Solomon Lob

Solomon Lob is the name of a below-the-belt comic song, of the sort a soldier would sing, written by G. Alma with music composed by J. Blewitt. It was published by the New York based publisher Firth & Hall.

The song was sung in 1860 by the soldiers of the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot while based at Keiskama Hoek, on the Eastern Frontier of the Cape Colony.

Contribution to South African Theatre

July 21, 26 & 27, and August 3, 1860: After the Serjeants (sic) had performed Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton's five-act drama, The Lady of Lyons, or Love and Pride, a solo was performed on the violin in seven different positions by W. Allen. This was followed by the song Solomon Lob, sung by J. M. M'Kechnie.

Lyrics of the Song

Solomon Lob was a ploughman bold

And a ranting Cavalier

And when the civil war broke out

It quickly did appear

That Solomon Lob was Six Feet High

And fit for a Grenadier

So Solomon Lob he marched forth

To the sound of the bugle horn

And a weary march was Solomon Lob's

For Solomon Lob had corns

Tant a ra ra ra row row dow

Tant a ra ra ra row row dow

Oh what a Martial story

Solomon Lob he lost his nob

And all for Martial glory

Solomon Lob, Solomon Lob, lost his nob, lost his nob

All for Martial glory

Solomon Lob marched boldly forth

And loud the drums did roll

For Solomon Lob was a hero born

And with a hero's soul

The fight began the Round heads fought

Like Devils on that day

The Cavalier charged and he

He charged another way

For Solomon Lob no reason knew

Whay Solomon Lob should stay

Tant a ra ra ra row row dow

Tant a ra ra ra row row dow

Solomon Lob though a Martial Man

Still life to him was dear

So he thought he might as well avoid

A Round Head bombadier

Who had resolv'd with Carbine long

To do a spiteful job

And with his shot to send to pot

The nob* of Solomon Lob

The powder blazed the Bullet flew

Right to the mark it hied

Tant a ra ra ra row row dow

Tant a ra ra ra row row dow

Oh what a Martial story

Solomon Lob he lost his nob

All for Martial glory

Tant a ra ra ra row row dow

Tant a ra ra ra row row dow

Oh what a Martial story

So Solomon Lob the bucket kick'd

And Solomon Lob he died.

Explanation

• The word "nob" is an offensive slang word for the glans penis, the sensitive bulbous structure at the end of the penis also known as the head of the penis. The word is also primarily a British English word that means the head of something, someone who belongs to the aristocratic class, one's superior. Nob is generally considered an insult.

Source

https://levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu/collection/048/112

https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/North_Lincolnshire_Regiment_of_Foot