Subject: The green fields of France From: GUEST,nutsmuggler@hotmail.com Date: 23 Nov 00 - 04:26 PM Hi! I'm Italian and I live in Galway, where "The green fields of france" is always sung at gigs ( at least if the title they gave me was correct). Can you help me with the lyrics? Cheers Davide |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Susanne (skw) Date: 23 Nov 00 - 04:44 PM Davide, put the words [Willie McBride] (with the brackets) into the search box in the top right corner and press 'Go', and the DT will come up with two titles. The second one, 'No Man's Land', should be the song you're looking for. This is Eric Bogle's original title. The Furey Brothers renamed it to 'The Green Fields of France'. Enjoy, and come back to the Mudcat! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: GUEST,Adolfo Date: 23 Nov 00 - 04:46 PM Is that the sad song about Privy Willie MacBride? If so, you can search the song by its name: No Man's Land. Adolfo |
Subject: Lyr Add: NO MAN'S LAND (Eric Bogle) From: Edi Date: 24 Nov 00 - 08:45 AM Here are the lyrics without clicking: THE GREEN FIELDS OF FRANCE (Eric Bogle)
Well how do you do young Willie MacBride
Chorus:
Did you leave ere a wife or a sweetheart behind, Chorus
The sun now it shines on the green fields of France, Chorus
Ah, young Willie McBride, I can't help wondering why, Chorus (twice) Only the best Edgar |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Irish sergeant Date: 24 Nov 00 - 09:06 AM It's a great song and I also want to say thanks for the lyrics. Neil |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: GUEST,nutsmuggler@hotmail.com Date: 25 Nov 00 - 08:06 AM Go raibh maith agat! Thanks a lot!!! Slán go foill Davide |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: mack539 Date: 26 Feb 02 - 04:42 PM anyone know where to get a mp3 of The green fields of France/willy mc bride i would be grateful for any websites |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: mack539 Date: 26 Feb 02 - 04:49 PM thanks everyone |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Noreen Date: 26 Feb 02 - 04:59 PM If it's the tune you want, Mack, click on No Man's Land for the lyrics in the DT, and scroll down to the bottom where it says Click to Play |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Helen Date: 26 Feb 02 - 05:08 PM Two Mp3 files here, and the sheet music. http://www.chivalry.com/cantaria/lyrics/willie_mcbride.htm Also, I did a search on www.google.com using <"green fields of France" mp3> (include the double quotes to search for the phrase) and there were a few sites listed. Helen
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Noreen Date: 26 Feb 02 - 05:24 PM I found a wonderful Real Audio recording at this HISTORY IN SONG site(click) of Eric Bogle & Wacholder singing this song live in Berlin in 1985; alternate verses in English and German. Shivers down the spine... |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: folkmonster Date: 26 Feb 02 - 05:27 PM Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrgggggggggghhhhhhhh! That irish songbook version again!! It's "... crosses in mute witness stand" NOT "stand mute in the sand" Since when have war cemeteries included sand dunes? eh? Me, I blame the Fureys ... ;O) FM |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Noreen Date: 26 Feb 02 - 05:56 PM Thanks for pointing that out, FM- I'd not read Edi's posted lyrics. That error annoys me greatly too, but it is correct in the DT, where my link takes you. Another (relatively minor) change that bothers me though, is the first line of the refrain. Bogle wrote: Did they beat the drum slowly, did they sound the fife lowly? which is a quotation from an earlier song, and adds a lot to the mood of the song. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Wolfgang Date: 27 Feb 02 - 03:46 AM Noreen, thanks a lot for that link. If I'll find the time I'll post the German lyrics and a translation for the song is considerably changed in German. Wolfgang |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Teribus Date: 27 Feb 02 - 03:54 AM Furey's version of "No Mans Land" - although extremely popular is a bit of a lash up when it comes to the lyrics. Eric Bogle's chorus is Did they beat the drums slowly, did they sound the fife lowly? Did the rifles fire o'er you as they lowered you down? Did the bugles sing the "Last Post" and chorus? Did the pipes play "The Flo'ers of the Forest"? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: cobber Date: 27 Feb 02 - 05:45 AM Just a small addition. We recorded this song with Cobbers in Australia in 1979 just before we went to Britain on tour. We ran into the Fureys at the Embankment, a pub in Dublin and I asked Finbar why they changed the name from "No Man's Land" to "The Green Fields of France". Apparently, they wanted to release the song in England and everyone thought that 1916 referred to the IRA uprising and it caused them a lot of trouble. The name change solved the problem. I still think that and "Shelter" are Eric's two best songs, better even than "The Band PLayed Waltzing Matilda" but I guess it's all taste, isn't it? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Susanne (skw) Date: 27 Feb 02 - 07:19 PM The German version is listed on another site of Noreen's link above: Es ist an der Zeit
