I saw Harvey in Cottingham, Yorkshire last autumn and spoke to him about the reaction I used to get when singing 'the Soldier' in the NAAFI bar in Berlin Field Force back in 1978.... the 'gathered drinkers' some from 2 Para, divided into three distinct groups - one third left the building, too affected or wary of showing their feelings, the younger men, who hadn't heard the story, ended up silent and the middle third sat with tears in their eyes in rememberance. It got harder and harder for me to continue to the end of the song, seeing the effect it had, but I felt, in my small way, that I was helping them come to terms with some time in their lives.
I still sing 'the Soldier' around 'Armistice' and it's quite amazing to 'hear the silence' of the listeners. Last time I sang one of my pals was totally in awe of the story and said: "B..... great song, B..... great tune, B..... well sung.
I believe in delivering songs as stories, not simply singing in time.
Harvey, you're a master of delivery and illustrate your music with wonderful words. Thanks. Hazel