out of Hitler.
The skin that the chap is wearing is because he's holding the bass drum.
I believe they call it an apron.
One reason for wearing it is tradition, the other is because it protects the uniform of the drummer, because the bass drum is so much heavier.
I've worn a bass drum before with just a plastic harness, and I wish I'd had something to pad it underneath - give me a tuba any day!
Correct: bass and tenor drums are very, and quite, heavy respectively, and, if you are marching about with them attached, they will jiggle about and wear down your uniform in no time. If the drum is braced with traditional cord, the whitener used on it also comes off on the uniform unless something is worn to protect it: if drums are braced with metal tighteners, that makes it more uncomfortable, and increases the wear on the uniform. Tiger or leopard skins made an ideal apron: the tail was used as a means of fixing by passing it through the legs and fastening it at the back. Over the shoulders, the front legs were used.
The TIger skins have been worn by the base drummers of the Royal Marines since 18th century. Now been replaced by a synthetic fur, although previously the skins were taken from tigers who died of natural causes.
You may not be aware of it but us Brits used to sing along to that tune with the words "Hitler has only got one ball"
I went to see the Band of the Royal Marines at Christmas and they always put on a fantastic show
The Royal Marines Band is the best.
Check out the Retreat performances at horse guards (doesn't mean retreating from the enemy but calling soldiers back at the end of the day historically)
A US band has also performed along side them.
Love watching them march back along the mall.
Joel, I am so glad that you’re enjoying this, and learning about the UK and its traditions, TV shows, etc. We are very proud of our military, and this is what we really do very well indeed.
In Bridge on the River Kwai, Colonel Bogey serves as a focus for and statement of defiance.
So glad someone posted the WWII words for Joel. I can see him giggling now as he tries to fit the words to the music and imagine the Marines singing the words silently as they march🤣🤣🤣
Every drummer in the Fusiliers up to 1899 was of African descent. These African drummers began the tradition of wearing the leopard skins when in uniform. These skins helped protect the uniform from wearing out because the drums were so large and bulky.
The Royal Marines have the most amazing bands. I have records of theirs with many marches most of them from the 1960s. Each RM bandsman must be capable of playing two instruments - to give greater flexibility. I assume they are also all trained in the medical support services.
The most important part of a military band is the Bass Drum as it is what calls the pace. If you are marching to it, you are following that drum.
Kenneth Alford has been described as the British equivalent of John Philip Sousa...wonderful marches..and ever so English in character.
That was in Glasgow. We used to march to our classrooms in primary school to Colonel Bogey
The Bass drummer traditionally has the tiger skin apron to protect his uniform
You young Sir have just watched the FINEST Military Band in the World,The Royal Marines Band.
All marching and playing in time takes some co ordination and more so when there are defects, such as that uneven piece of tarmac in the road as they were turning (3.24), not one put a foot out of step.
I love that I'm seeing so many different versions of the words for this tune. The one I learned as a kid went: "Herman, look what you've done to me. Herman I think it's pregnancy. Herman, you put your sperm in, and now it's Herman and Sherman and Me!" I think I learned these words before I even knew what sperm was!
As kids in the 50's we used to sing 'scallops' we're in the chip shop now' !!
Golf, it's all about golf. Before a hole on a golf course had a par rating, it had a "ground score." Bogey, derived from a Scottish song circa 1850-something about a man, or a goblin who lived in the shadows and would snatch people. ("I am the Bogey Man, catch me if you can") Now, once the idea of ground score was in the rule book, a game was underway and someone (I know he was an army officer) remarked that a player was quite the Bogey Man, or words to that effect. "Bogey" soon replaced "ground score," and players would say that they were playing against "Mr. Bogey." In 1892, Colonel Seely-Vidal was the secretary of a United Services Club in a Scotland. Since the United Services Club is a military club, they couldn't admit a MR. Bogey, so, they made him a colonel-- COLONEL Bogey.
That's roughly the story I heard too about it inspired by golf , although you have gone into more detail . Thank you .
worth noting the drumming at the start of this clip is not part of the march itself - the Royal Marines Band use the drum solos to intersperse their whole band playing to let the musicians have a short break, sort out music etc.
Just adding that Alec Guinness was the first Brit to win an Oscar for Bridge on the River Kwai.
