1. |
(Dead Leaves)
00:48
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Dead Leaves
(Lyrics from ‘Before the Charge’ by Patrick MacGill)
Dead leaves float in the sighing air
The darkness moves like a curtain drawn
A veil which the morning sun will tear
From the face of death we charge at dawn
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2. |
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Hanging on the Old Barbed Wire
(Traditional)
If you want to find the general I know where he is
He's pinning another medal on his chest
I saw him, I saw him, pin another medal on his chest
If you want to find the colonel I know where he is
He's sitting there stuffing his gut
I saw him, I saw him, sitting there stuffing his gut
I saw him, I saw him
I saw him, I saw him
I saw him, I saw him
Sitting there stuffing his gut
You wanna find the politicians, I know where they are
They’re drinking brandy at the bar
I saw them, I saw them, drinking brandy at the bar
I saw them, I saw them
I saw them, I saw them
I saw them, I saw them
Drinking brandy at the bar
If you want to find the private I know where he is
He's hanging on the old barbed wire
I saw him, I saw him, hanging on the old barbed wire
I saw him, I saw him
I saw him, I saw him
I saw him, I saw him
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3. |
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4. |
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Take Me Back to Old Ontario
(Lyrics by Frank E. Balson)
In a far and foreign land, lay a wounded soldier boy
He was fighting for a flag he thought was right
And as he lay there dying, his comrades gathered near
To listen to the last words that he’d say
He raised himself on his arm and looked off toward the West
And watched the setting sun fade fast away
Then as he lay back on the ground a tear bedimmed his eye
And those who gathered ‘round him heard him say
Take me back to old Ontario where the sun does ever shine
Where the tall and stately maples rear their branches to the sky
Take me back to old Ontario, where my dear old Mother lies
Take me back to old Ontario, lay me by my Mother’s side
It was in a southern city, where the streets were paved & hard
A ragged newsboy trudged from day to day
His cheeks were thin and pale, and his head was tired and hot
And his thoughts were of his old home far away.
He dropped down on the doorstep and he there fell fast asleep
In dreamland then he wandered back again
And as a passerby drew near, he stopped to watch the lad
And heard him whisper faintly this refrain.
Take me back to old Ontario where the sun does ever shine
Where the tall and stately maples rear their branches to the sky
Take me back to old Ontario, where my dear old Mother lies
Take me back to old Ontario, lay me by my Mother’s side
Take me back, take me back
Take me back, take me back
Take me back to old Ontario
Lay me by my Mother’s side
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5. |
(Hymn 43)
01:04
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Hymn 43
(Lyrics by Horatio Spafford)
When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea-billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say
‘It is well, it is well with my soul'
It is well, it is well
It is well, it is well with my soul
It is well, it is well
It is well, it is well with my soul
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6. |
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If I Could Turn the Clock Back
(Lyrics from the Canadian Soldiers’ Songbook. Author unknown)
If I could turn the clock back only one year
If angry words could be forgotten too
When sleeping or waking, my heart is aching
I think of nothing in this world but you
I miss those nights of gladness, days of joy
And all those blissful moments ever, dear
I dream of all the hours that would be ours
If I could turn the clock back a year
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7. |
Thirteen Pence
03:45
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THIRTEEN PENCE
(Traditional)
Come lads, come
Come lads, come
Come to the battlefield
March, march away
Come and lose your eyes and limbs
For thirteen pence a day
Remember we are soldiers lads
The bravest of the brave
Come and be a soldier, lad
Then you’ll be a slave.
Come lads, come
Come lads, come
Stand before the Colonel, lads
But don’t you dare to cry
For if you’re not happy lads
They can flog you ‘till you die
Come lads, come
Come lads, come
Come to the battlefield
March, march away
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8. |
Where Do We Go, Boys
04:15
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Where Do We Go From Here, Boys
(Lyrics from ‘In an Old-Fashioned Town’ by Ada L. Harris and ‘Where Do We Go From Here’ by Percy Wenrich/Howard Johnson)
There’s an old-fashioned house in and old-fashioned street
In a quaint little old-fashioned town
There’s a street where the cobblestones harass the feet
As it straggles uphill and then down
And through to and fro through the world I must go
My heart while it beats in my breast
Where-ever I may roam to that old-fashioned home
Will fly back like a bird to its nest
Burn a light, in the night
Keep the fire burning still
Till I make it back home
In that old-fashioned house in that old-fashioned street
Dwell a dear little old-fashioned pair
I can see their two faces, so tender and sweet
And I love every wrinkle that’s there
I love every mouse in that old-fashioned house
In the street that runs uphill and down
Each stone and each stick, every cobble and brick
In a quaint little old-fashioned town
Burn a light (in the night!), in the night (take me home!)
Keep the fire burning still
Till I make it back home (till the day that I roam!)
Where do we go, where do we go, where do we go from here, boys
Leicester Square, Greenwich Pier, whisper in her ear, boys
And there’s roses that shine in Barkingside but never a rose like her, boys
And roses may die in the summertime but never the one in her eyes (oh!)
