The Oggie Song

The Oggie Song itself is crucially based upon the Oggie Chant, but during the intervening years various other verses and songs have become essentially attached to it.Cyril Tawney in Grey Funnel Lines mentions how Ivor Burston in his book I joined the Navy and Saw the world, records how he helped write the original lyrics to this in 1943.

This claim was however is not quite the truth, or rather not completly the truth. Indeed it pretty much follows the pattern of most of these naval ditties, in that the Naval sailor is prone to use any popular tune or catch line from any existing song and add or adapt the words as required. Also see ‘Iwas walking through the dockyard in a panic’, for a similar situation.

Here what happened; was that an original short ditty, which had found popularity with the Naval Brigades of the Zulu Wars of 1879, found a reincarnation of popularity during the Boer war of 1899 (PRETORIA). (It is also from this time that the Royal Engineers makes claim to the song.) It subsequently endured through the early twentieth century on the Naval messdeck to re-emerge at RNB Devonport in 1943 blended with new words to form this new medley, whilst the original was utilised asa chorus. The ‘new’ song was apparently first sung in the Devonport, RNB Barracks Beer Bar, and quickly became a firm favourite amongst the division.

Today, the sailors of the RN, particularly when abroad,in singing this song has a tendency to consider the term‘Oggie' to represent their home town, rather than just Cornwall. .

Pretoria

Oh fare thee well, say good bye,
and make fast the dinghy,
and make fast the dinghy,
Oh say good bye and kiss my ass
and make fast the dinghy,
and make fast the dinghy,
We are marching to Pretoria,
Oh Gloria, Victoria,
We are marching to Victoria
Roll him down that Zulu warrior,
to roll him down that Zulu king.

The Oggie Song Reviewed

As recorded by Cyril Tawney this new song or medley has its origins in the Devonport Barracks in 1943, it s now difficult to relate what those lyrics actually comprised of, as over the years various versions have circulated. However Cyril makes a good attempt at illustrating this.

In post war years, each offering of the song. Gives to its audience something different. Of the many different choruses and items attached to the song the following are but examples of the more popular.

In performance it is usual EITHER to sing the main chorus, which is often followed by the Oggie chant OR -

One starts with Refrain followed by its chorus . At this point the song can deviate in a number of directions, either the other refrains are sung in the manner of a normal song or you go into the Main Chorus back to Refrain.

If at this point the Oggie chant then follows, it is generally usual to go straight into Zulu Warrior , which is often followed by a rendition or performance of This Old Hat of Mine where at least one of the group will get his kit off and occasionally perform The Dance of the Flaming Arseholes .

Alternatively, one or more of the following is then added - Aladdin, Nigger Boys, Three Crows, etc. before once again the Main Chorus and or Oggie Chant is again sung.

It is important to stress that this song has no rigid format, though it seems that wherever it is sung, everybody no exactly what comes next.

Main Chorus

And we'll all go back to Oggie land,
To Oggie Land, to Oggie Land,
And we'll all go back to Oggie land,
Where they cant tell sugar from
tissue paper, tissue paper, marmalade and jam.

Refrains
(1)
Where be going to Jagger?
Oi be going to Looe,
Gor Bugger Jagger, I be going there too.

Oh how happy us will be,
When we gets to the West Countree,
Where the oggies grow on trees,
Gor Bugger Jagger!

(2)
Up to Camborne Hill we go,
Down by Helston Ferry,
Come on Jagger don't be late,
Come on Jagger hurry.

(3)
Half a pound of flour and marge,
Makes lovely clacker,
Just enough for you and me.
Gor! Bugger Jagger.

(4)
You make fast, I'll make fast,
Make fast the dinghy.
You make fast, kiss my arse,
Make fast the dinghy.
And we'll all go back etc.

Zulu Warrior

Hold em down you Zulu Warrior,
Hold 'em down you Zulu King.
Hoi da zimba zimba zimba,
Hoi da zimber zimber zay.


or as originally sung


Roll 'em down you Zulu warrior,
Roll 'em down you Zulu King!
Ai o-ri-a, Ai ke-o-na, Ai o-ri-a Ai ke-o-na.

The Zulu warrior song is of course, also a throw back to the original song of the Zulu War where we began.


Notes:
[1] JAGGER - It is possible that the terms Jagger and Janner as given in the refrains have been corrupted in usage and indeed the tendency is now to use either. But originally the term was Jagger and not Janner (A Cornishman).
The term Jagger, means a sailor from the Royal Navy Barrack Devonport, this term is generalised from the reference of ‘Jago’s Mansions’– Jago was a Warrant Caterer that introduced an improved form of messing, that was eventually to revolutionise the way food was served to the Naval Rating. Consequently Devonport Barracks was elevated in Jack’s mind to palatial comfort and spoken . of as Jago’s Mansions. Thus Jagger was a sailor enjoying those comforts and not billeted aboard a ship.