I don't know enough about its early use - at school I always presumed it was a first world war marching song so associate it with Lord Kitchener and the slaughter of the Sussex Regiments - the day Sussex died at the battle of Boars Head.
Still I see it more as remembering all those Sussex folk...
So at school we leant the original version, but when we were introduced to the altered version it was more fun and updated. Its the only line that stuck and I like it over the version we sung and played in the Salvation Army band. I am sure its cyclical and one day the kids will be singing the...
Norman Wisdom famously re-wrote the lyrics to Brighton and Hove Albion's anthem, Sussex by the Sea, and was regularly on the pitch at The Goldstone Ground singing it and whipping the crowd into a frezy before kick off.
Oh we`re the team from Brighton
Hove by jove thats us
We`re always fair we...