Songs about war and its effects

Subject: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: GUEST,George Mann
Date: 28 Aug 16 - 11:10 AM

Seeking Songs:
"Until You Come Home" Compilation CD

(George Mann, producer)

In 2010, I produced a compilation CD entitled "Until You Come Home: Songs for Veterans and Their Kin." It was my reaction to a marked increase in the work I was doing in veterans and nursing homes, as I began to transition from 14 years squatting in New York City (I never really considered it my home) to Ithaca, where I now live.

I was seeing physical and psychic wounds up front, much more than I had in the past, and getting to know the humans who carried those wounds— men and yes, women too, especially from the most recent wars. I also became aware of the work of Veterans for Peace and The Welcome Home Project, and members of those organizations— most of them veterans themselves— whose work and courage in the face of their own wounds and pain inspires me to this day.

The album was an attempt to address the horrors of war, the damage to the human spirit as well as the body, and I was lucky to have songs from so many great artists associated with it.

The website http://www.untilyoucomehome.com

has info about this CD, including links to videos for some of the songs. In assembling the album, I put out an open call to artists to submit songs, and in some cases went after specific songs and artists I knew and wanted represented on the CD (such as my mentors Julius Margolin and Utah Phillips, both veterans themselves and longtime activists for peace, and who had died recently). In other cases, we were lucky that revered artists such as Tom Paxton, Holly Near and John Gorka understood the goal of the project and donated their songs to it. I also found songs from a number of relatively "unknown" songwriters that were heartfelt and right on the mark.

Six years later, I still sing regularly in veterans and nursing homes, and the endless flow of wounded bodies and minds in these VA and state hospitals and homes is at times overwhelming. Every week I see kids in their twenties, men and women in their fifties and sixties, in various stages of breakdown, much of it caused by reckless decisions to enter war and send humans into inhuman conditions.

I am planning to produce a second album, a collection of songs about the horrors of war from the perspectives of all affected by it, but especially those who serve during wartime and their families. "Until You Come Home: Songs to Heal the Wounds of War" will be released independently as a CD and online in late October. I am interested in hearing from people who can recommend songs and artists who are writing about these topics.

I have deep love and admiration for so many artists who have written songs about war and its permanent scars, and those people who conquer the demons that war conjures up. In the past, when I have produced similar compilations, I have received songs from dozens of artists, and ultimately I have to choose about 15 songs. This time, I am already clear about some of the songs that will appear on the CD, and am honored that songwriters such as Charlie King, Joe Jencks, David Rovics, and Magpie (Terry Leonino and Greg Artzner)— people I am overjoyed to call friends and partners in some of the work I have done over the years— have written songs that will be on this album.

I will be reaching out to others over the next month, but invite anyone who has questions or a song they think might be relevant to contact me privately at [e-mail] with suggestions, questions, etc.

If you would like to submit a song for the project, you can mail a physical CD or CDR containing the song with a copy of lyrics to George Mann, PO Box 435, Ithaca, NY 14851. If the song is available in video format or audio on Youtube or other streaming service (you can upload a songfile in about 5 minutes) you can also submit a link to Youtube or your website.

DO NOT SEND ME MP3 files to download.

The deadline for submitting songs is September 15, as we go into production for release in late October. If you are a songwriter and this inspires you to write something in the next few weeks, send me a demo! But the completed version needs to be in my hands by September 15.

I plan to work with veterans' organizations and folk DJs around the United States, and in other countries, to get these songs out and will initiate a GOFUNDME project to help with the production and marketing expenses.

Thanks for reading this and thanks to all who sing and play music for people living out their lives in institutions such as veterans' and nursing homes; we get to do the fun work. At the same time, there are thousands and thousands of health-care workers who do the hard work, every day, for our veterans and seniors. I hope this music also reaches as many of them as possible.

-George Mann

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: Lighter
Date: 28 Aug 16 - 11:47 AM

"Two Brothers," words & Music by Irving Gordon (composer of "Unforgettable," et al.) co.1951.

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: cnd
Date: 28 Aug 16 - 11:48 AM

George, I have a cassette of several songs about war (mostly Civil War songs, but some about other wars) by Sgt. Benjamin R. Gormley called Haunted Fields. He also published the poems as a book first, but like I said, they talk about the Civil War. I don't know if you are interested in Civil War songs or not, but I have those if you want them.

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: GUEST,Mg
Date: 28 Aug 16 - 03:20 PM

I have many songs about the vietnam war. I have to be careful that they will not be used to hurt veterans. It does not sound like that would be a problem. Tell me what you want a d i might have something that works.

