Duke of Newcastle

Mayo Thompson & The Corky Band performing the song on December 2, 2023

Lyrics

Onward, Christian soldiers Marching as to war With the cross of Jesus Going on before

Onward, Christian soldiers Marching as to war With the cross of Jesus Stashed behind the door

What should we do? (The world is hard) What should we do? (The world is hard) What should we do? (The world is hard)

The hand that holds the sword Is militia for a nation What should we do? The world is hard

And we said, what should we do? (The world is hard) What should we do? (The world is hard) We said, what should we do? The world is hard The world is hard The world is hard

Militia for a nation Is the army in the field Or ready for the peel Upon occasion

An army is a beast With the belly for a feast And the army must be fed Before it will be led To a pasture to Hell

And what pastures you have will come To the balance of property And the public sword If it is not just a word

Will be the balance of property The balance of property Be the balance of property

What should we do? The world is hard We said, what should we do? The world is hard What should we do? The world is hard

Without a sword Law is nothing but a word And without our hand A cold iron band

Not even dog Or a little spit frog Spit frog Spit frog Spit frog Spit frog

Chronology

• Hazel
  • Stephen Prina - vocals
  • Jim O'Rourke - additional vocals

Retrospectives

Mayo Thompson, 2023

[This song] is about a villain-hero—maybe should be "hero-villain"... I'm not sure. Depends on what you think of civil war, I guess. "The Duke of New Castle." Take yourselves back to 1649. Cromwell has defeated King Charles. They cut off his head. And now the army needs to be fed. And they say [inaudible].

Interpretations

• "Onward, Christian Soldiers" is an English hymn

Live recordings

Show
August 31, 2023	video, vocal: Mayo Thompson	YouTube, Instagram