John Tams (born 16th February, 1949) is an award-winning English actor, sin… Read Full Bio ↴John Tams (born 16th February, 1949) is an award-winning English actor, singer, songwriter and musician. His contributions to English folk music are legendary.
John Tams was a member of Derbyshire folk group Muckram Wakes in the 1970s, then worked with Ashley Hutchings as singer and melodeon-player on albums including 'Son of Morris On', and as a member of The Albion Band. Splitting with Hutchings in the 1980s he formed Home Service. Now a solo performer - fronting a folk-rock band, or in a duo with Barry Coope.
Tams has released several solo albums including 'Unity' (2001), 'Home' (2002) and 'The Reckoning' (2005); all of which have met with well-deserved critical acclaim. At the 2006 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Tams won Album of the Year for 'The Reckoning', Best Traditional Track (for 'Bitter Withy') and Singer of the Year. Tams is the only artist to have won the Album of the Year award twice, the first time was with his first solo album 'Unity' in 2001.
Tams may be best known to the general public through having played one of the supporting roles in the ITV drama series Sharpe as one of the "Chosen Men" as rifleman and former poacher Daniel Hagman, a whimsical, sober, steady hand in the 95th Rifles always ready with a deadly eye behind a Baker rifle, a folk remedy for an ailment, or a song for a weary heart. In 1996, Tams collaborated with fellow British folk musician Kate Rusby (and others) on a companion CD to the television series titled Over the Hills & Far Away: The Music of Sharpe.
Tams was a Musical Director and actor at the National Theatre from 1976 to 1985 and then again from 1999 to 2001, working on such shows as The Mysteries, Larkrise to Candleford, Glengarry Glenross, The Crucible, Golden Boy, The Good Hope and The Mysteries Revival in 1999. He was a member of the creative team headed by Bill Bryden.
In 2006, Tams became musical director of the BBC Radio 2 2006 Radio Ballads, an updating of Ewan MacColl's Radio Ballads. The series was short-listed for two Sony Radio Awards in 2007. The song Steelos, written by Tams for the Song Of Steel episode of the 2006 Ballads, was nominated Best Original Song at the 2006 Radio 2 Folk Awards. Tams then worked on a stage version of Steelos performed at The Magna Centre in the Rother Valley in 2009.
Early in 2007, Tams was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University which was presented in November 2007. He is married to Sally Tams, his manager, and they have a daughter, Rosie.
In 2011-12, Home Service reformed and resumed touring. They were awarded Best Live Act at the BBC Folk Awards 2012.
John Tams was a member of Derbyshire folk group Muckram Wakes in the 1970s, then worked with Ashley Hutchings as singer and melodeon-player on albums including 'Son of Morris On', and as a member of The Albion Band. Splitting with Hutchings in the 1980s he formed Home Service. Now a solo performer - fronting a folk-rock band, or in a duo with Barry Coope.
Tams has released several solo albums including 'Unity' (2001), 'Home' (2002) and 'The Reckoning' (2005); all of which have met with well-deserved critical acclaim. At the 2006 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Tams won Album of the Year for 'The Reckoning', Best Traditional Track (for 'Bitter Withy') and Singer of the Year. Tams is the only artist to have won the Album of the Year award twice, the first time was with his first solo album 'Unity' in 2001.
Tams may be best known to the general public through having played one of the supporting roles in the ITV drama series Sharpe as one of the "Chosen Men" as rifleman and former poacher Daniel Hagman, a whimsical, sober, steady hand in the 95th Rifles always ready with a deadly eye behind a Baker rifle, a folk remedy for an ailment, or a song for a weary heart. In 1996, Tams collaborated with fellow British folk musician Kate Rusby (and others) on a companion CD to the television series titled Over the Hills & Far Away: The Music of Sharpe.
Tams was a Musical Director and actor at the National Theatre from 1976 to 1985 and then again from 1999 to 2001, working on such shows as The Mysteries, Larkrise to Candleford, Glengarry Glenross, The Crucible, Golden Boy, The Good Hope and The Mysteries Revival in 1999. He was a member of the creative team headed by Bill Bryden.
In 2006, Tams became musical director of the BBC Radio 2 2006 Radio Ballads, an updating of Ewan MacColl's Radio Ballads. The series was short-listed for two Sony Radio Awards in 2007. The song Steelos, written by Tams for the Song Of Steel episode of the 2006 Ballads, was nominated Best Original Song at the 2006 Radio 2 Folk Awards. Tams then worked on a stage version of Steelos performed at The Magna Centre in the Rother Valley in 2009.
Early in 2007, Tams was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University which was presented in November 2007. He is married to Sally Tams, his manager, and they have a daughter, Rosie.
In 2011-12, Home Service reformed and resumed touring. They were awarded Best Live Act at the BBC Folk Awards 2012.