Iam also planning a compilation of songs by people wnho were in that war. Will start soon. I think it will be called outside the wire.

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: Gurney
Date: 28 Aug 16 - 06:25 PM

Two songs about WWI: 'The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.' Australian P.O.V., crippled veteran.
'Dancing at Whitsun' English P.O.V., widow who couldn't remarry because there weren't enough men left!

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: cetmst
Date: 28 Aug 16 - 09:12 PM

A few years ago I made for my personal use a CD mix I called Peace Songs, songs for the promotion of peace but including some detailing the adverse effects of war, among these were:
Where Have All the Flowers Gone? - Pete Seeger, Joe Hickerson and the German version Sag mir wo die Blumen sind, sung in Israel by Marlene Dietrich
Mothers, Daughters, Wives - Judy Small
Flowers of the Forest - traditional Scots
Killiecrankie - Robert Burns
The First Battalion's Home, Yes I See, Two Brothers - American Civil War Trilogy- Bob Camp, Bob Gibson
No Man's Land - Eric Bogle
The Band Played Waltzing Matilda - Eric Bogle
Dancing at Whitsun - Austin John Marshall
Ballad of the Soldier's Wife - Berthold Brecht/Kurt Weill
Rosemary's Sister - Huw and Tony Williams
I Come and Stand at Every Door (Dead Girl of Hiroshima)- Nazim Hikmet
Come Seamus and Ivy - Northern Ireland, can't find author, sung by Meg Davis
Come Away Melinda - Fred Hellerman, Fran Minkoff

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: NOMADMan
Date: 28 Aug 16 - 10:35 PM

Have a listen to Richard Thompson's "How Will I Ever Be Simple Again." Also, Huw Williams' "Rosemary's Sister," already mentioned above.

John Mazza (NOMADMan

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: eftifino
Date: 29 Aug 16 - 12:42 AM

"I was only 19" Redgum. Australian POV Vietnam war.

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: Andrez
Date: 29 Aug 16 - 01:11 AM

Re post above for "Only 19" see the YouTube Clip below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Urtiyp-G6jY&ab_channel=nzoz1983

Contact details for John Schumann re access to this song for your project are below.
http://www.schumann.com.au/john/john.html

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: Acorn4
Date: 29 Aug 16 - 04:23 AM

"Midnight on the Water" by Judith Edelman - from the album "Only Sun" (Compass Records) is a little known gem.

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: CupOfTea
Date: 29 Aug 16 - 10:31 AM

I have a whole section of my repertoire that I think of as "after the war" songs. Several of my favorites were recorded by Phil Cooper (the Mudcat member) & Margaret Nelson, who, with others over the years have had a fine ear for get-you-by-the-throat lyrics. Previously mentioned "Rosemary's Sister" and "How Will I Ever Be Simple Again" I got from them (also Prine's "Sam Stone"). I've teamed Thompson's song with one written by Margaret -both include aspects from the veteran and the vet's loved one (in 3/4 time).   

HOW WILL I EVER BE SIMPLE AGAIN? RICHARD THOMPSON

She danced in the street with the guns all around her
All torn like a rag doll, bare foot in the rain
And she sang like a child, touralay, toraladdy,
How will I ever be simple again?

She sat by the bank of the dirty grey river
And tried for a fish with a worm on a pin
There was nothing but fever and ghosts in the water
How will I ever be simple again?

War was my love and friend and companion,
What use had I for the pretty or plain?        
But her smile was so pure and my heart was so troubled
How will I ever be simple again?

In her poor burned out house I sat at her table
The smell of her hair was like cornfields in May
And I wanted to weep and my eyes ached from tryin
How will I ever be simple again?

So gracefully she moved through the dust and the ruins
Happy she was in her dances and games
Teach me to see with your innocent eyes, love,
How will I ever be simple again?

War was my love and friend and companion,
What use had I for the pretty or plain?
Teach me to see with your innocent eyes, love,
How will I ever be simple again?

Followed by DIED IN THE WAR         MARGARET NELSON   1995

She's middle aged now, She uses her time
For her friends and her work and improving her mind
She's lonely tonight, she knows who it's for
Her sweetheart who died in the war

When her lover came home She thought that her life
Would be husband and babies, mother and wife
But the man was a stranger who walked through her door
Her sweetheart had died in the war

Died of the bullets, the mines and the shells
Died with his buddies in two years of hell
With a wall round his heart where love needs a door
Her sweetheart had died in the war

He's a pretty good boss, he works with his crew
Taking old buildings and making them new
Some nights he drinks less, some nights he drinks more
His sweetheart she died in the war.

