ADD: Fit for Heroes (Les Barker, Martin Carthy)

Subject: Barker, Carthy: Fit for Heroes
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 30 Jun 00 - 05:40 PM

Through a series of events leading to my great good fortune, I've ended up with a cd by Cockersdale, including our own Graham Pirt. I want to learn the Les Barker, Martin Carthy song Fit for Heroes. Anyone have the lyrics?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barker, Carthy: Fit for Heroes
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 30 Jun 00 - 06:01 PM

Oh! And what's the story behind the song? I can't make out all the words.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barker, Carthy: Fit for Heroes
From: The Shambles
Date: 01 Jul 00 - 06:17 PM

Can anyone help?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barker, Carthy: Fit for Heroes
From: Jeri
Date: 01 Jul 00 - 08:46 PM

I don't have time right now, but I can transcribe the lyrics from my copy of the absolutely wonderful Cockersdale CD. (Probably Sun or Mon.) Or maybe you have some of them, and I could try to fill in blanks? Not being British, I'm clueless about the song background. Sounds like government programs for war veterans' families were dropped.

(Thanks for refreshing the thread, Shambles.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barker, Carthy: Fit for Heroes
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jul 00 - 04:52 AM

i'd like to find out more about this

just to refresh the thread

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barker, Carthy: Fit for Heroes
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 02 Jul 00 - 02:29 PM

Thanks, Jeri. That's the cd I have. I just have a few words missing,such as, is it:
"Here's your home fit for heroes..." or "Is your home fit for heroes?"
'n stuff like that. Looks like I'll have to transcribe it myself, said the little red hen, and I'll post it here when I can. Sometime next week, I guess!

Subject: Lyr Add: FIT FOR HEROES (Les Barker/Martin Carthy)
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 02 Jul 00 - 04:02 PM

FIT FOR HEROES
Les Barker/Martin Carthy

1. They died in their millions, young men of the Somme.
And with them died their dreams for the world that they'd come from.
A dream for basic freedoms, and for that they gave their lives,
Now all that's left are widows wondering when it all arrives.

REFRAIN: Here's your home fit for heroes, here's your brand-new dawn,
If you make it through the winter, if you wrap up warm.

2. Heat and light and comfort, security and health,
All will be provided if you pay for it yourself.
It's a warm and a caring country if your purse is always full;
If the war left you a widow, better buy yourself some wool.

3. Your husband died for freedom, a fine and worthy cause.
He may have paid for our today, but we won't pay for yours.
If you're old and ailing, plan your ailments in advance;
If you can't afford'em, then you haven't got a chance..

4. Where are your share options and your directorships?
If you're not on the gravy train then you have had your chips.
Nothing in your pocket, and nothing in your purse,
You could sell the family jewels if we hadn't sold them first.

5. It's just your misfortune that your husband can't provide.
He might have made a living if he hadn't gone and died.
So knit yourself some mittens, and knit yourself some socks,
And save up for your funeral, 'cause we won't buy the box!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barker, Carthy: Fit for Heroes
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 02 Jul 00 - 04:04 PM

It's a beautiful sunny day and I'm home alone so I took the chance and here it is: Fit for Heroes

Subject: Lyr Add: FIT FOR HEROES (Les Barker/Martin Carthy)
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Jul 00 - 04:28 AM

It's from Les Barkers book 'King Charles Spaniel'

They died in their millions,
Young men at the Somme;
And with them died their dreams
For the world they'd come from;
A dream of basic freedoms,
And for that they gave their lives;
Now all that's left are widows
Wondering when it all arrives.

Here's your home fit for heroes,
Here's the brand new dawn,
If you make it through the winter,
If you wrap up warm.

Heat and light and comfort,
Security and health;
All will be provided
If you pay for it yourself.
It's a warm and caring country
If your purse is always full;
If the war left you a widow,
Better buy yourself some wool.

Here's your home fit for heroes,
Here's the brand new dawn,
If you make it through the winter,
If you wrap up warm.

It's just your misfortune
Your husband can't provide;
He might have made a living
If he hadn't gone and died.
Knit yourself some mittens,
Knit yourself some socks;
Save up for your funeral
'Cos we won't buy the box.

Here's your home fit for heroes,
Here's the brand new dawn,
If you make it through the winter,
If you wrap up warm.

Here's your home fit for heroes,
Here's the brand new dawn,
If you make it through the winter,
If you wrap up warm.


LTS

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--- Line breaks <br> added ---
-- PA --

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barker, Carthy: Fit for Heroes
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Jul 00 - 04:30 AM

OK, the formatting didn't work, but you have the text. Don't blame me, blame the silly machine that said it was OK. What you see isn't ALWAYS what you get!

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barker, Carthy: Fit for Heroes
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 03 Jul 00 - 07:31 AM

Liz:  <BR>!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barker, Carthy: Fit for Heroes
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Jul 00 - 09:18 AM

I know!!! I had it all set out when I did it out earlier, ready to paste in and the bloody line breaks fell out somewhere. If you see a pile of bee bottoms on the floor they are mine!

And yes, I did see that someone had already posted a nicely wrapped version of it, but only after I'd spent ages typing it out!

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barker, Carthy: Fit for Heroes
From: Jeri
Date: 03 Jul 00 - 09:38 AM

Aw, I would have done it, but I was somewhere else for most of yesterday. Now, does anyone know what this is specifically about? History, anyone?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barker, Carthy: Fit for Heroes
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Jul 00 - 09:51 AM

It's about the common man being coerced into going to fight a war and being promised all sorts of benefits when they got back - things like houses, sensible war pensions and decent living conditions - promises that were never really kept. [The National Health Service started out well, but has become a laughing stock - you can be given a 6 month waiting time for an appointment with a specialist, whom you could see that afternoon if you went privately.... ]

If your husband went to war to fight for these things, and then died fighting for it, you got nothing but the basic pension. Quite often women were made homeless as a result, if the tenancy of the house were in the man's name (about 98% of the cases I looked at) and the landlord was unsympathetic - you were booted out into the street with what you could carry. As long as he was alive and earning a soldier's wage, it was OK, when that went, so did the house.

This is not history, this is still happening now - more women are left intestate and are evicted by banks/building societies, than are divorced.

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barker, Carthy: Fit for Heroes
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 03 Jul 00 - 09:52 AM

Well, Jeri, according to the cd liner notes: This is one of (Les Barker's) more serious offerings reflecting on the plight of the war-widow...Martin Carthy gave it a tune that is perfectly matched to the feel of the words. We heard it on one of Les' cds and Les provided the song with two extra verses for us.
BTW, I played the cd for a local concert manager who would love to have Cockersdale perform in Nelson, NH next year if they are really coming!