# "Zulu" and a "Deck the Halls" song. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 28, 2003, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zulu-and-a-deck-the-halls-song/215696 "2003-11-28T07:49:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zulu-and-a-deck-the-halls-song/215696/1 "2003-11-28T07:49:17Z")
…Just an obscure question about the old Michael Caine movie _Zulu_, and some of the singing therein. At one point, during a lull in the fighting, one of the British soldiers starts singing something that sounds, if anything, like the Christmas song “Deck the Halls.” Now, a little digging has shown that the battle of Rorke’s Drift actually took place in late January, not December. So, was there another “period” song that just happens to have the same tune as “Deck the Halls”? Was it just a flub by the filmmakers? None of the above? ---
**Author:** ![kawliga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ea666f/32.png) [@kawliga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kawliga)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zulu-and-a-deck-the-halls-song/215696/2 "2003-11-28T08:55:44Z")
The song is “Men of Harlech”, and it sounds nothing like “Deck the Halls.” ---
**Author:** ![Satisfying\_Andy\_Licious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Satisfying\_Andy\_Licious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satisfying_Andy_Licious)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zulu-and-a-deck-the-halls-song/215696/3 "2003-11-28T09:08:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kawliga \* > \*\*The song is “Men of Harlech”, and it sounds nothing like “Deck the Halls.” \*\* You can hear it [here.](http://ingeb.org/songs/menofhar.html) And from a [different site:](http://www.data-wales.co.uk/harlech.htm) > [@](#): > > The song Men of Harlech is something of an unofficial anthem in Wales. Every Welsh person knows the tune and despite the variety of lyrics over the years, the martial air has become identified with the country’s determination to retain its identity. Harlech Castle in north Wales, one of the “iron ring” of castles intended to subdue Wales in medieval times, remains as a picturesqe reminder of the ultimate futility of the invader’s ambition. The lyrics: Deck the veldt with Zulu warriors Chaka Zulu lu, lu lu lu lu Now we wish we had been lawyers. Chaka Zulu lu, lu lu lu lu He’s launching now the pincer movement. Chaka-zu, chaka zu, Chaka Zu. To be in Wales would be an improvement. Chaka chaka Zu, Zu lu lu lu. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zulu-and-a-deck-the-halls-song/215696/4 "2003-11-28T09:11:04Z")
Noooo…the song I’m referring to was around the _middle_ of the film, not the finale. And I am _very_ familiar with Men of Harlech, thank you very much. It is _not_ the song I’m asking about. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zulu-and-a-deck-the-halls-song/215696/5 "2003-11-28T14:10:45Z")
Probably still need to do some detective work but this is probably your best bet: > **[Zulu / O.S.T. (Rmst) - John Barry Prague Philharmonic Orchestra](https://www.amazon.co.uk/S-T-Barry-Prague-Philharmonic-Orchestra/dp/B00000IIS2)** > > Filmed on a grand scale, Zulu is a rousing recreation of the January 22, 1879, siege of Rorke's Drift in Natal, Africa. An army of 4,000 Zulu warriors have already decimated a huge British garrison; now they are on their... ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zulu-and-a-deck-the-halls-song/215696/6 "2003-11-28T15:05:03Z")
**Ranchoth** is perfectly correct; I haven’t watched the film is about 5 years, but lord knows I’ve seen it enought times to remember it–there is a scene (shortly after the very first Zulu feint on the station, IIRC), where one exuberant 24th soldier breaks into song, and the tune is pretty much note-for-note “Deck the Halls.” All he sings is “Li-de-di-de-di-de-di-do” sort of thing. The question here is, what is the history of the popular Christmas song “Deck the Halls,” was there an older song with the same tune, and did the director(s)/actor know about it or just wing it? They played pretty fast and loose with poor old Private Hook’s real history, after all… ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zulu-and-a-deck-the-halls-song/215696/7 "2003-11-28T15:08:44Z")
The Plot Thickens: according to this website ([http://www3.pair.com/montrsmu/carolshist/deck.html](http://www3.pair.com/montrsmu/carolshist/deck.html)), "Deck The Halls IS based on an old Welsh tune! No real details, though–I’ll keep looking! ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zulu-and-a-deck-the-halls-song/215696/8 "2003-11-28T15:13:05Z")
Here’s a better cite: “Deck the Halls” is based on a Welsh melody first published in “Musical and Poetical Relicks of the Welsh Bards” by Edward Jones (1784). This tune is also used in a New Year’s song called “Nos galan,” popular in Wales." [http://www.sunhawk.com/digital/search/productpreview.asp?PRODID=94773](http://www.sunhawk.com/digital/search/productpreview.asp?PRODID=94773) So someone really did their research!! Apparently Mozart was quite fond of the tune as well: