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Songs of war and history
In Mudcat MIDIs:
The Old Man's Tale/Old Man's Song [Ian Campbell] (Properly called The Old Man's Song;set to the tune of Nicky Tams. Midi made from notation in The Big Red Songbook (Pluto Press, 1977). )
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Subject: Songs of war and history From: teller Date: 27 Aug 99 - 08:47 AM I've tried searching the Digi, but to no avail....probably because I haven't got a clue what the song is called, but....I remember hearing it a while ago. It's the story, sung by an old man, of how he fought in the Boer War, then WW1, then his son ( as I recall ) fought in WW2 and then his grandson got called for Vietnam. It ends with him thinking that he's fought for everything but ended up with nothing. Has ANYBODY got any idea what the song is called and where I can get hold of the words?<> Thanks.<> Teller |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: katlaughing Date: 27 Aug 99 - 10:31 AM Teller: did you search the DT with just "@war"? There are at least 100 listings under that. I am sure somebody will know the one you're looking for. Good luck, katlaughing |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: AndyG Date: 27 Aug 99 - 10:42 AM sure do, the song is The Old Man's Tale by ?Ian Campbell?
The lyrics don't seem to be in the DT.
First verse:
AndyG |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: Susan of DT Date: 27 Aug 99 - 11:08 AM Andy - I fixed it for you. Also I have Iam Campbell's Sun is burning record with the song on it. I can listen to it and copy it down if no one else has it already. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE OLD MAN'S SONG/TALE (Ian Campbell) From: Philippa Date: 27 Aug 99 - 11:45 AM THE OLD MAN'S SONG (a.k.a. THE OLD MAN'S TALE) Words by Ian Campbell; tune traditional, 'Nicky Tams' As recorded by The Ian Campbell Folk Group on "The Times They Are a-Changin' " (1966) 1. At the turning of the century I was a boy of five. Me father went to fight the Boers and never came back alive. Me mother was left to bring us up; no charity she'd seek, So she washed and scrubbed and scraped along on seven and six a week. 2. When I was twelve I left the school and went to find a job. With growing kids me ma was glad of the extra couple o' bob. I'm sure that longer schooling would 'a' stood me in good stead, But you can't afford refinements when you're strugglin' for your bread. 3. And when the Great War came along I didn't hesitate. I took the royal shilling and went off to do me bit. I fought in mud and tears and blood, three years or thereabout, Then I copped some gas in Flanders and got invalided out. 4. Well when the war was over and we'd settled with the Hun, We got back into civvies and we thought the fighting done. We'd won the right to live in peace but we didn't have such luck, For soon we found we had to fight for the right to go to work. 5. In 'twenty-six, the general strike found me out on the streets, Though I'd a wife and kids by then and their needs I had to meet. For a brave new world was coming and the brotherhood of man, But when the strike was over we were back where we began. 6. I struggled through the thirties, out of work now and again. I saw the Blackshirts marchin' and the things they did in Spain, But I brought me kids up decent and I taught them wrong from right, But Hitler was the lad who came and taught them how to fight. 7. Me daughter was a land girl; she got married to a Yank, And they gave me son a gong for stopping one of Rommel's tanks. He was wounded just before the end and convalesced in Rome. He married an Eyetie nurse and never bothered to come home. 8. Me daughter writes me once a month, a cheerful little note About their colour telly and the other things they've got. They've got a son, a likely lad; he's nearly twenty-one, And she tells me now they've called him up to fight in Vietnam. 9. We're living on the pension now; it doesn't go too far— Not much to show for a life that seems like one long bloody war. When you think of all the wasted lives it makes you want to cry. I'm not sure how to change things, but by Christ we'll have to try! Judith Small's 'Mothers, Daughters, Wives' has a related theme, as do some of Eric Bogle's songs. |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: Wolfgang Date: 27 Aug 99 - 12:19 PM Quite difficult to locate the old thread. It's titled "Songs about getting really old" (from 1997). And I'm very sure we had it after that old thread once more, but couldn't find it this time. Wolfgang |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: teller Date: 27 Aug 99 - 03:50 PM Thank you thank you thank you ooooooh thank you!! Especially YOU Philippa!! That is the very one. Isn't the 'Cat a wunnerful thing ? Teller. |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: Pete M Date: 28 Aug 99 - 03:00 AM Some small corrections Phillipa, you've run verses two and three; and five and six together. They should read:
When I was twelve I left the school and went to find a job We discussed this and other songs in the thread on Songs about getting old> Pete M
