The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #30284 Message #605200
Posted By: Herga Kitty
06-Dec-01 - 05:20 PM
Thread Name: ADD: Kilroy Was Here (Ewan MacColl)
Subject: ADD: KILROY WAS HERE (Ewan MacColl)
Keith A
I've just checked the album notes for the Walters & Warner CD "Who was here?" They give almost the same quote from Ewan MacColl as you, except that their version says "the one who not only gets up after the battle and walks away, but allows himself time to let you know he has done so".
Shanty Steve
From the same source, here are the words:
KILROY WAS HERE (Ewan MacColl)
Who was here when they handed out the heavy jobs Jobs with the hammer, the pick and shovel Who choked in the foundry, froze in the fish docks, Eight days in the week?
Who was here with a mile of rock above him, Three foot seam in the darkness crouching Stinging sweat in his eyes, powdered rock in his spittle One hundred minutes to the hour?
Who was here in the furrowed fields crouched over Pain shapes the question in bone and muscle Roots and hands competing, fumbling, groping Twenty eight hours to the day?
Who was here in a world of steam and clamour Feeding Leviathan in his cavern Tasting the hot sharp stink of metal Six weeks to the month?
Hey there, dogsbody, what do they call you? Who cleans up the mess when the fighting's over? Who carries the broom, the mop and the bucket Thirty six months to the year?
Smooth-faced old-boy men instructed him Geldings programmed his energy Coached in running by men whose arches had fallen Dead men taught him how to live.
Kilroy, Kilroy, where has Kilroy gone? Kilroy was here, see there's his mark. He came this way, he was wearing his number. Did no-one see him pass?