Firstly, A song comparing two obscene events in 1966 --- the Aberfan slag heap disaster,(2016 will be the 50th anniversary) and the continuing murderous devastation in Vietnam. GREY OCTOBER (1966) (C.Parker/Critics Group/P.Seeger) --originally posted by "Stewie" Grey October in Glamorgan High pitheaps where the houses stand Fog in the valley, backshift ending Children awaken in Aberfan Warm October in Thi Binh Province Huts of bamboo and rattan Sun comes up - repair gangs stop And children waken in Thuy Dan Pithead hooter sounds from Merthyr Load the coal in the waiting trams Shoot the slag down the high pitheap While children eat in Aberfan Ox carts rattle down Thi Binh Highway Work begins on the broken land Night's work ended, the roadway's mended Children eat in Thuy Dan Dai Dan Evans grabs his satchel Michael Jones his bread and jam Five to nine and the school bell ringing Time for school in Aberfan School bell ringing, children running Down by the river and across the dam Hot sun burning, time for learning Time for school in Thuy Dan Lessons started in Pantglas Junior Through the fog a black wave ran Under the weight of the man-made mountain Children die in Aberfan Lessons start in the Thi Binh schoolhouse And another day began Bombers fly in the morning sky And children die in Thuy Dan Tears are shed for Glamorgan children And the world mourns Aberfan But who will weep for the murdered children Under the rubble of Thuy Dan? Grey October in Glamorgan Warm October in Vietnam Where children die while we stand by And shake the killer by the hand Source: lyric sheet accompanying Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger 'The Angry Muse' Argo LP ZDA 83 [1968]. Note to song: 'This song was created by 16 people. The idea for it was conceived by Charles Parker, a BBC producer. Over a period of 6 weeks the song was shaped and re-shaped by members of the Critics Group and the tune was set to it by Peggy Seeger'. --Stewie. This second song marks Trafalgar day when Horatio Nelson defeated the French and Spanish fleets off the coast of spain in 1805 TAKING NELSON HOME Ian Palmer He came on board in a brandy cask, we're taking Nelson home Sailors bending to their tasks; we're taking Nelson home Billy Ruffians, homeward bound, take him to his burial ground Taking Nelson home, we're taking Nelson home We stowed him down in the hold below, we're taking Nelson home We're outward bound and we'll roll and go; we're taking Nelson home Billy Ruffians, homeward bound, take him to his burial ground Taking Nelson home, we're taking Nelson home North by west we sailed away, we're taking Nelson home Nelson's blood is the drink I crave; we're taking Nelson home Billy Ruffians, homeward bound, take him to his burial ground Taking Nelson home, we're taking Nelson home Our harbour lights we saw at last, we're taking Nelson home Our standard's flying at half mast; we're taking Nelson home Billy Ruffians, homeward bound, take him to his burial ground Taking Nelson home, we're taking Nelson home We carry him ashore in his brandy cask, we're taking Nelson home On England's shore he'll rest at last; we're taking Nelson home Billy Ruffians, homeward bound, take him to his burial ground Taking Nelson home, we're taking Nelson home Billy Ruffians, homeward bound, take him to his burial ground Taking Nelson home, we're taking Nelson home. (updated from my post in the thread "Taking Nelson Home") I do not, alas, have a song for "Back to the Future Day – October 21 2015" the date that Marty McFly and Dr Emmett "Doc" Brown chose to travel forward in time from 1985 in the hit sequel Back To The Future II. Hmm, Just as well! Bradfordian
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