Lyr Req: They Say That The Battle Is Over

Subject: Lyr Req: They Say That TheBattle Is Over.
From: LeFaux
Date: 18 Jan 08 - 01:15 PM

Does anyone know the lyrics to this song, I don't know who wrote it but I believe it was preformed by Johnny McEvoy.It must be at least twenty yeas ago I last heard it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They Say That The Battle Is Over
From: Peace
Date: 18 Jan 08 - 02:15 PM

And You Say That The Battle Is Over

And you say that the battle is over,
And you say that the war is all done

Go tell it to those with the wind in their nose
Who run from the sound of the gun,
And write it on the sides of the great whaling-ships,
Or on ice floes where conscience is tossed
With the wild in their eyes, it is they who must die
And it's we who must measure the loss.

And you say that the battle is over,
And finally the world is at peace

You mean no one is dying, and mothers don't weep,
Or it's not in the papers, at least.
There are those who would deal in the darkness of life,
There are those who would tear down the sun,
And most men are ruthless, but some will still weep
When the gifts we were given are gone.

Now the blame cannot fall on the heads of a few,
It's become such a part of the race;

It's eternally tragic that that which is magic
Be killed at the end of the glorious chase.
From young seals to great whales, from waters to wood,
They will fall just like weeds in the wind;
With furcoats, and perfumes, and trophies on walls:
What a hell of a race to call men.

And you say that the battle is over,
And you say that the war is all done

Go tell it to those with the wind in their nose
Who run from the sound of the gun,
And write it on the sides of the great whaling-ships,
Or on ice floes where conscience is tossed
With the wild in their eyes, it is they who must die
And it's we who must measure the loss.
With the wild in their eyes, it is they who must die,
And it's we who must measure the cost.





Found this attributed (sung) by John Denver. I do not know who wrote it. I

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They Say That The Battle Is Over
From: Peace
Date: 18 Jan 08 - 02:18 PM

A site says it was authored by David Mallett.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They Say That The Battle Is Over
From: GUEST,Bernie
Date: 18 Jan 08 - 02:20 PM

The only one I know is by Maine's Dave Mallett.....

They say that the batthe is over,they say that the war has been won
Go tell it to those with the wind in their nose,who run from the sound of the gun...

don't recall the rest,but it should be easy to find on one of Dave's
earlier recordings....one of the earlier[and better]topical songs on the theme of wildlife and environmental destruction,as well as wars of other kinds...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They Say That The Battle Is Over
From: Deckman
Date: 18 Jan 08 - 03:51 PM

I have always enjoyed this song very, very much. It's songwriting at it's very best. look at how tightly the story is told, how well the words are crafted. Only a David Mallett could write this story so well.

I performed this song at a Pacific Northwest Folkife Festival some years ago. It was a hit ... as well it should be.

Would I could write that well. Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They Say That The Battle Is Over
From: GUEST,dwr
Date: 18 Jan 08 - 04:22 PM

Done by Johnny Cash the first time I heard it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They Say That The Battle Is Over
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Jan 08 - 08:03 PM

After a lot of searching, I found that the title of the song posted above is actually YOU SAY THE BATTLE IS OVER. (No "that" in the title.) David Mallett wrote it, and he recorded it on "Parallel Lives," 1997. John Denver recorded it on "Autograph," 1980; and "Wildlife Concert," 1995.

Johnny Cash recorded THE BIG BATTLE. It's an entirely different song, but it makes a similar point (about war) with similar irony. It contains the line "So you think the battle is over." It was on his album "Ring of Fire," 1963, and several subsequent compilations.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They Say That The Battle Is Over
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Jul 21 - 12:28 AM

Joe - needs cleanup