The Grand Old Duke of York
‘The Grand Old Duke of York’ (also sung as The Noble Duke of York) is an English children's nursery rhyme, often performed as an action song. The Duke of the title has been argued to be a number of the holders of that office, particularly Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (1763–1827) and its lyrics have become proverbial for futile action
“Oh, The grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men;
He marched them up to the top of the hill,
And he marched them down again.
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.”
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"The Grand Old Duke of York Nursery rhyme." Rhymes.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.rhymes.com/nursery/84/the-grand-old-duke-of-york>.
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