My friend Geoff Parry writes a lot of poems, many of which are used as songs. I put a tune to this one and recorded it on a various artists CD called "May It Grow" in 2002. When I recorded it, I sang the first verse of the Spanish Civil War song "Jarama Valley" at the end; fortunately Geoff liked it! I sometimes get the names of the cities in the wrong order in verse two, and sometimes Belfast slips in there. At a St Patrick's Day singaround last week, I sang "Lads from Dublin and from Belfast." Geoff and I both feel honoured that my recording of this song is in the International Brigades archive. It's called, "As I Walk Jarama Valley".
AS I WALKED JARAMA VALLEY
Words by Geoff Parry, Music by Neville Grundy
I came looking for adventure
A young lad of twenty-one
Joined my brothers from many nations
To live or die 'neath the Spanish sun
Lads from London and from Dublin
Factory workers from Marseilles
Boys from Belgrade and from Boston
Waited in the line that day
Chorus:
As I walk Jarama Valley
You may see me walk alone
But I march with the ghosts of comrades
I fought beside so long ago
Forward came the fascist army
We raised our rifles as one man
General Franco must have heard us
As we shouted "No Pasaran!"
France and England would not help us
Still today I don't know why
They ignored the bombs and slaughter
And let the brave republic die
Chorus: etc.
If they'd sent us tanks and field guns
If they'd sent us fighter planes
We could have dealt with evil Franco
There'd have been no fascist Spain
I sing for all my fallen comrades
And the brave fifteenth brigade
This song is for the Spanish people
Not defeated, but betrayed
Chorus: etc.
© Geoff Parry 2002.
Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST,Geoff Parry - PM
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 04:05 AM
Thanks to Nev for putting forward the lyrics to "As I Walk Jarama Valley", which was recorded on "May They Grow" in 2002. Thanks to Geoff for posting them here.Geoff - do you only post lyrics, or would you be interested in poems as well? On our last cd, "That Eastern Wind", I was lucky enough to have two SCW poems read by two well-known actors: Marlene Sidaway (of the IBMT) and Bernard Wrigley ("The Bolton Bullfrog"). If you'd like them on here, I'd be happy to post them.
Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 06:29 AM
GUEST, Geoff Parry:Thanks for your post. This thread is only about songs so don't post poems although from the quality of your excellent lyric As I walked Jarama Valley I would expect them to be pretty good. You said: On our last cd, "That Eastern Wind"... When you recorded your song, was the performance by Neville Grundy AND Geoff Parry or was the recording referred to in Neville's original post by him alone? I will add your name -or the name of your group,in the song list at the top if that is the case.I would like to get it right.
Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST,Geoff Parry - PM
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 12:27 PM
Geoff - I wrote the lyrics to "As I Walk Jarama Valley". Nev Grundy composed the tune and sang it on the cd in 2002. I played no part in the performance, so your existing notes are correct.