Died of the hard words, the booze and the pain
Died of the distance he couldn't explain,
Oh the girl was a stranger who walked out the door
His sweetheart had died in the war.

She's middle aged now, She uses her time
For her friends and her work and improving her mind
She might have done less, she might have had more.
Her sweetheart died in the war

If the songs need not be Vietnam-era inspired:
Band Played Waltzing Matilda
Bantry Girl's Lament
By the Hush
Cruel War
Gone the Rainbow (Shul Aroon)
In the Hills of Shiloh
Johnny I hardly Knew Ye
Mick Ryan's Lament
Tenting Tonight
Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

In concert, Robin & Linda Williams prefaced "Don't Let Me Go Home A Stranger" by saying it made them think of a veteran in their family - been too many years to remember if it was written specificly for that person, but I know it was published in SING OUT, so the reference might be there.

I would love to know what goes into this album and wait to hear the result.

Joanne in Cleveland

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: mrdux
Date: 30 Aug 16 - 02:17 AM

if you haven't yet, try Peter LaFarge's

"The Ballad of Ira Hayes"
-- Peter LaFarge (1962)

Ira Hayes,
Ira Hayes

[Chorus]
Call him drunken Ira Hayes
He won't answer anymore
Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian
Nor the Marine that went to war

Gather round me people there's a story I would tell
About a brave young Indian you should remember well
From the land of the Pima Indian
A proud and noble band
Who farmed the Phoenix valley in Arizona land

Down the ditches for a thousand years
The water grew Ira's peoples' crops
'Till the white man stole the water rights
And the sparklin' water stopped

Now Ira's folks were hungry
And their land grew crops of weeds
When war came, Ira volunteered
And forgot the white man's greed

[Chorus]

There they battled up Iwo Jima's hill,
Two hundred and fifty men
But only twenty-seven lived to walk back down again

And when the fight was over
And when Old Glory raised
Among the men who held it high
Was the Indian, Ira Hayes

[Chorus]

Ira returned a hero
Celebrated through the land
He was wined and speeched and honored; Everybody shook his hand

But he was just a Pima Indian
No water, no crops, no chance
At home nobody cared what Ira'd done
And when did the Indians dance

[Chorus]

Then Ira started drinkin' hard;
Jail was often his home
They'd let him raise the flag and lower it
Like you'd throw a dog a bone!

He died drunk one mornin'
Alone in the land he fought to save
Two inches of water in a lonely ditch
Was a grave for Ira Hayes

[Chorus]

Yeah, call him drunken Ira Hayes
But his land is just as dry
And his ghost is lyin' thirsty
In the ditch where Ira died

many recordings of it, maybe my favorite is this one by Patrick Sky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a_AlBAFArc.








(Lyrics here: http://www.letssingit.com/pete-seeger-lyrics-the-ballad-of-ira-hayes-pw26gt1).

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: fat B****rd
Date: 30 Aug 16 - 04:42 AM

John Prine "Sam Stone"

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: GUEST,Mark Stevens
Date: 30 Aug 16 - 04:55 AM

War - Edwin Starr. 1969. Heard it and the singer interviewed on the Johhny Walker Show, BBC Radio 2 yesterday.
A great strong song and production, quite an effect on me when growing up.

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: GUEST,Mike Yates
Date: 30 Aug 16 - 05:00 AM

Pete Seeger once set this poem, by the Turkish poet Nazin Hickmet, to music. There must be a recording somewhere or other...

Hiroshima Child

I come and stand at every door
But none can hear my silent tread
I knock and yet remain unseen
For I am dead for I am dead

I'm only seven though I died
In Hiroshima long ago
I'm seven now as I was then
When children die they do not grow

My hair was scorched by swirling flame
My eyes grew dim my eyes grew blind
Death came and turned my bones to dust
And that was scattered by the wind

I need no fruit I need no rice
I need no sweets nor even bread
I ask for nothing for myself
For I am dead for I am dead

All that I need is that for peace
You fight today you fight today
So that the children of this world
Can live and grow and laugh and play

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: cetmst
Date: 30 Aug 16 - 06:58 AM

Go to thread "Girl of Hiroshima" begun 5 December1997

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: Lighter
Date: 30 Aug 16 - 08:06 AM

For another perspective, try "When the Atom Bomb Fell," by Karl & Harty (1945).

