I posted the lyrics to this song some time ago but they don't seem to be here anymore so here they are again.

THE MAN I KILLED
(Mick Ryan)

My enemy I first did see with the dawn all in his eye.
His armour bright was a fine brave sight and I heard his battle cry.
His sword did wave and a yell I gave in answer to his call.
By the red sunset the ground was wet with blood where he did fall.

CHORUS: In another place, at another time I'd drink his health in a glass of wine.
I'd shake the hand and think no ill of the man that I did kill.

For who can say why he marched away to join the battle throng?
For a man's misled by the glorious dead who live in a hero's song.
Did he march away on a fine spring day to a darling sweetheart's wave?
Was it careless love or a chance to prove to his love that he was brave?

My enemy I then did see with a musket in his hand.
He raised that gun in the morning sun when he made his final stand.
But I picked him out in that last redoubt and I heard the singing sigh
Of the ball that flew to the man I slew and I heard his last death cry. CHORUS

For who can say why he marched away to meet my deadly aim?
Was it want of bread or work that led him away to the deadly game?
Was his poor soul sold for a piece of gold that brought him over the sea?
Did a starving wife or a poor man's life bring the poor man here to me?

My enemy I then did see in a world of shell and fire.
I saw him stand in the no-man's land through the loops of the old barbed wire,
And as he ran, I marked my man and played my well-drilled part,
And the air was split as the bullet hit and tore his life apart. CHORUS

For who can say why he marched away so far from his native land?
Did he fear to die? Did the white feathers fly? Did she place one in his hand?
Did he feel her shame? Did he take the blame? Did she smile at his uniform?
And did she cry when he went to die on that far off summer's morn?

My enemy I could not see with his children in his arms.
He was far away on that fateful day and I meant to him no harm.
But I gave the word and a roar was heard as death took us all by the hand,
And in reply it was eye for eye and we're all in no-man's land. CHORUS

For who can say why we march away? we have reasons of our own.
We are poor, we are sad, we are rich, we are glad, and we all die our deaths alone.
We go up, we go back, we retreat, we attack, we are safe, and we take our chance.
We mark our man and we do what we can to keep up with death's old dance. CHORUS

Better still, you can buy Mick's book of his songs from him or from the publishers. E-mail info@jacaranda-music.com. The book is £8 plus £1 p&p.

Excess line breaks deleted. --JoeClone, 22-Feb-03.