In Canada, and most all of the British Commonwealth nations, the 11th of November is observed as Remembrance Day. Specifically, ceremonies are held across Canada at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the time the armistice was signed to end the first world war. Today there are only three living Canadian veterans of that war. Their ages are 105 and 106.

The following song was published in 2001 by the blind Canadian singer-songwriter, Terry Kelly, on his CD, The Power Of The Dream ©2001 Gun K Publishing & Wall Street Publishing - SOCAN Registered.

A PITTANCE OF TIME

They fought and some died for their homeland,
They fought and some died, now it's our land;
Look at his little child, there's no fear in her eyes,
Could he not show respect for other dads who have died?

Take two minutes, would you mind?
It's a pittance of time for the boys and the girls who went over;
In peace may they rest, may we never forget why they died.
It's a pittance of time.

God forgive me for wanting to strike him,
Give me strength so as not to be like him;
My heart pounds in my breast, fingers pressed to my lips,
My throat wants to bawl out, my tongue barely resists.

But two minutes I will bide,
It's a pittance of time for the boys and the girls who went over;
In peace may they rest, may we never forget why they died.
It's a pittance of time.

Read the letters and poems of the heroes at home,
They have casualties, battles, and fears of their own;
There's a price to be paid if you go, if you stay,
Peace is fought for and won in numerous ways.

Take two minutes would you mind?
It's a pittance of time for the boys and the girls all over;
May we never forget our young become vets,
At the end of the line. It's a pittance of time.

It takes courage to fight in your own war,
It takes courage to fight someone else's war;
Our peacekeepers tell of their own living hell,
They bring hope to foreign lands that the hatemongers can't kill.

Take two minutes, would you mind?
It's a pittance of time for the boys and the girls who go over;
In peacetime our best still don battle dress,
And lay their lives on the line. It's a pittance of time.

In peace may they rest, lest we forget why they died,
Take a pittance of time.

Archived with the author's permission at GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador.