Navy to replace official Heart of Oak march with ‘more inclusive’ music

[dimsum]

Broader thought: time to chuck "Branch" identities entirely out the window? If someone's Army, they can be "Corps of X" or "Royal Canadian X Corps," and everyone else can fall back on RCN and RCAF identifiers, badges, music, etc.

Or the other option is to go all in on branch identities. Do RCN or RCAF Log folks identify more as Log or as RCN/RCAF? Same with the RCMS folks wearing blue or dark blue?

How often is it sung in official settings anyway.

The only time I’ve heard it sung was in Mess Dinners, about 6 drinks in.

 

[Blackadder1916]

Everyone sing!

 

[Navy_Pete]

I still don't see how Barrett's Privateers isn't an obvious and easy layup here if they want to replace it, but also could not care less what they do.

This is also old news so bringing it back up is a lot of rage baiting.

 

[mariomike]

Just officially have no lyrics; just the tune. When folks complain about the lyrics, the official answer is 'not ours'. How often is it sung in official settings anyway.

Ours was,

Wait for the wagon,
Wait for the wagon,
Wait for the wagon,
And we'Il take a ride.

Where the river runs like silver
And the birds they sing so sweet,
I have a cabin, Phyllis,
And something good to eat;

There was more, but you get the idea.

 

[Jarnhamar]

I still don't see how Barrett's Privateers isn't an obvious and easy layup here if they want to replace it,

It contains language that does not align with values and ethos of today’s Royal Canadian Navy or the broader Canadian Armed Forces. Specifically, it insinuates someone disabled is "broken".

 

[dapaterson]

It contains language that does not align with values and ethos of today’s Royal Canadian Navy or the broader Canadian Armed Forces. Specifically, it insinuates someone disabled is "broken".

Except they self-identify as broken, and who are we to deny their lived experience?

 

[Navy_Pete]

It contains language that does not align with values and ethos of today’s Royal Canadian Navy or the broader Canadian Armed Forces. Specifically, it insinuates someone disabled is "broken".

Truth in advertising if recruiting is their focus? Lots of people broken after years of ship abusing their backs and knees (unless you ask VAC, then it's fine).

 

[Halifax Tar]

Or the other option is to go all in on branch identities. Do RCN or RCAF Log folks identify more as Log or as RCN/RCAF? Same with the RCMS folks wearing blue or dark blue?


The only time I’ve heard it sung was in Mess Dinners, about 6 drinks in.

Seeing as I can be a Coxswain but not an RSM or SCWO I think the idea we are "unified" or purple is moot and should be largely done away with.

 

[FJAG]

Everyone sing!

I don't have a dog in this hunt, but since one of the musicians in this was actually a gunner (French horn bottom row fifth from the left) I claim entitlement to ramble on.

Any time I hear someone complain about "microaggression" I want to puke.

"Heart of Oak" is an inspirational song and has great tune (second only to "He's a Pirate"

which admittedly is hard to march to and has no words.) True story: the RCN reserves presented an absolutely gorgeous recruiting video at a Chief of Reserves council meeting two decades ago showing RCN ships plowing through high seas with the "Pirates of the Caribbean" theme running in the background. Hell, it made me want to join the navy. Unfortunately I had to ask if they'd actually licenced the music . . . - chirp)

Anyhow - I can't think of a better march for the navy than one that uses "Heart of Oak are our ships, heart of oak are our men;" as a chorus. It kind of says it all. You could probably change only about a dozen words to make even the most easily offended complainer shut their gobs.

Buck up Navy leadership - show some heart of oak in your spines.

Michael Higgins seems to agree:

Michael Higgins: Navy brass need to stop worrying about microaggressions in song lyrics

Do we really need to be this fragile and sensitive about an official march that covers events from 265 years ago?

nationalpost.com

That is all.

 

[dapaterson]

The obvious choice:

 

[Halifax Tar]

I don't have a dog in this hunt, but since one of the musicians in this was actually a gunner (French horn bottom row fifth from the left) I claim entitlement to ramble on.

Any time I hear someone complain about "microaggression" I want to puke.

"Heart of Oak" is an inspirational song and has great tune (second only to "He's a Pirate"

which admittedly is hard to march to and has no words.) True story: the RCN reserves presented an absolutely gorgeous recruiting video at a Chief of Reserves council meeting two decades ago showing RCN ships plowing through high seas with the "Pirates of the Caribbean" theme running in the background. Hell, it made me want to join the navy. Unfortunately I had to ask if they'd actually licenced the music . . . - chirp)

Anyhow - I can't think of a better march for the navy than one that uses "Heart of Oak are our ships, heart of oak are our men;" as a chorus. It kind of says it all. You could probably change only about a dozen words to make even the most easily offended complainer shut their gobs.

Buck up Navy leadership - show some heart of oak in your spines.

Michael Higgins seems to agree:



That is all.

Changing our march past not what we should be devoting resources to at this moment.