Carmen Etonense

Album: Rule Britannia (1877)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Also known "The Carmen" or simply "Carmen," the school song of Eton College is actually sung in Latin. Less well known than the "Eton Boating Song," it was composed by J. Barnby with words by A. C. Ainger.
  • Both the song's writers worked at Eton. Sir Joseph Barnby (1838-96) was educated at the Royal Academy of Music, and served as Precentor at Eton from 1875–92 before moving to the Guildhall School of Music as Principal. Arthur Campbell Ainger (1841–1919) was an alumnus of the school who went on to become an assistant master and then a house master.
  • The English translation of the song says basically as long as England flourishes, so will Eton. It was first sung on December 18, 1877, at the school concert. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 3

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dino Cazares of Fear Factory

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

La La Brooks of The Crystals

La La Brooks of The CrystalsSong Writing

The lead singer on "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me," La La explains how and why Phil Spector replaced The Crystals with Darlene Love on "He's A Rebel."

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in Rock

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in RockSong Writing

We ring the Hell's Bells to see what songs and rockers are sincere in their Satanism, and how much of it is an act.

Dwight Twilley

Dwight TwilleySongwriter Interviews

Since his debut single "I'm On Fire" in 1975, Dwight has been providing Spinal-Tap moments and misadventure.