I have a whole section of my repertoire that I think of as "after the war" songs. Several of my favorites were recorded by Phil Cooper (the Mudcat member) & Margaret Nelson, who, with others over the years have had a fine ear for get-you-by-the-throat lyrics. Previously mentioned "Rosemary's Sister" and "How Will I Ever Be Simple Again" I got from them (also Prine's "Sam Stone"). I've teamed Thompson's song with one written by Margaret -both include aspects from the veteran and the vet's loved one (in 3/4 time).   

HOW WILL I EVER BE SIMPLE AGAIN? RICHARD THOMPSON

She danced in the street with the guns all around her
All torn like a rag doll, bare foot in the rain
And she sang like a child, touralay, toraladdy,
How will I ever be simple again?

She sat by the bank of the dirty grey river
And tried for a fish with a worm on a pin
There was nothing but fever and ghosts in the water
How will I ever be simple again?

War was my love and friend and companion,
What use had I for the pretty or plain?        
But her smile was so pure and my heart was so troubled
How will I ever be simple again?

In her poor burned out house I sat at her table
The smell of her hair was like cornfields in May
And I wanted to weep and my eyes ached from tryin
How will I ever be simple again?

So gracefully she moved through the dust and the ruins
Happy she was in her dances and games
Teach me to see with your innocent eyes, love,
How will I ever be simple again?

War was my love and friend and companion,
What use had I for the pretty or plain?
Teach me to see with your innocent eyes, love,
How will I ever be simple again?

Followed by DIED IN THE WAR         MARGARET NELSON   1995

She's middle aged now, She uses her time
For her friends and her work and improving her mind
She's lonely tonight, she knows who it's for
Her sweetheart who died in the war

When her lover came home She thought that her life
Would be husband and babies, mother and wife
But the man was a stranger who walked through her door
Her sweetheart had died in the war

Died of the bullets, the mines and the shells
Died with his buddies in two years of hell
With a wall round his heart where love needs a door
Her sweetheart had died in the war

He's a pretty good boss, he works with his crew
Taking old buildings and making them new
Some nights he drinks less, some nights he drinks more
His sweetheart she died in the war.

Died of the hard words, the booze and the pain
Died of the distance he couldn't explain,
Oh the girl was a stranger who walked out the door
His sweetheart had died in the war.

She's middle aged now, She uses her time
For her friends and her work and improving her mind
She might have done less, she might have had more.
Her sweetheart died in the war

If the songs need not be Vietnam-era inspired:
Band Played Waltzing Matilda
Bantry Girl's Lament
By the Hush
Cruel War
Gone the Rainbow (Shul Aroon)
In the Hills of Shiloh
Johnny I hardly Knew Ye
Mick Ryan's Lament
Tenting Tonight
Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

In concert, Robin & Linda Williams prefaced "Don't Let Me Go Home A Stranger" by saying it made them think of a veteran in their family - been too many years to remember if it was written specificly for that person, but I know it was published in SING OUT, so the reference might be there.

I would love to know what goes into this album and wait to hear the result.

Joanne in Cleveland