[1] One version of the tune's origins is that Ward-Higgs grew to love his adopted county so much he produced a marching song in its praise.
[2] In another version Ward-Higgs composed the song specifically for the wedding of his sister-in-law Gladys when she became engaged to Captain Roland Waithman of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment.
[1][2] It may well have come from a poem written by Rudyard Kipling in 1902 entitled Sussex, the final stanza of which is: The song was published in 1907,[2] and Captain Waithman performed it in concerts at Ballykinlar Camp in Ireland where the battalion was then stationed.
Second Verse Up in the morning early, Start at the break of day; March till the evening shadows Tell us it's time to stay.
Third Verse Sometimes your feet are weary, Sometimes the way is long, Sometimes the day is dreary, Sometimes the world goes wrong; But if you let your voices ring, Your care will fly away, So we'll sing a song as we march along, Of Sussex by the Sea.
The song was often simplified to: Since 2011 when the football club moved to Falmer Stadium, a loud, rousing version by the Grenadier Guards has been used as the teams enter the field of play, with the original lyrics of the first verse and refrain appearing on the big screen.
in December 2014 (during a particularly poor season for the team) a technical fault resulted in the music cutting out for the chorus, but this had the positive effect of the home crowd picking up the song at this point and singing it with far more gusto than previously.
Marching through Eastbourne in the 'Sussex People's March of History' of 1939 with banners that included Jack Cade's rebellion in 1450,[5] the Swing Riots of 1830[5] and the Battle of Lewes Road,[5] which was a significant incident in Brighton in the General Strike of 1926,[6] 400 protesters led by Ernie Trory of the Sussex Communist movement sang the following words to Sussex by the Sea.