A SONG FOR GRACE        

by Ted Egan


I was a girl of thirteen when my 3 brothers went to the war
Martin and Robert and Jack, and as I wave from the door
I thought who in the world could have brothers as handsome as they
Three Australian Light Horsemen : I see their proud figures today,

Our parents were Irish with no love for England at all
But their sons were Australians and each bravely answered the call
In their turned-up slouch hats, and their feathers and leggings and spurs
The Empire, as much as my mother, knew these sons were hers,

    And at the going down of the sun and in the morning
    We will remember them, Lest we forget.

The mailman brought cards from Colombo and then from Port Said
Here's a photo of Jack in Egypt, his first camel ride
And look at young Bobby, in London, here crossing The Strand
And Martin writes 'mum and dad, life in the army is grand',

The same mailman brought us the news about our darling Jack                        
Regret to inform you your son John will never come back                                    
He died of his wounds at Gallipoli, so brave was he                                          
He’s awarded the Military Medal, posthumously,

    And at the going down of the sun and in the morning
    We will remember them, Lest we forget.

The telegram came, my mother collapsed, and I had                                          
The terrible task of breaking the news to my dad
With our old draught horse, Punch, my father was ploughing the land
I ran to the paddock, the telegram clutched in my hand,

The Irishman read it, said thank you, now leave me alone
Go on back to the house, help your mother, she's there on her own
He called, 'Stand up Punch, we have to get on with this job'
But I saw his slumped shoulders, and I heard his heart rending sob,

    And at the going down of the sun and in the morning
    We will remember them, Lest we forget.

Well Robert was gassed and he always had pains in his head                              
And Martin was shell-shocked and he’d’ve been better off dead                        
And I, I’m just an old lady who watched them all go                                          
But I am the one you should ask about war, for I know,

That all of these years have gone by and I know that we’ve met                                       
Yes, I will remember them : I can’t forget,

And at the going down of the sun and in the morning.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2ycH8wwFJs
Ted Egan wrote this song for his mother, Grace; sung here by his wife, Nerys Evans.



No further comment is necessary.
R-J