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
Posts
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
ReplyDeleteI did too - I remember it well
DeleteSo 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.
DeleteVery 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=
ReplyDeleteI also sang this song, at Rochester Girls Grammar School, 1961.
ReplyDeleteSo did I! my name then was Julie Hawkes. I now live in Australia. Did we know each other?
DeleteA 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.
ReplyDeleteI sang this song at school in 1957 at Oak park school Havant hants.
ReplyDeleteWhat 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!
ReplyDelete