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Noreen Date: 27 Feb 02 - 08:09 PM A translation would be nice, thank you, Wolfgang (or Suzanne). What do you think of the German version? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Janice in NJ Date: 27 Feb 02 - 08:19 PM If you get tired of The Green Fields of France (No Man's Land), you can try Willie McBride's Reply. |
Subject: Lyr Add: ES IST AN DER ZEIT From: Wolfgang Date: 28 Feb 02 - 06:46 AM Here is the German version (translated and sung by Hannes Wader):
Es ist an der Zeit Here now is my translation of the German version (in order to keep close to the German I had to position some words at uncommon places for English sentences)
It's about time What do I think of the German version? As nearly always I prefer the original. I know that a good and close translation of that song is nearly impossible, so I don't blame Wader for not trying. All in all, it is a fine job he has done and it still is a good song in German. But there are two decisions of Wader I don't like. First, the soldier has no name in the German version and I think the song is more vivid with a name. But that's a minor detail. The main thing I do not like is that Wader is too explicit in what we should think and do (or not do) now. He has rewritten the song with the German anti-Pershing 2 movement of the Reagan decade in mind. What could have been a timeless song is now (especially verse 4 and less so the chorus) a song for a particular protest movement of a particular period of time. I did share Wader's feelings at that time but even then I didn't like to be told explicitely what to think and to do. Bogle's song is a song that leaves the conclusions to the listener, Wader's translation doesn't. That's what I dislike most. But it still is a strong song, even in this translation and Wader has made a brilliant job in many lines in the first three verses, but not in my eyes in the last verse and the chorus. Wolfgang |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: greg stephens Date: 28 Feb 02 - 06:58 AM Thats funny, i just put a question about this song on the "chantal de champignon" thread not ten minutes ago. Question was: who wrote the devastating parody of "green fields of france" which is so vicious you can't hear the original without laughing. I think it might have been Brian O'Rourke. Anybody know? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Fibula Mattock Date: 28 Feb 02 - 07:00 AM if it's the parody I'm thinking of, with the great line "rusty shrapnel's too good for you, Willie McBride" in it, then it was Fintan Vallely. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Noreen Date: 28 Feb 02 - 07:07 AM Thank you, Wolfgang. I agree- powerful words in Wader's version, but I think too explicit generally. I can't imagine the gory references in the third verse being sung often in folk clubs, as the original is; some things are better left to the imagination. Nor do I see the point in including the section in the second half of the second verse- a specific reference that for me doesn't add to but detracts from the message of the song. I still love the idea of singing the two versions together, as at the live performance in Berlin, even though the two songs are quite different. And yes, he should have a name. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: GUEST,Martin Ryan Date: 28 Feb 02 - 07:07 AM Finatan wrote some but not all of it. Man called Crawford Howard wrote the original, as far as I know. Fintan added ot the fun. Regards |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Wolfgang Date: 28 Feb 02 - 08:03 AM There's more than one parody:
Nobody's Moggie Land is in the DT (kind of general Bogle parody) Wolfgang |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Wolfgang Date: 28 Feb 02 - 08:05 AM And of all those I forgot the one Martin has mentioned: Wolfgang |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: greg stephens Date: 28 Feb 02 - 08:13 AM thanks Martin that was what i was looking for |