Yes, you must watch 'Bridge over the River Kwai', where the POW soldiers march out whistling this tune - it's fabulously rousing! X
JPS, you need to check the old colliery brass bands from the north of England 🏴
The tiger skin is to stop the bass drum from wearing out the uniform.
Music brings people together, sure you will agree. Music and songs people could sing to in a war time situation made you feel we are strong together and does lift the soul. The war time words to this particular tune will be found on a Google search but again served a purpose in bringing people together in harsh times. Whether you will live or die. You will see platoons in the US running with their leader calling out as they are running - same purpose, we are a unit. For another example look at Scottish regiments playing their bagpipes, wearing full kilted uniform, now that is something to see.
Highly recommend checking out Edinburgh castle bagpipes March when they walk down the royal mile. When I visited it was the most awe inspiring, moving thing I have ever seen. Have to be there for the full effect.
The answer to why their is a drummer with a Leopard skins: Every drummer in the Fusiliers up to 1899 was of African descent. These African drummers began the tradition of wearing the leopard skins when in uniform
The tiger skin is called a bear skin hitting the base drum beating out the rhythm the step according to the drum major with the mace at the from of the parade so they all March in step & time to the music of the Royal marines military marching band ! Enjoyed the you tube video greatly & one of my favourites to watch !
the bearskin you refer to is the big black headpiece worn by gaurdsmen,
@@paulknox999 Thank you for the information paul !
As you have noticed very watchable you can whistle it too. The man with the skin has got a very big drum!
A great piece of music
The Royal Marines have incredible marching bands and drill squads.
The Colonel Bogey March is a British march that was composed in 1914 by Lieutenant F. J. Ricketts (1881-1945) (pen name Kenneth J. Alford), a British Army bandmaster who later became the director of music for the Royal Marines at Plymouth.
Hello . I'm sure I don't need to tell you this but Kenneth J. Alford wrote many other classic and highly popular marches for military and brass bands . I have heard that the inspiration came from when 'Kenneth ' was on a golf course with fellow military friends and was losing quite badly to a Colonel who kept scoring a 'bogey ' , and decided to name the march ( in good humour ) after him .
K.J. A. has also been described as the ' British Sousa ' on many occasions . Regards , Mark .
if i remember what i was told by my uncle years ago the leopard skin is worn by the drummers to partly make them stand out on the battlefield as the drums are used for signalling. and also to protect the uniform and drummer from the heavy percussion instrument
There is nothing to beat the band of the Royal Marines! Highly recommend you find out about the film Bridge over the River Kwai which the tune is taken from. And of course Bootnecks are the finest fighting force in the world.
Here in the Uk we have cheeky lyrics about Hilter that go with this tune 😝
Hi Joel, The Colonel Boogie March became very popular with American high school marching bands in the early 60's. One school or another played it in every parade i went to as a kid for years. That was due in part to the enormous popularity of the movie Bridge over the River Kwai. A very powerful story of WWII in the South Pacific. It's worth a watch if you get the chance.
Good choice!
Fond memories of the film Bridge over the river kwai and the cheeky version of our school ground lyrics...!
Band is the band of the Royal Marine Commandos
Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines. There are three bands throughout the UK based in the naval ports of Plymouth ,Portsmouth .Scotland has it's own R.M.band service.
These 3 bands are often amalgamated to form the massed bands of the Royal Marines. They are one of the best military bands in the world.
Hi Joel..well the explanation about the Tiger skin has been given and the cheeky lyrics we sing to this song..I'm a 62 yr old woman and I was sing singing along with the Hitler one..well yes..literally one..haha..🤣😂 that is the British sense of humour..after all these yrs we still sing those words making fun which as children was the best thing to do..so that's another reason this tune is sooo popular..
I take this sort of thing so much for granted! Changing of the guard in my town is something I usually avoid, but its nice to see your joy!! I must go and people watch next time!!
This song is also famous for being in the 1957 WWII War Film "Bridge over the river Kwai" which starred the late Alec Guinness. the rude version was often sung in my school when kids played war games....
The Royal Marines Bandsman Base Drum Player wears a Tiger skin and it is either called full skin or an apron, it goes back to 1700’s. Africans that joined the Army were good at playing drums and keeping the beat, these drummers joined the 29th Regiment of Foot and later the Royal Fusiliers, the same Fusiliers where sent to Canada in 1773 and served in Montreal, Quebec, Fort Chambray, and Fort St. Johns, every drummer in the Fusiliers up to 1899 was of African descent, the African drummers began the tradition of wearing the leopard skins when in uniform, these skins helped protect the uniform from wearing out because the drums were so large and heavy, the tradition continues in certain British and Canadian regiments today.🧐
Nothing beats the sound of an elite drum corps.
