Heligoland

DESCRIPTION: "We'll all go up to Heligoland, To get the Kaiser's goat. In our little pogie boat, Up Kiel canal we'll float. And when we meet the German fleet, We'll make them understand, That we'll knock the Hell-igo Out of Helligo, into Heligoland."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1929 (Niles/Moore-SongsMyMotherNeverTaughtMe)
KEYWORDS: sailor ship war navy
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Niles/Moore-SongsMyMotherNeverTaughtMe, pp. 31-32, "Heligoland" (1 short text, tune referenced)
Roud #27870
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Son of a Gambolier" (tune & meter) and references there
NOTES [88 words]: Heligoland island was a major German naval base in World War I, and the Kiel Canal cut across the Jutland/Denmark Peninsula, allowing German naval vessels to cross from east to west without facing attack from the British naval forces in the North Sea. Thus to attack Heligoland and the Kiel Canal was to raid right into the heart of German power. The area was heavily mined, hence the need for the "pogie boats" as minesweepers. But it never happened; the British navy was never strong enough to sail that close to Germany. - RBW
Last updated in version 5.0
File: NiM030

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