Henry said, “You can hold up your chin
Ever after, if we this fight win
They’ve got great cavalry
But we happy few, we
Will be victors, this day of Crispin!”

Event: Henry V’s English longbowmen defeat a larger French force in the Battle of Agincourt
Year: 1415
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Agincourt

Starting out as a playing card co.
They tried numerous ways to make dough
But the key to their fame
Was a new kind of game
Else we’d never have heard: “Nintendo”

Event: The Nintendo Entertainment System (Japanese: Famicom) is released in North America
Year: 1985
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Entertainment_System

Sean and Alex’s ongoing fight
Tina Fey can see Russia, alright
John wields his nihontō
Mr. Bill cries, “Oh no!”
Live from New York: it’s Saturday Night!

Event: Saturday Night Live premieres on NBC
Year: 1975
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_Night_Live
See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihonto

When you say, “This Day,” what does that mean?
Such uncertainty’s nearly obscene
How did they name the date?
How can we keep them straight?
Seems we will e’er be caught in between

Event: Pope Gregory XIII implements the Gregorian Calendar. Thursday, October 4 was the last day under the Julian Calendar (the next day was Friday, October 15).
Year: 1582
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_Calendar

Everywhere you go, you hear BEEP BEEP
Massive highways across the land sweep
Benz invented the car
More important, by far
Was ol’ Henry Ford: he made it cheap

Event: The first Model T rolls out of the Ford plant in Detroit, Michigan
Year: 1908
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Model_T

King of Italy–most, but not all–
VE II oversaw one last brawl
See, a king needs a home
So they had to take Rome
Blow a hole in Aurelian’s wall

Event: Troops enter Rome through a hole in the city wall near the Porta Pia, completing the unification of Italy
Year: 1870
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Unification

I know I, even as I get old
Have an urge that cannot be controlled
When the wrapper I tear
From my chocolate, I swear
I still look for that bright flash of gold

Event: Birth of Roald Dahl, author of James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Year: 1916
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald_Dahl

Simply coming to work every day
Doesn’t have a whole lot of cachet
But you can make a name
Get in the Hall of Fame
When you come day in, day out to play

Event: Cal Ripken Jr. plays in his 2,131st consecutive game, breaking Lou Gehrig’s record, which had stood for 56 years
Year: 1995
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cal_Ripken_Jr

Though their time is soon coming to close
In the eighties these craft first arose
Now a long-deserved rest
Seems like it would be best
How will we get to space, d’you suppose?

Event: Discovery, the third Space Shuttle orbiter to go into space and the first to be retired, has its maiden launch
Year: 1984
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_shuttle
Recent Event: STS-135, the final Space Shuttle mission (Atlantis): July 8 (Launch), July 21 (Landing)

A true legend of the silver screen
Back when musicals still ruled the scene
He could daydream in France
And ‘cross Scottish moors dance
And still prance in the rain in between

Event: Birth of Gene Kelly, star of such famous Hollywood musicals as An American in Paris, Singin’ in the Rain, and Brigadoon
Year: 1912
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Kelly