The Battle of the Somme

[Tony U]

As you will realsie this week sees the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme and in my small tribute to the fallen I would like to post the lyrics to the Eric Bogle song "The Greenfields of France"

 

Well how do you do Private William McBride,

Do you mind if I sit here down by your graveside?

And rest for awhile beneath the warm summer sun,

I've been walking all day and now I'm nearly done

I see by your gravestone you were only nineteen

When you joined the glorious fallen in 1916;

Well I hope you died quick and I hope you died clean,

Or, young Willie McBride, was it slow and obscene?

 

Refrain:

Did they beat the drum slowly,

Did they play the fife lowly?

Did they sound the Death March

As they lowered you down?

Did the band play

"The Last Post And Chorus?"

Did the pipes play

"The Flowers Of The Forest?"

 

Did you leave 'ere a wife or a sweetheart behind?

In some faithful heart is your memory enshrined?

And although you died back in 1916,

In that faithful heart are you forever nineteen?

Or are you a stranger without even a name,

Enclosed forever behind a glass pane,

In an old photograph, torn, and battered and stained,

And faded to yellow in a brown leather frame?

Refrain:

 

Ah the sun now it shines on these green fields of France,

The warm summer breeze makes the red poppies dance,

And look how the sun shines from under the clouds;

There's no gas, no barbed wire, there're no guns firing now.

But here in this graveyard is still No Man's Land,

The countless white crosses in mute witness stand

To man's blind indifference to his fellow man,

To a whole generation that was butchered and damned.

Refrain:

 

Ah, young Willie McBride, I can't help wonder why,

Did all those who lay here really know why they died?

And did they believe when they answered the call,

Did they really believe that this war would end war?

For the sorrow, the suffering, the glory, the pain,

The killing and dying were all done in vain,

For, young Willie McBride, it all happened again,

And again and again and again and again.

Refrain:

 

Tony

[DavyR]

One to stand alongside his "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda". He certainly can write 'em.

[five bellies]

Tony My Grandad Fought at the Somme,With the Royal Horse Artillary,

on the 18lbers, Not many of the old boys left now if any . God Bless Them

 

Brave brave Men.

Edited July 5, 2006 by five bellies

[gozzer]

Not much to add Tony except another song title, "When Will They Ever Learn?".

[Elton]

One of my favourite songs of all time (and one of Wordbender's favourites, too, I believe).

 

I first heard it by a Scottish folk band called North Sea Gas, then by The Furey's.

 

But here in this graveyard is still No Man's Land,

The countless white crosses in mute witness stand

To man's blind indifference to his fellow man,

To a whole generation that was butchered and damned.

 

Probably among the most poignant lyrics ever written.

[argyll]

My grandfather and his brother my great uncle Timmy, both served on the Somme with the Essex Regiment. Both came away unscathed with a chest full of medals and campaign ribbons and lived into their 90s.

 

Two of the lucky ones.

[Gerbil0154]

For any of you guys interested in seing Eric in concert he is touring here at the moment. I'm seing him here in Ireland shortly and again in Glasgow on the 1st September.

 

A list of his dates and venues is on his website

 

http://ericbogle.net/concerts/index.htm

[Alan Fawcett]

My great-grandfather died two days before armistice day, i remember my grandfather telling me how his mother (my great-grandmother) refused to walk past the memorial in Kendal because if she saw his name then he was dead and not missing, even after all those years my grandfather never knew if his fathers name was on that piece of stone.

 

A few years back i went upto Kendal to see the house my father was born in and to see my great-aunt Edna.........i had to go and see if my great-grandfathers name was on the memorial...............it was

 

I was watching the history channel the other night (i watch it most nights) and they had a series of programs on about the great war, and made me realise.......................we really never should forget any of those who died in the two worldwars and the sacrifices they made for us.

Edited July 5, 2006 by Alan Fawcett

[Elton]

Just found the original recording for download:

 

http://www.greatwar.nl/frames/default-mcbride.html

[hembo]

we should never forget.

 

tony u thanks for the information