There is something quintessentially British about the unique blend of gusto and gibberish which makes up a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta. What is less well known, perhaps, is that Arthur Sullivan also wrote the music to the world-famous hymn ‘Onward Christian Solidiers’.
It seems he also tried his hand at a lyric to the tune, which was later discarded. Now, though, the sole surviving copy of that lyric has emerged – yet another extraordinary treasure recently found amongst a cache of forgotten manuscripts.
We are delighted to reproduce the full lyric here.
Tune: St Gertrude by A. Sullivan
Hymn for the Unsung Heros
Onward First Responders, marching as to war,
With the ACPO Guidelines going on before.
Tableaus at the ready, armed against the foe,
Forward into battle see those White Hats* go!
(*LE singers may substitute “Blue lights” here. – AS.)
Refrain
Onward First Responders, marching as to war,
With the ACPO Guidelines going on before.
Dawn of retribution! Watch the suspects stare;
They and their Redeemer know what you’ll find there!
All their nasty surfing, docs and pix and more;
See, they fear the advent of the long arm of the Law.
Refrain
Image every hard drive, every USB,
Make a very detailed chain of custody,
There will be no tiny evidential fault
Bag and tag and walk the lot then slap it in the vault.
Refrain
Run it up in EnCase, data carve ‘til dawn
Bookmark hot and gmails, all the dodgy porn,
Short and sweet the statement witnessing the crime
Which gets them off the premises or even doing time.
Refrain
Like Olympic medalists going at full steam
Onward First Responders! Ply that data stream!
Vanquish all the villains, work with all your might
Show the unbelievers just how ev’ry bit can byte
Arthur Sullivan at his other keyboard
All together now…
Onward First Responders, marching as to war,
With the ACPO Guidelines going on before.
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