Subject: Lyr Add: NO MAN'S LAND (parody) From: Fibula Mattock Date: 28 Feb 02 - 09:01 AM Aye Martin, you're right - it's based on Crawford Howard's version - I'd forgotten that. The one in the DT is slightly different from the one Fintan Vallely recorded on the Scitheredee album, and is missing a final verse: And you, Eric Bogle, just what was your game? Do white crosses mark out the road to your fame? Did you not think the Fureys would drive us insane? Could you not call them off; Jesus, we're not to blame! And what's all this talk about shellfire and smoke? Sure with PA and cigarettes the pubs are no joke Where we drink to his memory each weekend til we're broke Making Willie McBride's fans consumptive auld soaks and a chorus: Did he sing the song badly? Did we gulp our pints madly? Did we fall asleep before we finished our round? Did the barstaff cry "last drink" to stir us? And did the punters cry "thank god it's over"? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Fibula Mattock Date: 28 Feb 02 - 09:03 AM gah! br tag missing after "smoke?". Joeclones, if you see this....?? Done. --JoeClone, 2-Mar-02. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: GUEST,Martin Ryan Date: 28 Feb 02 - 09:58 AM Fibula: Yes - I put that version in the DT. Its the way I sing it. I found the chorus tended to drag a bit - and dropped it. Cultural vandal, that's me...! Regards |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: GUEST,John Hernandez Date: 28 Feb 02 - 03:51 PM Of the several parodies, "Willie McBride's Reply" is a serious response to Eric Bogle's original. The other parodies are crude lampoons by comparison. I understand that there are places where "Willie McBride's Reply" is heard nearly as much as "No Man's Land." |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Susanne (skw) Date: 02 Mar 02 - 05:17 PM I hate seeing songs I love lampooned, and I certainly think it hard on Eric to blame him for the Fureys' faults ... :-) As to the German version - I beg to differ. Hannes certainly had a slightly different agenda and used Eric's song as a starting point. His version is more explicit than the Bogle version, but just how do you convey the horrors of war other than spelling them out? And the last verse is not inextricably tied to the 70s anti-war movement; it's general enough to fit ANY future threat of war, like the one hanging over us just now. So I think the German version is a fine song in its own right. I agree about the name, but I suppose one reason for leaving it out was to make the song applicable to every dead soldier the world over - which is probably what Eric meant as well, but by using this name he also fixed him firmly in the Anglo-American world. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: GUEST,Pat Shaughnessy Date: 18 Nov 19 - 07:54 AM Help Please . Can anyone steer me in the direction of a three language recording of Green Fields of France featuring verses in English French and German in that order. The German singer sounds like Hanns Wader. For me, this was the finest recording of Eric Bogle's work. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Helen Date: 20 Nov 19 - 05:47 PM Apologies Pat, this thread has dropped to the bottom of the page with no replies. I just started a Google search using this phrase - Green Fields of France verses in English French and German - and found this wiki page which, in the Cover versions and recordings section, mentions a version by Eric Fish, in the German version by Hannes Wader On Hannes Wader's name there is a hyperlink to a wiki article about him. There are a lot of cover versions listed but some of the names of singers or bands might ring a bell with you. I have not heard the version you are looking for, but someone here will probably know it. Eric Bogle and some German lyrics sung by Wachol and composed by Hannes Wader |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Helen Date: 21 Nov 19 - 01:32 PM refresh |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Dave Hanson Date: 22 Nov 19 - 03:18 AM Eric Bogle called his song ' No Mans Land ' we've got The Fury's to thank or not for ' The Green Fields of France ' Dave H |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Allan Conn Date: 22 Nov 19 - 05:32 AM The Fureys changed some of the lyrics too. Some not so bad but they spoiled IMHO the line "countless white crosses in mute witness stand" by singing instead "The countless white crosses stand mute in the sand" Saying that at a concert here in Kelso one of the audience members asked what he thought about artists changing the name and getting the lyrics wrong and his response was as long as he gets his royalties he didn't care. Maybe at least slightly tongue in cheek as I noticed later that he did give a bit of a negative reaction to the Jeff Beck/Joss Stone version. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Helen Date: 22 Nov 19 - 02:05 PM Allan, if I was singing this line "countless white crosses in mute witness stand" I think it would be a fair bet that I would get it wrong. It's a bit of a tongue-twister, but also the second phrase is possibly a bit clearer in modern-speak, "The countless white crosses stand mute in the sand". Having said that, poetically speaking, I like the original line. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The green fields of France From: Raggytash Date: 22 Nov 19 - 02:23 PM Arrrggggg! I That is the 'punch line's of the song. All a white cross can do is stand mute in the sand. Mute witness implies a whole new meaning and gives the song it's wonderful poignancy. To sing anything else ruins the song. |
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