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: eftifino
Date: 31 Aug 16 - 03:44 AM

There is 'The Kerry Recruit" about a young naive volunteer who ends up in the Crimea. By The Dubliners.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osSO_T3X6zw

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: Jack Campin
Date: 31 Aug 16 - 04:34 PM

Nazim Hikmet. The thread is here:

http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=83298

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: mg
Date: 31 Aug 16 - 09:15 PM

I think the very best of all is ich hatte einen komaraden...it is an old german song..not nazi..

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: Stewie
Date: 01 Sep 16 - 08:07 PM

One of the best contemporary songs about soldiers and war is by New Zealander, Marcus Turner - 'When the boys are on parade'. Andy Irvine does a cover of it, but I prefer this recording by Michael Black:

Click

WHEN THE BOYS ARE ON PARADE
(Marcus Turner)

Here they come marching past the houses, shiny boots and khaki blouses
Stiff as the creases in their trousers standing tall and straight and strong
And they all keep in step together glint of steel and flash of leather
Braving every kind of weather as they boldly march along
You may dismiss it as a ploy for the enlistment of the boys
Who'll be impressed to see the toys and play the games that can be played

And you may well prefer abstention but I feel compelled to mention
You'd do well to pay attention when the boys are on parade

Look at your sons before they're older, they'll be stronger, they'll be bolder
Just the thing to make a soldier and we'll turn them into men
And they'll be taught to follow orders, keep the peace and guard the borders
To protect us from marauders and defend us to the end
But the position they'll be filling is to be able and be willing
To be killed or do the killing when there's a price that must be paid

Refrain

In the pursuit of a community of decency and unity
And equal opportunity, we stand prepared to fight
And if there's a threat to our position from aggressive opposition
Then with guns and ammunition we'll repel with all our might
We'll dehumanise and hate them, send in the troops to decimate them
As in the name of the nation all it stands for is betrayed

Refrain

Merely the whim or intuition of an elected politician
Makes a melee without condition as the monster quits its cage
It's a machine that knows no quarter, dealing death and sowing slaughter
Raping mothers, wives and daughters in an all-consuming rage
We may well decide we need it and we'll pay to arm and feed it
But can you tell me who will lead it when the decisions must be made"

Refrain

Some will wonder what's to fear and say there is no danger here
But there has never been a year when soldiers haven't been at war
And the eternal executions and the bloody revolutions
And the ultimate solutions too have all been seen before
And there's always someone scheming and some nights when I am dreaming
In the distance, I hear screaming and in my heart I feel afraid

Refrain
 
Here they come marching past the houses, shiny boots and kharki blouses
Stiff as the creases in their trousers, standing tall and straight and strong
And is it any cause for pride that now the women march beside them
Will there be wiser gods to guide them in discerning right from wrong
'Cause every step is a reminder of the threat that lies behind
If we forget the ties that bind us when the decisive game is played

Refrain

And as the procession passes by consider the sight before your eyes
'Cause it'll be you they'll kill and die for when they're called to the crusade
And you may love them and adore them, you may hate them and abhor them
But for god's sake don't ignore them when the boys are on parade

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: Mysha
Date: 02 Sep 16 - 03:09 AM

Agent Orange
Let me breath
Jag Hade En Gång En Båt
Our Son Jack

What's this about recordings? Are you looking for songs to play, or for recordings to include?
(And what's that about it being easier to load an mp4 than an mp3?)

Bye
                                                                Mysha

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: GUEST,Larry the Radio Guy
Date: 02 Sep 16 - 10:27 AM

One of the most powerful in my opinion is "When The War Began" by Tom Rapp (Pearls Before Swine).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhVrRAHO6a0

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Sep 16 - 10:53 PM

Folks, thanks for all the replies and suggestions, I've been dealing with a very sick cat and other projects, just got back here. Will listen to the songs that you suggested-- for anyone interested in submitting a song they sing/have recorded-- it must be original content or public domain (or have express permission of the author if not original), and yes, this is for a compilation CD, my initial notice had a link to http://www.untilyoucomehome.com -- the first CD we did in 2010.

If you are interested in submitting something (yes, I can take MP3s,but prefer having a physical CD), please email [e-mail] for more info--

Thanks, George

Subject: RE: Seeking Songs about War and its Effects
From: GUEST,George Mann
Date: 18 Sep 16 - 10:55 PM

PS, not interested in classics like "War" or "Sam Stone," great songs that they are... looking for lesser-known (and newer) material... in the folk/American genre.