The Grand Old Duke of York

Uncommon card · No. 191133

"The Grand Old Duke of York" is an English children's nursery rhyme, often performed as an action song. The eponymous duke has been argued to be a number of the bearers of that title, particularly Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (1763–1827), and its lyrics (where the duke marches ten thousand soldiers up and down a hill for no apparent reason) have become proverbial for futile action. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 742. "The Grand Old Duke of York" is also sung to the tune of "A-Hunting We Will Go". The oldest version of the song that survives is from 1642, under the title 'Old Tarlton's song', attributed to the stage clown Richard Tarlton (1530–1588). The lyrics of this version were referring to a King of France instead of a Duke.

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