Gentleman Soldier
John Tams Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Gentleman Soldier' by these artists:
Luke Kelly & The Dubliners It's of a gentlemen soldier as a sentry he did…
Orthodox Celts It's of a gentleman soldier as sentry he did stand He salu…
Pyrates! Oh, it′s of a gentleman sailor, as a sentry he…
The Dubliners It's of a gentlemen soldier as a sentry he did…
The Dubliners & Luke Kelly It's of a gentlemen soldier as a sentry he did…
The Dubliners with Luke Kelly It's of a gentlemen soldier as a sentry he did…
We have lyrics for these tracks by John Tams:
Amelia The work was hard and wages low Amelia – where you…
From Where I Lie / Sheepcounting From where I lie The sheep can safely graze The farm breas…
Harry Stone - Hearts of Coal Harry Stone was a miner born He worked to win his…
Hugh Stenson & Mollie Green Oh Bold Hugh Stenson is my name From Ashbourne in the…
Over The Hills And Far Away Here's forty shillings on the drum For those who'll voluntee…
Safe House Run for cover find another town along the road You're flying…
Spanish Bride O'er the hills and o'er the main Through Flanders, Portugal …
Unity Can't pass the people, can't pass the, hit me Oh, get…
Unity - Raise Your Banners High Bound together through the land Stand up - stand up now Brot…
Whole New Vision Geronimo, he came in Just done a deal with Errol Flynn He'…
Written in the Book Playground – hearts pound Unsteady on the floor Lennon and m…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@HarryPotter-pw9xw
It's of a gentleman soldier, as a sentry he did stand,
And he kindly saluted a fair maid by waving of his hand.
So boldly then he kissed her, and passed it as a joke,
He drilled her into the sentry box wrapped up in a soldier's cloak.
Chorus (after each verse):
For the drums do go with a rap-a-tap-tap and the fifes did loudly play,
Saying, “Fare you well, my Polly dear, I must be going away.”
Oh, there they tossed and tumbled till daylight did appear,
The soldier rose, put on his clothes, says, “Fare you well, my dear,
For the drums they are a-beating and the fifes so sweetly play.
And if it warn't for that, dear Polly, along with you I'd stay.”
“Now come, you gentleman soldier, and won't you marry me?”
“Oh no, my dearest Polly, such things can never be,
For married I am already and children I have three;
Two wives are allowed in the army but one's too many for me.”
“If anyone come a-courting you, you treat 'em to a glass.
If anyone come a-courting, you say you're a country lass.
You needn't even tell them that ever you played this joke,
That ever you went in a sentry box wrapped up in a soldier's cloak.”
It's, “Come, my gentleman soldier, why didn't you tell me so?
My parents will be angry when this they come to know.”
When long nine months was up and past, this poor girl she brought shame,
For she had a little militia boy and she couldn't tell his name.
@Kiba_Mar-Glas
i love the cross with the British grenadiers
@chrismac2234
Royal Signals. Songs to stir the soul.
@HarryPotter-pw9xw
It's of a gentleman soldier, as a sentry he did stand,
And he kindly saluted a fair maid by waving of his hand.
So boldly then he kissed her, and passed it as a joke,
He drilled her into the sentry box wrapped up in a soldier's cloak.
Chorus (after each verse):
For the drums do go with a rap-a-tap-tap and the fifes did loudly play,
Saying, “Fare you well, my Polly dear, I must be going away.”
Oh, there they tossed and tumbled till daylight did appear,
The soldier rose, put on his clothes, says, “Fare you well, my dear,
For the drums they are a-beating and the fifes so sweetly play.
And if it warn't for that, dear Polly, along with you I'd stay.”
“Now come, you gentleman soldier, and won't you marry me?”
“Oh no, my dearest Polly, such things can never be,
For married I am already and children I have three;
Two wives are allowed in the army but one's too many for me.”
“If anyone come a-courting you, you treat 'em to a glass.
If anyone come a-courting, you say you're a country lass.
You needn't even tell them that ever you played this joke,
That ever you went in a sentry box wrapped up in a soldier's cloak.”
It's, “Come, my gentleman soldier, why didn't you tell me so?
My parents will be angry when this they come to know.”
When long nine months was up and past, this poor girl she brought shame,
For she had a little militia boy and she couldn't tell his name.
@HarryPotter-pw9xw
UP
@Tom-ht5ym
My dude made the lyrics longer
@ea5yliver
Good God-that's rough.
@tamcd1508
The words and music were collected in Sussex in 1907 and can be found in the Penguin Book of English Folk Songs. I'm sure it's been recorded but I can't think of a version at the moment!
@samuelfawdry6411
I am a proud Coldstreamer
@Hatoflegends
'how about a song Hagman. Arma virumque cano... something'
@NobleKorhedron
"Arma virumquae cano; sing of arms and the man..."