What does this phrase actually mean? Where is it from?
I hear it a lot in songs and on TV shows etc....
"One if by land, two if by sea"
ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M
"Paul Revere’s Ride
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five:
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.
He said to his friend, “If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry-arch
Of the North-Church-tower, as a signal-light,—
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country-folk to be up and to arm...”
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five:
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.
He said to his friend, “If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry-arch
Of the North-Church-tower, as a signal-light,—
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country-folk to be up and to arm...”
WillaKissing · 56-60, M
I had to google the meaning for you. because I wanted to know as well. Here you go.
“One, if by land, and two, if by sea” phrase was coined by the American poet, Henry W. Longfellow in his poem, Paul Revere’s Ride. It was a reference to the secret signal orchestrated by Revere during his historic ride from Boston to Concord on the verge of American Revolutionary War.
One if by Land Two if by Sea - Paul Revere Heritage
www.paul-revere-heritage.com/one-if-by-land-two-if-by-sea.html
“One, if by land, and two, if by sea” phrase was coined by the American poet, Henry W. Longfellow in his poem, Paul Revere’s Ride. It was a reference to the secret signal orchestrated by Revere during his historic ride from Boston to Concord on the verge of American Revolutionary War.
One if by Land Two if by Sea - Paul Revere Heritage
www.paul-revere-heritage.com/one-if-by-land-two-if-by-sea.html
ElwoodBlues · M
It describes the signaling that patriots in Boston used to forward the news of British soldiers arriving in April 1775.
some details here: https://www.oldnorth.com/our-history/
That wording was used in a famous poem called Paul Revere’s Ride.
https://poets.org/poem/paul-reveres-ride
some details here: https://www.oldnorth.com/our-history/
That wording was used in a famous poem called Paul Revere’s Ride.
https://poets.org/poem/paul-reveres-ride
Mamapolo2016 · F
SW-User
Sarah Palin's remarks explained. Then explained again. And again...
https://www.theguardian.com/world/richard-adams-blog/2011/jun/06/sarah-palin-paul-revere-british
https://www.theguardian.com/world/richard-adams-blog/2011/jun/06/sarah-palin-paul-revere-british
tenente · 36-40, M
the British army was going to either cross Charles River (sea - faster route) or march along Boston Neck (land - longer route). Revere had good reason to believe he'd be captured before he could tell the others, so hanging lanterns from the steeple of Old North Church tower in Boston was the backup plan