Historical Recordings's video: The Owl - Traditional Carol of the British Infantry

*Credit to OrlopRat42 for the research on this song* In 1807, a campaign was undertaken in Egypt by the British. Alexandria was occupied, but their efforts to advance further were halted by Turkish forces under Mehemmet Ali. The night before a disastrous foray, which ended in the battle of El Hamed, an infantry commissary sang a "gay old English carol" in the cold of the desert, and twenty or thirty voices came in on the chorus. The carol was called The Owl. Lyrics (English): Of all the brave birds that ever I see, The owl is the fairest in her degree. For all the day long she sits in a tree And when the night comes away flies she. Tu whit, tu whoo, to whom drinks thou Sir knave to thee This song is well sung I make you a vow And he is a knave that drinketh now, Nose, nose, nose, nose, And who gave thee that jolly red nose? Cinnamon and ginger, nutmeg and cloves, And that gave me gave me this jolly red nose