Oh how do you do, young Willy McBride
Do you mind if I sit here down by your graveside
And rest for a while in the warm summer sun
I’ve been walking all day, and I’m nearly done
And I see by your gravestone you were only nineteen
When you joined the great falling in 1916
Well I hope you died quick
And I hope you died clean
Or Willy McBride, was is it slow and obscene
Did they beat the drums 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
And did you leave a wife or a sweetheart behind
In some loyal heart is your memory enshrined
And though you died back in 1916
To that loyal heart you’re forever nineteen
Or are you a stranger without even a name
Forever enshrined behind some old glass pane
In an old photograph torn, tattered, and stained
And faded to yellow in a brown leather frame
Did they beat the drums 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
—
——
The sun shining down on these green fields of France
The warm wind blows gently and the red poppies dance
The trenches have vanished long under the plow
No gas, no barbed wire, no guns firing now
But here in this graveyard that’s still no mans land
The countless white crosses in mute witness stand
To man’s blind indifference to his fellow man
And a whole generation were butchered and damned
Did they beat the drums 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
And I can’t help but wonder oh Willy McBride
Do all those who lie here know why they died
Did you really believe them when they told you the cause
Did you really believe that this war would end wars
Well the suffering, the sorrow, the glory, the shame
The killing and dying it was all done in vain
Oh Willy McBride it all happened again
And again, and again, and again, and again
original written by ERIC BOGLE
So achingly appropriate.
Coop, even if I only have 30 seconds, I make time to keep up with your writing . . . I know you are beyond busy, as I am (goin to school fulltime and workin 2+ jobs) but you always deliver thought provoking content.
So glad you are here. Thank you for posting.
Ah, Harriet I know where you’re coming from. I really appreciate you stopping by with all that.
I too thought it was appropriate.
I’m impressed. I like the Streets of Laredo/St. James’ Hospital/Probably some Irish song quote. Great lyrics and an excellent choice for today.
You are so rarely impressed, even when you say so, I must just take you at your word.
Kudos.
A perfect, and well thought out selection for the day.
I don’t think I ever heard DKM do that song, or anyone for that matter.
See, you learn something every day.
It’s indeed appropriate
Let us honor the fallen by refusing ever again to send soldiers into harm’s way at any time when it isn’t absolutely necessary.
And let us ignore any who say that that sentiment is unpatriotic.
Yes, let us ignore those who do not understand what patriot really means.
Pragmatic yet honorable.
Couldn’t be more appropriate.
Beautiful Cooper–great for today
I’m glad you liked it miss pia.
Where do you find these things? This was perfect.
;)
This was good, I’m reading both this and the post above and think this is a right on posting for the day.
I read this earlier in the weekend but was working so had no time to play online.
I bet your weekend was crazy up there.
this song always gives me goosebumps…..thank you for this fitting tribute Cooper …
And an Aussie to boot. ;)