Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here
Encyclopedia
"Hail, hail, the gang's all here" is the popular refrain from the 1915 American
song, "Alabama Jubilee" made famous by Fred Astaire
.
The lyrics were written by D. A. Esrom (pseudonym of Theodora Morse
) to a tune originally written by Arthur Sullivan
for the 1879 comic opera
The Pirates of Penzance
. The tune is part of "With Cat-Like Tread" from Act II of Pirates and was modified by Theodore Morse from Sullivan's four-part original.
Today the chorus of the song (with revised lyrics) is perhaps more identifiable (certainly amongst Irish and Scottish communities) as being part of "The Celtic Song
", sung by the fans of Glasgow Celtic in Scotland. Glen Daly
recorded an "official version" of "The Celtic Song" that is commonly played at Celtic Park
prior to matches.
(Original lyrics by William S. Gilbert)
The song is also referred to in Kurt Vonnegut
's book, Slaughterhouse-Five
:
The door was flung open from inside. Light leaped out through the door, escaped from prison at 186,000 miles per second. Out marched fifty middle-aged Englishmen. They were singing "Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here" from the Pirates of Penzance.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
song, "Alabama Jubilee" made famous by Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
.
The lyrics were written by D. A. Esrom (pseudonym of Theodora Morse
Theodora Morse
Theodora Morse was an American song writer and composer.She was a Tin Pan Alley lyricist who collaborated to produce a number of popular songs.-Background:...
) to a tune originally written by Arthur Sullivan
Arthur Sullivan
Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan MVO was an English composer of Irish and Italian ancestry. He is best known for his series of 14 operatic collaborations with the dramatist W. S. Gilbert, including such enduring works as H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado...
for the 1879 comic opera
Comic opera
Comic opera denotes a sung dramatic work of a light or comic nature, usually with a happy ending.Forms of comic opera first developed in late 17th-century Italy. By the 1730s, a new operatic genre, opera buffa, emerged as an alternative to opera seria...
The Pirates of Penzance
The Pirates of Penzance
The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. The opera's official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on 31 December 1879, where the show was well received by both audiences...
. The tune is part of "With Cat-Like Tread" from Act II of Pirates and was modified by Theodore Morse from Sullivan's four-part original.
Today the chorus of the song (with revised lyrics) is perhaps more identifiable (certainly amongst Irish and Scottish communities) as being part of "The Celtic Song
The Celtic Song
The Celtic Song is the song played over the public address system at Celtic Park, Glasgow when the Scottish football team, Celtic, run on to the pitch before kick-off...
", sung by the fans of Glasgow Celtic in Scotland. Glen Daly
Glen Daly
Glen Daly was a Scottish singer and entertainer.-Career:Daly was born in Glasgow where he attended St Mary's School...
recorded an "official version" of "The Celtic Song" that is commonly played at Celtic Park
Celtic Park
Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...
prior to matches.
- Hail, hail, the gang's all here
- What the heck do we care
- What the heck do we care
- Hail, hail, the gang's all here
- What the heck do we care now
(Original lyrics by William S. Gilbert)
- Come, friends, who plough the sea
- Truce to navigation
- Take another station
- Let's vary piracy
- With a little burglary
The song is also referred to in Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. was a 20th century American writer. His works such as Cat's Cradle , Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions blend satire, gallows humor and science fiction. He was known for his humanist beliefs and was honorary president of the American Humanist Association.-Early...
's book, Slaughterhouse-Five
Slaughterhouse-Five
Slaughterhouse-Five, or The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death is a satirical novel by Kurt Vonnegut about World War II experiences and journeys through time of a soldier called Billy Pilgrim...
:
The door was flung open from inside. Light leaped out through the door, escaped from prison at 186,000 miles per second. Out marched fifty middle-aged Englishmen. They were singing "Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here" from the Pirates of Penzance.
External resources
- Lyrics with MIDI on nih.gov