- published: 21 Sep 2015
- views: 1486783
Tug of war, also known as tug o' war, tug war, rope war, rope pulling, or tugging war, is a sport that directly pits two teams against each other in a test of strength. The phrase may also be used as a metaphor to describe a demonstration of brute strength by two opposing groups, such as a rivalry between two departments of a company. In this scenario, there is often a third party who is considered the "rope" in the tug of war.
The origins of tug of war are uncertain, but it is beyond dispute that this once royal sport was practiced in ancient Egypt and China, where it was held in legend that the Sun and Moon played Tug of War over the light and darkness.
According to a Tang dynasty book, The Notes of Feng, tug of war, under the name "hook pulling"(牵钩), was used by the military commander of the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period (8th century BCE to 5th century BCE) to train warriors. During the Tang dynasty, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang promoted large-scale tug of war games, using ropes of up to 167 meters with shorter ropes attached and more than 500 people on each end of the rope. Each side also had its own team of drummers to encourage the participants.
It's a tug of war
What with one thing and another
It's a tug of war
We expected more
But with one thing and another
We were trying to outdo each other
In the tug of war
In another world
In another world we could stand on top of the mountain
With our flag unfurled
In a time to come
In a time to come we will be dancing to the beat
Played on a different drum
It's a tug of war
Though I know I mustn't grumble
It's a tug of war
But I can't let go
If I do, you'll take a tumble
And the whole thing is going to crumble
It's a tug of war
(Pushing, pushing, pulling puliing)
(Pushing, pulling)
In years to come they may discover
What the air we breathe and the life we lead
Are all about
But it won't be soon enough (it won't be soon enough for me)
Soon enough for me
No it won't be soon enough (it won't be soon enough for me)
Soon enough for me
In another world we could stand on top of the mountain
With our flag unfurled
In a time to come we will be dancing to the beat
Played on a different drum
We will be dancing to the beat
Played on a different drum
We will be dancing to the beat
Played on a different drum
It's a tug of war
(A tug of war, a tug of war)
What with one thing and another
It's a tug of war
We expected more
But with one thing and another
We were trying to outscore each other
In a tug of war
(Pushing, pushing, pulling puliing)