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: catspaw49 Date: 28 Aug 99 - 03:27 AM PETE M !!!!!!! My Lord man, where have you been???Saw you snuck in on one about 10 days ago, but didn't catch it til later. Geez, don't be so scarce! Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: katlaughing Date: 28 Aug 99 - 03:35 AM PeteM! Nice to see you here! Finally get done with the big job, eh? Welcome back! katlaughing |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: Pete M Date: 28 Aug 99 - 06:56 AM Aw shucks (blush) thanks folks. Seriously though it's nice to know you remember me. I hardly recognized the old place, seems Max and Co. have been doing a spring clean. Glad to see most of the old faces are still around though. Actually I may not be able to look in again for a few weeks after the weekend. I've got an assignment with WHO in foreign parts, and although I'll have a laptop with me I doubt if I'll be able to get a link to an ISP. Pete M |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: teller Date: 28 Aug 99 - 09:18 AM Glad I popped back - thanks again, one and all! Teller. |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: GUEST,ken Date: 14 Feb 04 - 02:37 PM Here are the lyrics of "THE OLD MAN'S SONG" as sung by Arthur Johnstone of The Laggan. 'Twas at the turning of the century I was a lad of five My father went to fight the Boers, he never came back alive My Ma was left to bring us up, no charity she'd seek She rubbed and scrubbed and washed the floors at seven and six a week. A' left the school at twelve years and went to find a job Wi' growing kids my Ma was glad o' the extra couple o' bob I know that longer schooling would have stood me in good stead But you can't afford refinements when you're struggling for your bread. And when the Great War came along I didn't hesitate I took the Royal Shillin' and went off to do my bit I fought in blood and tears and mud three years or there abouts 'Til I caught some gas in Flanders and gets invalided out. In Twenty Six the General strike found me out on the streets Though I'd a wife and kids by then their needs I had to meet But a brand new world was comin', wi' the brotherhood of man When the struggle it was over we were back where we began So I wandered through the thirties out of work now and again I saw the Blackshirts marching, the things they did in Spain I brought my kids up decent, and sure I taught them wrong from right 'Cos Hitler was the man who came and taught them how to fight. My daughter was a land girl, she gets married to a Yank My eldest son received a gong for stoppin' Rommel's tanks He caught some shrapnel in the side, he convalesced in Rome Gets married to an I-tay nurse, disnae bother tae come home. My daughter writes me once a month a cheery little note About the colour telly and those other things she's got She's got a braw and lively lad he's nearly twenty-one And since I've heard he's been called up to fight in Vietnam. Well I'm living on the pension now, it doesn't go too far For a life that often seems to be like one long bloody war When I think of how it might have been it makes you want to cry Well I don't know how to change things but, by Christ, we've got to try. |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: George Papavgeris Date: 14 Feb 04 - 03:07 PM Another great song in a similar vein is Harvey Andrews' "The Centurian". The imagery is UK-oriented, not surprisingly, but I think all can enjoy it. |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: GUEST,SSNWolfdragon@aol.com Date: 15 Feb 04 - 01:16 PM I am looking for a web site where I can get Irish ballards such as Irish ways Irish Laws, Green Firlds of France, Lift the Wings, Isle of hope, Giant Land and Wild Rover. |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 15 Feb 04 - 01:48 PM Guest, there are several large lyrics websites. This one has "Green Fields...", Rover, and perhaps others that you are looking for: Irish Folk Lyrics This one has Irish Ways..." sung bt Christy Moore, "Amiens" and others: Irish Music I don't think you will find all of them at any one site. Put your favorite performers names in Google- some have rather extensive lists of lyrics. |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 15 Feb 04 - 02:34 PM Another long list of lyrics, with some that you mention: Cantaria One of the best- the Watersons and the Carthys: Watersons I have been checking my bookmarks. A number of good Irish lyrics websites, some on fairly recently, are no more. When you find good material, copy it before it is gone. |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 15 Feb 04 - 02:51 PM Guest Ken, "The Old Man's Song," by Ian Campbell, was posted in thread 3004: Old Man's Song It was minus a few words; so thanks for posting it (or a close version, I haven't compared line for line). A favorite of mine. |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: Little Hawk Date: 21 May 06 - 10:47 PM Al Stewart has written a whole lot of excellent songs about war and history. He began doing so in the early 70's and has kept it up on a series of very interesting albums. The finest of them all