Here's a song I wrote back in 2004, the Iraq war being the catalyst that made me put pen to paper.
The tune I use is "The Rising of the Moon/The Wearing of the Green" - the verse part only of course!
The verses go in pairs, verses 1,3,5,7 & 9 being sung briskly, whilst
verses 2,4,6 & 8 are sung slowly and sadly.
The last two lines are sung slowly.
I've sung it a few times but it's doing no good stuck in my song book and in my head!!

If it stikes a chord with anyone, please use it - attibutions and aknowledgements gratefully recieved.
If you don't like it - well forget about it.

regards Jake


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                Tommy Atkins

                by Jake Wade

Well, come, tell me Tommy Atkins, tell me why you hurry so?
There's a war being fought out in the east, it's there I have to go
To fight for Queen and country is all that I've trained for
With my rucksack and my rifle I will go and fight the war

Come now, tell me, Mother Atkins, tell me why you walk so slow?
I'm going to a funeral and I don't want to go
He was the youngest of my boys, the last to leave the nest
And he died beneath the desert stars, a bullet through his breast


Well, come, tell me Jolly Jack, tell me why you hurry so?
There's a war being fought out in the east, it's there I have to go
And I'll serve my Queen and country the best that I know how
In a frigate or a cruiser, I promise and I vow

Come now tell me Mrs Jolly Jack, why you walk so slow?
I'm going to a funeral and I don't want to go
He was young and he was handsome and I loved him more than life
But his ship was sunk beneath him, I'm a widow not a wife


Well, come, tell me Squadron Leader, tell me why you hurry so?
There's a war being fought out in the east, it's there I have to go
I'll fly high o'er the battlefield and dive out of the sun
I'll strafe and kill the enemy, that's how the job is done

Come now tell me pilot's daughter, tell me why you walk so slow?
I'm going to a funeral and I don't want to go
For he was the best of fathers, though we argued now and then
He was brought down by friendly fire, I'll ne'er see him again


Well, come, tell to me, bold Light Dragoon, why you hurry so?
There's a war being fought out in the east, it's there I have to go
And we'll be riding on our tanks with our pennants overhead
For honour and for glory, best be quick or you'll be dead

Come now tell me red-eyed, grey haired man, why do you walk so slow?
I'm going to a funeral and I don't want to go
for my grandson was a trooper in a war so far away
And a soldier's death in battle was the price we had to pay


Well, come, tell to me Tony Blair, why you hurry so?
To send our boys to battle, tell me why they have to go?
You may have your vote in parliament, God may be on your side
But tell us please the reason why our soldier boys have died

Come now, tell me, Mother Atkins, tell me why you walk so slow?
I'm going to a funeral and I don't want to go

© Jake Wade