THE BITE
Here is a You Tube video of THE BITE by Na Mara at Cambridge Folk Club
Na Mara, THE BITE
AND HERE IN THE STUDIO
Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: na-mara - PM
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 02:34 PM
"The Bite" by na-mara Music: R.Garcia / Words: Paul McNamara
This is our homage to all those from the British Isles who volunteered to fight fascism in the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. The willingness to leave the comforts of home and family to lay one's life on the line to fight for an idea and confront evil in a foreign land deserves greater remembrance than these heroes and heroines have received from decent people to date.The song is loosely based on the experiences of George Wheeler who, when interviewed by the Guardian newspaper in 2000, told of his 'bite', a small piece of wood he would place in his mouth as he went onto the battlefield and which he could clench as a small defence against shell shock. This poignant detail moved us both greatly.
In recent years we have had the honour to play The Bite at the annual gathering of the International Brigaders in Jubilee Park, London, and have received many requests to record it. Finally, we have honoured our promises.
Listeners will note the reference in the song to the 'tricolor d'Espagna'. For those who know only the red and yellow flag of today's Spain, the flag of the elected Republican government of Spain comprised red, yellow and dark purple bands.
From all corners of the land our forces gathered
Arm in arm we gathered to fight
Comrades committed to the battle,
To stem the rising tide of fascist might
We had nurses we had students and shipbuilders
The brave responded to the call
And rallied to the 'tricolor d'Espagna'
Fighting for the future one and all
Chorus
I used to lie awake before the dawning
Thinking on the next day's bloody fight
Then the brightness of the Spanish morning,
Check your gun, your bullets, and your bite
We had comrades form the East End of London
At Cable Street they'd ruined Moseley's day
We had miners from the valleys of Carmarthen
All proud to wear La Quinta's black beret
At dead of night their homes these heroes parted
And quiet to Spain they made their way
Leaving grieving wives and sweethearts
Ignoring all entreaties there to stay
Chorus
By train to Perpignan then onwards
We crossed the Pyrenees by night
Avoiding French soldiers at the border
(And) its on to Albecete at daylight
We battled at the Ebro and Jarama
Were baked by Brunete's burning sun
Disbanded at the fall of Barcelona
La Passionaria praised us every one
Chorus
And now my life is nearly over
Did my comrades fall in vain?
No – fascists must be challenged 'ere they muster
In Blackburn, Barnsley or Brick Lane
Chorus
Chorus
Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 02 April 10 -
Guardian Interview with Brigader George Wheeler
Independent Obituary of George Wheeler