Sarah Walker & Thomas Allen sing "The Mermaid" (Rule Britannia) - arr. Roger Vignoles

[sashaclarkson]

Thank you so much for uploading this! :-)

I remember singing this song in school about 45 years ago. It's absolutely hilarious and an excellent arrangement, performed with style and verve.

[epping12]

We used to sing this at school in one of the BBC's "Singing Together" programmes fifty years ago. It was my favourite folk song with the possible exception of Donkey Riding. Those radio programmes instilled a love of nonsense lyrics and memorable tunes which has stayed with me ever since!

[drtmuir]

Apparently, in Northumbria, "married" rhymes with "mermaid." ;)

[interpreterr]

I love "splooshhhh" as well-:) and agree it's very funny, perhaps because it's rather unexpected. I must find out more about how this irreverent version of "Rule Britanni" came into being...

[antmusique]

Do let us know if you find anything about the song!

(The contrast between the claim that Britons never shall be slaves and the consented (?) capture of this young man by a mermaid is intriguing, to say the least.)

[schweitzer006325]

The Wiki page on Rule, Britannia offers some information on the song.

Apparently, the more formal one 'Rule, Britannia' was written first in 1740 then the dramatist David Mallet replaced 3 of the original 6 stanzas with ones written by Lord Bolingbroke. The finished product 'Married to a Mermaid' became immensely popular after it was performed in one of Mallet's masques in 1755.

[antmusique]

I'd never thought I'd hear Allen singing "SPLOOSH!". I just find that really funny, for some reason (yes I am easily amused).

[schweitzer006325]

I forgot to mention that infamous 'splooosh' he sang...I agree, very amusing and unexpected.

I think this a definite case of opera singers behaving badly (in a good sense) ;-)

[schweitzer006325]

Probably the most unusual and hilarious song I've heard Allen sing so far. I love how both Sarah Walker and he start out singing 'Rule Britannia' the usual formal way then launch into the most cheerful and joking manner once they get to the line: 'Britons never, never shall be...'

If I'm not mistaken, Allen is using his native Durham accent here again =)

Plus that's a picture of him I've never seen before...where is it from?

[interpreterr]

I don't know about accent. I first heard the song a few months ago and have been looking for a recording ever since. I love the fact that the performers are obvioiusly enjoying themselves.

PS. I found the picture somewhere on the net and thought it would suit the mood of the piece-:)

[antmusique]

I wonder if he has ever sung "Rule, Britannia" at the Last Night of the Proms. It seems fitting. Any idea, fellow Allenologists?

[interpreterr]

As far as I know, he hasn't -:((( When he did Last Night I few years ago, it was still the time when they were doing it without the soloist (for a few Last Nights after Sept 11th).