Thanks for sharing this.😎🇦🇺🦘
Real tiger skin pelts worn by Royal Marine drummers are to be replaced by synthetic fur. The skins are traditionally worn by the Bass Drummers of the Band Service of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines. There is one Bass Drummer per band and there are currently five Royal Marine bands.
The Leopard skin apron is traditionally worn by Bass drummers in the British military bands. I t protects the drummers uniform from wear fro the drum. Also that serious looking dude in the Green Beret is a Royal Marine Commando.
Hitler as only got one ball 😂 Love the words for that one 😂
Vocally I remember singing it as 'Turra Turra Boomm Tee Ay, Turra Turra Boom Tee Ay, Turra, Turra RaRa, Tarra Boom Tee Aye. I was a child, so have no idea why we used these sounds to sing this march.
I think that is a different piece of music .
Another great video JPS..always watched with great enthusiasm 🤩
I`m not sure where I first heard it, whistled by P.O.W.`s in the Colditz tv Series/similar war films or as the theme tune to the War film (The Bridge On The River Kwai) starring Sir Alec Guiness.
Cool! I've only heard the whistling version from the movie.
These are lyrics composed by ‘who knows’ during WW2. British obviously. Once you have them in your head and hear colonel Bogey there is no getting rid of them.
Hitler has only got one ball,
Göring has two but very small,[a]
Himmler is rather sim'lar,[b]
But poor old Goebbels has no balls at all
😝😝
You beat me to it!
That's different to the version I learned.
Hitler has only got one ball. The other is in the Albert hall. His mother the dirty bugger chopped off when he was small. I am sure there might be many others.
Sue Tatlock hi I was singing those words along with the music lol Jax x
@@neilgayleard3842 yep, I'm with you on that one..lol
@@neilgayleard3842 Yes this one
Hitler, he only has one ball.
The other is in the albert hall.
His mother,
that dirty bugger,
chopped if off when he was small. lol
Jps , now you must watch the 1957 film ' Bridge Over The River Kwai . ' Set in a Japanese prisoner of war camp during WW2 . Although hugely fictionalized , the film shows how over 13,000 British , Commonwealth , Dutch and American prisoners of war were worked to death on the notorious Burma-Siam Railway . The tune to the Colonel Bogey March is used , with great effect in the film , to boost moral among the prisoners , and to offer defiance to the Japanese prison camp guards .
This is a fantastic piece of music. Listen carefully as there are in fact, two melodies being played, neither of which is similar to the other. I love it.
By the way, my memory of the wartime version went like this: Bollocks, that’s all the band could play. Bollocks, they played it night & day. Etc.
The words to the tune that my Dad always sang from WW2 opened as follows:
Don't throw the lamp at Father, wait 'till he gets in bed and bite his bollocks,
Bollocks is all the band could play,
Bollocks and the same to you!
Other irreverent versions exist.
If you see the film "Bridge on the River Kwai" the prisoners whistle this tune as they enter the camp, which is an act of defiance towards the Japanese guards who would be unaware of the meaning.
I think these are Royal Marines. When I was a kid in the US Navy, not very much older than you are now, I was Petty Officer of the Watch on my ship on the morning that Malta achieved Dominion status (?) Commonwealth status (?) - I'm no longer sure which, but it was quite a to do. There appeared on the quay a band very like this one, only they were in tropical kit, and immediately after colors, they began to play national anthems for all nations that had sent representatives. I stood saluting as this excellent band played the national anthems of: Malta, the UK, the US, France, Germany, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece, and one or two that I may have forgotten. It was quite an experience. British military bands have no peers. Especially when they have pipes present. (There were no pipes at Valletta.)
Now I’m wanting to watch the bridge over the river Kwai
"I have explained this till I am blue in the face, Officers don't work!"
Ain't the UK guys splended 😁🇬🇧 makes you so proud on days like this ! To be English
Hitler has only got one ball,
The other is in the Albert Hall,
His mother, the dirty bugger,
Chopped it off when Hitler was small.
She threw it into the apple tree,
the wind blew it into the deep blue sea,
Where the fishes got out their dishes,
And ate scallops and bollocks for tea.
