The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #56795   Message #4126417
Posted By: Stewie
16-Nov-21 - 08:08 PM
Thread Name: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever?
Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever?
This one was mentioned above in 03 but no link to a recording.

NORMANDY ORCHARDS
(Keith Marsden)

They're building a camp on the cornfields at Arlingham
Bulldozers churning and changing the land
Long barbed-wire fences and acres of tarmac
Nissen huts raised where the crops used to stand
Wide-eyed young village girls, giggling and staring
At tanks and transporters that darken the sky
There's convoys of lorries with fresh faces peering out
So many young men come learning to die

Chorus:
They say you can still hear the village-hall band
Grey, ghostly couples still glide round the floor
But Normandy orchards were waiting to welcome
New partners for death in the mad dance of war

Mother has started a ‘comforts committee’
But Reverend John's more concerned about sin
Hughes at The White Swan is rubbing his hands a lot
Watching the troops and the profits roll in
Eager young squaddies with overdone courtesy
Tipping their caps to the girls going by
But too soon from school to be licentious soldiery
So many young men come learning to die

Chorus

And mother would have a blue fit if she knew about
Lieutenant Johnson and walks in the wood
She's laid down the law and she's always gone on about
Men being beasts, so a girl must be good
But even she'd laugh at our clumsy propriety
Me far too fearful and him far too shy
She might even pity his lonely bewilderment,
One of the young men come learningto die

Chorus

And peace came to Arlingham many long years ago
Time passing by healed the scars on the land
Tanks on the village green just a fond memory
Now corn grows again where the huts used to stand
Yet when I walk in the woods on a summer's night
By the trees' edge when the wind starts to sigh
I still hear their voices all rising in harmony
Lost, wasted, young men come learning to die

YT clip -Cockersdale

--Stewie.