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If you Want to Find the Sergeant Major

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Alternative title: Hanging on the Old Barbed Wire

Performer: Lane, Les
Place Collected: Cheltenham
Date collected: 1978 (1 Nov)
Roud Number: 9618

This song is universally known amongst English-speaking servicemen and probably dates from WWI.  It was not popular with the officer classes in view of its critical attitude towards them.  Many versions can be found easily with an internet search.  Here’s what Wikipedia has to say on the song.  Despite its universality, folk song collectors have rarely noted the song and only a handful of versions are to be found in archive collections

Notes by Gwilym Davies April 2020


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