Shake Hands With De La Rey
Embracing Peace with De la Rey: A War's Unlikely Harmony
Lyrics
I am a mounted soldier from Cananda I came
I am a mounted soldier from Canada; I came.
With my fellow countryman to fight in this campaign
With my fellow countrymen, I came to fight in this campaign.
I rode out as an escort for Walter Kitchener
I rode out as an escort for Walter Kitchener.
A hundred and twenty-five of us that is all we were
A hundred and twenty-five of us, that is all we were.
On the 17th of June in 1902 at a place called Tafelkop
On the 17th of June in 1902 at a place called Tafelkop.
We were to rendezvous
We were to rendezvous.
Who it was to be with nobody would say
Who it was to be with, nobody would say.
Then riding from the distance on a horse came De la Rey
Then riding from the distance on a horse came De la Rey.
Nothing is impossible in this war so they say
Nothing is impossible in this war, so they say.
But you will be in luck if you set eyes on De la Rey
But you will be in luck if you set eyes on De la Rey.
He rode up to us fearless and looked at everyone
He rode up to us fearless and looked at everyone.
And said come to my laager down at Doringkom
And said, "Come to my laager down at Doringkom."
General Kemp is waiting his commando was still armed
General Kemp is waiting; his commando was still armed.
But you have my word nobody will be harmed
But you have my word; nobody will be harmed.
Nothing is impossible in this war so they say
Nothing is impossible in this war, so they say.
But you will be in luck if you trust in De la Rey
But you will be in luck if you trust in De la Rey.
We rode up to the laager they layed their weapons down
We rode up to the laager; they laid their weapons down.
Our General gave a speech and paid homage to the Crown
Our General gave a speech and paid homage to the Crown.
He said you're part of the Empire when your new flag is unfurled
He said, "You're part of the Empire when your new flag is unfurled."
It's the fairest and the free-est institution in the world
It's the fairest and the freest institution in the world.
Nothing is impossible in this war so they say
Nothing is impossible in this war, so they say.
But you will be in luck if you make peace with De la Rey
But you will be in luck if you make peace with De la Rey.
Then tables they were made in a tent out on the plain
Then tables they were made in a tent out on the plain.
There was ham and tongue and chicken, cigars and French champagne
There was ham and tongue and chicken, cigars and French champagne.
And his Burghers took their hats off they had no more to say
And his Burghers took their hats off; they had no more to say.
And as each of us departed we shook hands with De la Rey
And as each of us departed, we shook hands with De la Rey.
Nothing is impossible in this war so they say
Nothing is impossible in this war, so they say.
But you will be in luck if you shake hands with De la Rey
But you will be in luck if you shake hands with De la Rey.
Nothing is impossible in this war so they say
Nothing is impossible in this war, so they say.
But you will be in luck if you shake hands De la Rey
But you will be in luck if you shake hands with De la Rey.
Nothing is impossible in this war so they say
Nothing is impossible in this war, so they say.
But you will be in luck if you shake hands De la Rey
But you will be in luck if you shake hands with De la Rey.
Comment