is called "Roads to Moscow", and it's about the German invasion of Russia in WWII and the Russian counterattack all the way back to the fall of Berlin in 1945. |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: Little Hawk Date: 21 May 06 - 11:25 PM By the way, listening to Al Stewart songs can improve your vocabulary and your ability to express complex thoughts clearly... (hint, hint) |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: alanabit Date: 22 May 06 - 07:45 AM I heard this brilliant song in the folk clubs in the seventies. I have often wondered if I would ever hear it again. Thanks for posting it. |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: Dave Hanson Date: 22 May 06 - 08:37 AM That great last verse should read, Well we're living on the pension now, And it doesn't go too far, Not much to show for a life that seems like one long bloody war, When I think of all the wasted lives, it makes me want to cry, I don't know how to change things, But by christ we'll have to try. eric |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: GUEST,Andeh Date: 09 Jul 08 - 08:08 AM Green Fields of France isn't actually an Irish ballad, it's actual title is 'No Man's Land' alot of Irish folk jumped on the song because of the lyrics that they associated with 1916, which is entirely off the mark as the song has nothing to do with the uprising. |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: Jay777 Date: 09 Jul 08 - 09:24 AM War War War, music composed by Country Joe McDonald, 1971, based on poems written by Robert W. Service, a soldier in WW1. Great album, more folk than country, I think. |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: GUEST,Finny Date: 19 Jan 09 - 03:43 PM Thanks a lot for your help.Searched for years for these words then I find them in five minuits |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: topical tom Date: 19 Jan 09 - 03:57 PM One of my favourites is "Masters of War" by Bob Dylan. |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: oldhippie Date: 19 Jan 09 - 04:19 PM In response to the original post; There's another song that tells the story of two guys in WWII, then Korea, where one dies, then Vietnam where the soldier meets the dead buddys son. It's called "In The Last Foxhole" but I don't recall who sang it. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE LAST FOXHOLE (Red Sovine) From: oldhippie Date: 19 Jan 09 - 04:30 PM Here it is: THE LAST FOXHOLE lyrics by Red Sovine (O Lord, let it be the last foxhole.)
He lived by my side on an island in the sea,
(The last foxhole, oh, the last foxhole, O Lord, let it be the last foxhole.)
Soon the war was over and we went our separate ways.
(The last foxhole, oh, the last foxhole, O Lord, let it be the last foxhole.)
Then came Korea and they sent my company,
(The last foxhole, oh, the last foxhole, O Lord, let it be the last foxhole.)
Well, the years went by; now here I am
(The last foxhole, oh, the last foxhole, O Lord, let it be the last foxhole.) |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: Ref Date: 19 Jan 09 - 07:44 PM Try Keelaghan's "Fires Of Calais." |
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Subject: Lyr Add: ROUTE 1 BOX 144 (Johnny Cash) From: Gene Date: 20 Jan 09 - 01:04 AM Johnny Cash wrote/sang this simple story repeated thousands of times down through history. ROUTE #1, BOX 144 Words and music by Johnny Cash As recorded by Johnny Cash on "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash" (1970) © '69 Slapich Music, BMI (SUNG) His dying barely made the morning paper And they summed it up in twenty words or more: "Killed in action - leaves wife and baby At Route 1 Box 144." (SPOKEN) He grew up on a little farm Just a couple of miles out of town. As a boy, he worked in his daddy's field, And when his daddy could spare him, He hired out to the neighbors, For whatever they could pay him. He was thought of as just average, A good boy, nothin' more, The average amount of friends. He married his high-school sweetheart. They bought a little plot of ground, An' a couple of miles out of town, On a mailbox, it said "Route 1 Box 144." Well, back in town, there were very few people That really knew him, Because he hardly ever came to town Except for maybe on Saturdays. Of course, the usual crew was always there, But he didn't spend a lot of time with the usual crew. He took care of his business, Bought what he had to have Or could afford for his family, And went back to his little farm. With a baby on the way, he went to the army And it was just a short while That the news came that he was killed in action. His body was sent back on a plane and then by train And then they brought the body From the train station To Route 1 Box 144. (SUNG) He never did great things to be remembered. He'd never been away from home before. But you'd've thought that he was President or somethin', At Route 1 Box 144. |
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Subject: RE: Songs of war and history From: Jean(eanjay) Date: 10 Aug 11 - 04:21 AM The Old Man's Lament The Old Woman's Lament |
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