Sunday, June 17, 2012

Leonidas is combing his hair

From Mighty Men, Book 1 by Eleanor Farjeon, published in 1924.
Leonidas is Combing His Hair
by Eleanor Farjeon

Leonidas is combing his hair.
King of Persia, beware, beware!

He has only a handful of men to spare,
So Leonidas is combing his hair.

They all must die in the mountain there,
But before they die they will do their share.

King of Persia, beware, beware----
Leonidas is combing his hair!

H/T Pat Garrett

10 comments:

  1. I sang this song at school . I thought weir and had no idea who he was. It was at a school Hunntsman gardens1950/60s. It was a very working class area close to the steel works

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    1. I did too - I remember it well

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    2. So did I!! A wonderful teacher called John fryer taught me, and probably you, a plethora of folk songs that set my musical future. I'll never forget the influence that teacher had. Thank you Mr fryer.

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    3. Me too!! The wonderful Mr Fryer. Had the most profound effect on my life. I grew up loving music of many genre, and, because of him, learned to love theatre, and walking in the peak district. I owe him

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  2. Very interesting. Thanks. Apparently a school built on the panopticon principle. A post commemorating Huntsman Gardens School: https://www.mikehigginbottominterestingtimes.co.uk/?p=1140. A picture from the late 1970s: https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?action=zoomWindow&keywords=s22257&prevUrl=

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  3. I also sang this song, at Rochester Girls Grammar School, 1961.

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    1. So did I! my name then was Julie Hawkes. I now live in Australia. Did we know each other?

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  4. A friend has to have the rest of his hair shaved because of the effects of chemotherapy. I thought of that song - learnt at Haberdashers Aske’s girls school.

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  5. I sang this song at school in 1957 at Oak park school Havant hants.

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  6. What a coincidence re: Anon on April 18 - they're showing the 1962 film 'The 300 Spartans' right now, which reminded me of this song. I also learnt it in the 80's at Haberdashers - Mrs Winters I think? Happy days!

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