Burn a light (burn a light!), in the night (in the night!)
Keep the fire burning still (let me go!)
Take me home (take me home!)
Down the road a-winding
The road without turning my heart is a-yearning
And burning without you
Till I make it back home
Whizz bang! Pipsqueak! OO-plonk! Sst!
Up the ladders! Over! And carry on with it Till I make it back home!
Whizz bang! Pipsqueak! OO-plonk! Sst!
Up the ladders! Over! And carry on with it Till I make it back home!
Where do we go, where do we go, where do we go from here
And through to and fro through the world I must go
My heart while it beats in my breast
Where do we go, where do we go, where do we go from here boys
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9. |
(After Loos)
00:51
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After Loos
(Lyrics from ‘After Loos’ by Patrick MacGill and ‘Stand to Your Glasses’ by W.F. Thompson)
Was it only yesterday
Lusty comrades marched away
Now they're covered up with clay
Seven glasses used to be
Called for six good mates and me
Now we only call for three
So stand to your glasses steady
This world is a web of lies
Here’s to the dead already
And to the next man who dies
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10. |
The Next Man Who Dies
02:10
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THE NEXT MAN WHO DIES
(Lyrics from ‘Stand to Your Glasses’ by W.F. Thompson)
We meet ‘neath the sounding rafters
And the walls around are bare
As they echo to our laughter
Would seem that the dead were there
Time was we frowned on others
We thought we were wiser then
But now let us all be brothers
For we never may meet again
So stand to your glasses steady
This world is a web of lies
Then here’s to the dead already
And hurrah for the next man who dies
Cut off from the land that bore us
Betrayed by the land we find
The good men have gone before us
And only the dull left behind
Here’s an end to this mournful story
For death is a distant friend
So here’s to a life of glory
And a laurel to crown each end
So stand to your glasses steady
This world is a web of lies
Then here’s to the dead already
And hurrah for the next man
So stand to your glasses steady
This world is a web of lies
Then here’s to the dead already
And hurrah for the next man who dies
And hurrah for the next man who dies
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11. |
(Death & Autumn)
00:51
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Death & Autumn
(Lyrics from ‘In the Morning’ by Patrick MacGill)
Where death and autumn held their reign
Like banded ghosts in the heavens’ grey
The smoke of powder paled away
When the charge was done
The shell-scarred stone and broken tile
Littered the chancel, nave and aisle
The east grew pale to another fire
When the charge was done
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12. |
Bombed Last Night
03:32
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Bombed Last Night
(Traditional)
Bombed last night, bombed last night, and bombed the night before
Going to get bombed tonight if we never get bombed anymore
When we're bombed we're scared as we can be
Can't stop the bombs sent from Germany
Bombed last night, bombed last night, and bombed the night before
Gassed last night, gassed last night, and gassed the night before
Going to get gassed tonight if we never get gassed anymore
When we're gassed we're sick as we can be
For phosgene and mustard gas is too much for me
Gassed last night, gassed last night, and gassed the night before
They're over us, they're over us
One shell hole just for the four of us
Thank your lucky stars there are no more of us
Cause one of us could fill it all alone
Bombed last night, bombed last night, and bombed the night before
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13. |
Never Mind
03:26
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Never Mind
(Lyrics from soldiers’ parody of Never Mind by Harry Dent/Tom Goldburn)
If the sergeant steals your rum, never mind
If your face may lose its smile, never mind
Though he's just a noisy sot, you can let him have the lot
If the sergeant steals your rum, never mind
If old gerry shells your trench, never mind
And your face may lose its smile never mind
Though the sandbags burst and fly, you've only once to die
So if old gerry shells your trench, never mind
Never mind, never mind, never mind, never mind
Never mind, never mind, never mind, never mind
If your mate just lost his sight, never mind
And he screamed the whole damned night, never mind
Though they'll send him home it's tough, he'll be great for blind-man's bluff
So if your mate just lost his sight, never mind
Never mind, never mind, never mind, never mind
Never mind, never mind, never mind, never mind
If the sergeant says you're mad, never mind
Perhaps you are a bit, never mind
Just stay calm don't answer back, for the sarge he takes no slack
If the sergeant says you're mad, then you are
Yes you are, yes you are, yes you are, yes you are
Yes you are, yes you are, yes you are, yes you are
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14. |
(Matey)
02:05
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Matey
(Lyrics from ‘Matey’ by Patrick MacGill)
I'd sooner the bullet was mine, matey
Goin' out on my own
Leavin' you there in the line, matey
All by yourself, alone
Friend of mine and you're dead, matey
And this is the way we part
The bullet went through your head, matey
But God, it went through my heart
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The Fugitives Vancouver, British Columbia
Formed in Vancouver in 2007, The Fugitives are a folk collective headed by songwriters Brendan McLeod and Adrian Glynn. The band has toured extensively in Europe & Canada, won multiple folk music awards and released 5 critically-acclaimed albums. Their latest release, Trench Songs, sets new music to soldiers' lyrics from WW1 and was accompanied by a theatrical performance film entitled 'Ridge". ... more
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