Well as the march took place in Glasgow SCOTLAND i"ll stick to being proud to be Scottish
JPS the guy in the animal skin is the base drummer who has the task of maintaining the correct beat for the entire band. Effectively he is a metronome for the rest of the parade to keep step. The skin is worn partly so others can spot him and focus on his beat but also serve to both keep his uniform clean and keep the drum safe from being scratched by the buttons on his uniform. I noticed that you were referring to the skin as a Tigerskin but I didn’t get a clear view of it and normally when I see a band the base drummer is wearing a Leopard skin.
By tradition the bass drummer was also the regimental blacksmith as his main role. A blacksmith has to be very strong to fulfill his duties, particularly if he is with a mounted regiment, because he is also the farrier, and has to handle the horses. He is ideal to carry the weight of the drum for long periods of time. The apron is a traditional item worn by the blacksmith. My grandfather's brother was a regimental blacksmith many years ago.
Inspired by one of Alford's golfing pals who whistled the two descending notes instead of shout Fore
glad to see you enjoyed that , always good to see any band of the British Army. I have a suggestion for a watch you might enjoy and even be amazed at, I come from a small town in the Southwest of England called Bridgwater ( no e in the middle) every year in November there is a carnival like no other, would be worth you checking it out, just keep watching but I am not suggesting you watch for a couple of hours .
Not sure the marines would appreciate being described as 'army'.
It was good, though.
@@grahamstubbs4962 allright any band of the British Forces
I've heard that tune before, but I never knew what it was called. All I knew is that I heard it in the film 'A Bridge Too Far', which remains one of my favourite films to date.
It's a leopard skin to protect the bass drum players uniform.
I find myself singing Hitler has only got one ball, Goeballs has two but very small etc
My brother used to play the bass drum when he was in the Boys Brigade band and wore slightly more padding than the other members! Not as fancy as the one shown in this video though! One of the tunes they played was "Over the Hills" and loved hearing it, but I'm not sure if it is the correct title to it and I can't find it anywhere! Would so love to hear it again!
Hi Ian, the tune you are referring to could be "Over The Hills & Far Away", see :- ua-cam.com/video/jBnJr-YDgxk/v-deo.html It was also the theme tune to the (Sharpe) tv drama Series about the Napoleonic Wars. see :- ua-cam.com/video/WOeYPpOblAw/v-deo.html Personally, I love the latter version, probably because that`s when I first heard of it.
Only over the hills I know, is over the hills and far away. There are Boys Brigade sites on UA-cam with the bands playing, maybe look at them.
Nice to hear another Boys Brigade member
There was a very famous version of it sung in WW2 and it went like this, Hitler has only got one ball, the other is in the Albert hall.... his mother, the dirty bugger... anyway I know it all but I'll leave it there, go google it lol... It's sung to the Colonel Bogey March tune. I was born in 68, but even I can remember singing this as a kid lol.. Don't know who or where I first heard it, but, guess it was still sung back then. :D
The Colonel Bogey march (neat title eh?) was written by Lt Ricketts (AKA Kenneth Alford). He was a bandmaster in the Army, with strong links to the Royal Marines (I think that this band in the clip are Marines). The tune was whistled by captured British soldiers as they marched to work on the railway over the River Kwai. There's a film 'The Bridge over the River Kwai' where the tune is featured. Alec Guinness stars, long before he defected to the Force as Obi Wan Kenobi!
I think the 'tiger' thing is just a leather smock to stop the huge drum from banging on his body as he marches ?
There are more parodies of this march than probably any other, and nearly all of them obscene!
The chap with the leopard skin is the bass drummer. It is traditional.
the tiger skin stops the chaffing on the back upper arms and legs i beleave ?
This reminds me of the film "Bridge on the River Kwai"....
The lion skin is because (base?) drummers were usually recruited from Africa because they were good at keeping bears and they started wearing Leopard skins to protect uniform. This tradition continues in most regiments.
The tigerskin is an apron worn by the bass drummer. It seems as if it is a traditional institution in the British military. And can be seen in the bands ex-colonies. Briefly
That’s filmed in Glasgow,Scotland.
This was the theme to the wonderful film 'Bridge on the River Kwai'. Well worth watching 🇬🇧
I am an Australian, and we every Monday morning at school would march into class with that music . 🇦🇺🐨🐨🇦🇺