Broadsheet featuring the ballads 'I'm Afloat' and 'The British Militiaman'

Maker G. Walker Printer, Durham (1834 - 1886)

Date1834 - 1886

Object number00017395

NameBroadsheet

MediumWoodcut engraving and printed text on paper mounted on card.

DimensionsOverall: 257 x 184 mm, 0.023 kg

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionA broadsheet featuring the ballads 'I'm Afloat' and 'The British Militiaman'HistoryTHE BRITISH MILITIAMAN. Come sound the drum and fire the gun To serve the Queen be willing, And you must mind your P's and Q's, When you go out a drilling ; Your pay is thirteen-pence a day, The articles I'll mention, If you get shot with an iron pot, Perhaps you'll get a pension. Then off she goes—turn out your toes, Militiamen fight aisy, "Drill him well," cries Sergeant Bell, "Heads up," says Corporal Casey. You Cobbler Sneeze, turn in your knees, And wear your coat the right way, Or by a Court Martial you'll be tried, "Flare up," says General Pipeclay, Your faces clean, be sharp and keen, And see what stands before ye, Strike up your flutes, and black your boots, And fight for Bull and glory. Then off she goes, &c. The cobbler leaves his awl and last. The Tanner leaves his dog-skin, The Baker leaves his half-penny rolls, The Tailor leaves his bodkin, The Butcher leaves his greasy block, The Italian leaves his monkey, And Colonel Gee, gave one pound three, For a scarlet belt and a donkey. Then off she goes, &c. Great bouncing Nan, says my man Sam, Did all he could to dish her, He stole his father's coat and then Volunteer'd in the Militia : While charming Jane went down the lane, And was confined so clever, With a little son, marked with a gun, A Bayonet, Cap, and Feather. Then off she goes, &c. Stand at ease, toes out, in knees, Attention in a clap trap, Says Corporal Gill, that Cobbler Will, Has lost the string of his knapsack, Quick march—before—right, left, behind, Prime and load so steady, When war alarms, boys shoulder arms, Present and then make ready. Then off she goes, &c "That little snip," says Sergeant Tripp, Does like a foreign hen lie low, He wears a coat 'twould fit Ben Caunt, And trousers made for Bendigo, He is not fit to have a kit, Or travel to the Nile then, To-morrow night we'll make him fight The king of the Sandwich Islands. Then off she goes, &c. Eight thousand lads with hearts so glad, They want, in good condition, To go to Sydenham for to guard The great New Exhibition. And then to dance to Spain and France, And to the Cape were care be's, To fire away at the Hottentots, And knock down all the pear trees. Then off she goes, &c. Now Private Plum beat up the drum, And call the lads together, See how they run with fife and gun, And noble cap and feather ; We have them all both great and small To fight for wealth and riches, On iron pegs—on wooden legs, With neither shirt nor breeches. Then off she goes, &c. I'M AFLOAT. I'm afloat, I'm afloat on the fierce rolling tide, The ocean's my home and my bark is my bride ; Up, up with my flag, let it wave o'er the sea ; I'm afloat, I'm afloat, and the rover is free, I fear not the monarch, I heed not the law : I've a compass to steer by, a dagger to draw, And ne'er as a coward or slave will I kneel, While my gun carry shot, or my belt bears a steel. Quick ! quick trim her sails ! let her sheets kiss the wind, And I'll warrant we'll soon leave the seagulls behind, Up, up with my flag let it wave o'er the sea ! I'm afloat, I'm afloat, and the rover is free ! The night gathers o'er us, the thunder is heard : What matter ? our vessel skims on like a bird ! What to her is the dash of the storm ridden main ? She has braved it before, and will brave it again, The fire-gleaming flashes around us may fall— They may strike, they may cleave, but they cannot appal, With lightning above us, and darkness below Through the wild waste of waters right onward we go, Hurrah ! my brave comrades, ye may drink, ye may sleep, The storm-fiend is hush'd, we're alone on the deep, Our flag of defiance still waves o'er the sea, I'm afloat, I'm afloat and the rover is free ! Broadsheets or broadsides, as they were also known, were originally used to communicate official or royal decrees. They were printed on one side of paper and became a popular medium of communication between the 16th and 19th centuries in Europe, particularly Britain. They were able to be printed quickly and cheaply and were widely distributed in public spaces including churches, taverns and town squares. The cheap nature of the broadside and its wide accessibility meant that its intended audience were often literate individuals but from varying social standings. The illiterate may have also had access to this literature as many of the ballads were designed to be read aloud. The ballads also covered a wide range of subject matter such as witchcraft, epic war battles, murder and maritime themes and events. They were suitably dramatic and often entertaining, but occasionally they were designed as elaborate cautionary tales for those contemplating a life of crime. SignificanceBroadsheets were designed as printed ephemera to be published and distributed rapidly. This also meant they were quickly disposed of with many of them not surviving the test of time. The museum's broadsheet collection is therefore a rare and valuable example of how maritime history was communicated to a wide audience, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries. They vibrantly illustrate many of the themes and myths surrounding life at sea. Some of them also detail stories about transportation and migration.