A Note on the Project

There are numerous songs in Pagan's collection that have the name of a tune below their title. This project aims to recover those tunes and place them alongside Pagan's work, which was not meant to be silently read off of a page. When MIDI files and musical scores--both with just the skeleton of the melody for these tunes-- accompany Pagan's "poems," they can be read with a slightly better understanding of how the original audience experienced them.

Wednesday

A New Song: "The French is in force now..."

Tune: Lord Cornwallis
http://www.box.net/shared/rnykn4yok4

The French is in force now,
Our country to invade,
And to conquer Britain,
Great attempts have made.
But I hope our noble heroes,
Will pull the usurpers down,
Success to King George,
Long may he wear the crown.

There is word at present
That Buonaparte is fled,
And one general Moreau,
He doth him succeed.
Although he is a Scotsman,
He joins the French crew,
I leave you to judge
If his heart has been true.

There's disputes at parliament,
And bribery at home,
Such conduct as this
Makes the war still go on.
But if truth would bear the sway,
And make deceit to cease,
It still might be hoped
There soon might be peace.

There is such taxations
We scarcely can bear,
Which makes the whole country
To be in a steer.
For men to be made soldiers,
The trade is broken down,
And leaves families mourning
In many a town.

But let every individual
Lay it to heart,
Be just in their station,
And act an honest part.
Be just in their dealing,
Act no over-rise,
It is my real opinion
There soon would be peace.
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