Sussex by the Sea
Sussex by the Sea is a song written in 1907 by William Ward-Higgs. It became popular during the First World War, having already been adopted by the Royal Sussex Regiment as an unofficial "nick" march. It may well have come from a poem written by Rudyard Kipling in 1902 entitled Sussex, the final stanza of which is:
- God gives all men all earth to love,
- But since man's heart is small,
- Ordains for each one spot shall prove
- Beloved over all.
- Each to his choice, and I rejoice
- The lot has fall to me
- In a fair ground[1] - Sussex by the Sea!
- In a fair ground - Yea, Sussex by the Sea!
It became well known throughout Sussex and is regarded as a county anthem. It is regularly sung at celebrations throughout Sussex and can be heard during the Lewes bonfire celebrations and is played by marching bands and even Morris dancers throughout the county. During the liberation of Singapore in 1945, the Royal Marine band of the heavy cruiser HMS Sussex played Sussex by the Sea as the ship entered harbour.
Contents |
[edit] Organisations
[edit] Sussex County Cricket Club
In 1957, Joe Haddon wrote a two verse version dedicated to Sussex cricket.
- Now is the time for playing
- Now let your hearts be gay
- List what your captain is saying
- While off the field of play
- So put your best leg forward, my lads
- And time each ball you see
- If you sing the old song
- Well you can’t go wrong
- Of Sussex By The Sea
Chorus:
- Good Old Sussex by the Sea, Good Old Sussex By the Sea
- You can tell them all that we stand or fall
- For Sussex by the Sea.
- Good Old Sussex By the Sea
- Their cricket is a pleasure to see
- They will give you a show
- For they don’t play slow
- And useful men are they
- So when you go to Sussex
- Six Martlets men to see
- They will delight you all
- With the bat and the ball
- In the County Ground by the Sea.
[edit] Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. & Sussex County Cricket Club
The song has also become attached to Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. and Sussex County Cricket Club. It is the clubs' official song, but with a changed chorus (often sung on its own, without any verses) - or, more recently, just humming the verses.
- Good old Sussex by the sea,
- Good old Sussex by the sea
- Oh we're going up
- And we'll win the cup
- For Sussex by the sea.
[edit] Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital uses the tune as its school march.
[edit] 1939 Sussex People's March of History
Marching through Eastbourne in the 'Sussex People's March of History' of 1939 with banners that included Jack Cade's rebellion in 1450,[2] the Swing Riots of 1830[2]and the Battle of Lewes Road,[2] which was a significant incident in Brighton in the General Strike of 1926,[3] 400 protesters led by Ernie Trory of the Sussex Communist movement sang the following words to Sussex by the Sea.[2]
- Now is the time for marching
- Under our banners red
- Rank upon rank advancing
- Surely we forge ahead
- So let your voices ring comrades,
- All you who would be free
- And we'll sing a song
- As we march along
- Of peace and liberty[2]
[edit] Notes
- ^ This phrase is taken from Psalm 16.1 in the Coverdale Bible - "The lot is fallen unto me in a fair ground : yea, I have a goodly heritage."[1]
- ^ a b c d e Lowerson, John (1980). A Short History of Sussex. Folkestone: Dawson Publishing. ISBN 978-0712909488.
- ^ "Sussex 1939". Moving History, Screen History South East. http://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/page_id__8914_path__0p116p180p1450p.aspx. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
[edit] See also
- Eastbourne Redoubt Home of the Royal Sussex Regimental Museum
- Music of Sussex
