Grand Old Duke of York

The Grand Old Duke of York is a popular song to sing at a Cub campfire.

Lyrics

(Tune: "A-hunting we will go")

Oh, the grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men.
He marched them up to the top of a hill,
And he marched them down again.

Chorus:

And when they were up, they were up.

And when they were down, they were down.

And when they were only half-way up,

They were neither up nor down.

Actions: during chorus only.

• Variation: Reverse actions, e.g. for "up" sit "down".
• Variation: Divide in half and let each half do the opposite action

Alternative lyrics

The Grand Old Zulu King: replace "Duke of York" with "Zulu king" and "top of a hill" with "Drakensberg" (with acknowledgement to African Nursery Rhymes by Liz Mills.)

See also

• Campfire songs