"Buckingham Palace" (Ann Stephens, 1941)

Child actress Ann Stephens was just nine years old when she recorded this song during World War II. The poem is taken from A.A. Milne's 1924 collection, "When We Were Very Young". Music by the Beeb's Harold Fraser-Simson.

(CHANGING GUARD AT) BUCKINGHAM PALACE

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
Alice is marrying one of the guard.
"A soldier's life is terrible hard," Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
We saw a guard in a sentry-box.
"One of the sergeants looks after their socks," Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
We looked for the King, but he never came.
"Well, God take care of him, all the same," Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
They've great big parties inside the grounds.
"I wouldn't be King for a hundred pounds," Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
A face looked out, but it wasn't the King's.
"He's much too busy a-signing things," Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
"Do you think the King knows all about me?"
"Sure to, dear, but it's time for tea," Says Alice.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Buckingham
• Palace
• Christopher
• Robin
• Alice
• A.A.
• Milne
• Ann
• Stephens
• child
• actress
• 1941
• Fraser-simpson
• bbc
• pooh

[csbntruck]

heard it on captain kangeroo

[RReady555]

Think I may have, too...think the Moose sang along. ;)

-RR

[oddsox85]

i'm so glad I found this - started singing it today and my husband didn't believe it was a real song - he thought I'd made it up! My gran used to sing it too!

[RReady555]

Thanks for visiting! Everybody knows Milne's "Winnie the Pooh" stories but his great poems are much less known...this is a fun piece, most kids love it. ;)

Best wishes,

-RR

[crayonpafc]

Im 16 now and my grandma used to sing this to me before I went to sleep when I was little, I love it so much!

[RReady555]

Glad to hear that! It's a charming and wonderful piece.

take care,

-RR

[alicelopeman]

my grandma and mum use to sing this to me when i was little! and i used to march around and sing "said alice" at the end of each verse

thanks for posting this

[ryansand123]

I remember this song i was a young girl when this first came out i was five yrs old and they play this on changing guard day! in 1934

[Stuartmills7uk]

My Nan used to sing this to me too. Wonderful song. :-)

[bondsee]

@gabytomson561 lololololololololollolololo

[servantsk7]

I remember an old record that had about a dozen of A. A. Milne's poems set to music. It included this one & others like "Christopher Robin is Saying His Prayers", "The King's Breakfast" "Halfway Down" and others. I think the name of it was "Tell Me a Story" and on the reverse side if I remember correctly it had the soundtrack for "Hans Christian Anderson". I really wish I could locate a copy of it. The songs are still part of my childhood memories after all these years. Does any 1 have info?

[GottaLoveWebkinzlid]

I named my hamster Alice, haha! :)

[Fifburke]

I still have the record!!

[palonejr]

A soldiers life is terrible hard...

Bobby..

[gabytomson561]

What a load of bollocks