Lyr Add: We Remember - a song for Veterans' Day

Subject: RE: Here's a song for Veterans' Day.
From: Stewie
Date: 11 Nov 99 - 10:25 AM

I have no knowledge of Bill Williams apart from what I have indicated. He tried to lessen the burden of the appalling traumas that he and his mates experienced and I think his little poem has everything to do with our pausing for a moment on the 11th of November to reflect on the strength of the human spirit in the face of dire adversity.

Subject: RE: Here's a song for Veterans' Day.
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 11 Nov 99 - 07:59 AM

Stewie,

I loved the poem (though it has little to do with Veteran's Day). I went right home last night and set it to music. Any way I can contact Bill Williams?

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Here's a song for Veterans' Day.
From: Stewie
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 09:02 AM

Hi Bugsy. Unfortunately, no. Nick had a book of the poems, but that is the only one I learned from him.

Subject: RE: Here's a song for Veterans' Day.
From: Bugsy
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 03:48 AM

Great one Stewie!

Got any more?

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Here's a song for Veterans' Day.
From: Stewie
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 03:04 AM

And here's a little poem that I learned from a mate called Nick Walmesley who unfortunately died a few years ago in a motorcycle accident. He referred to the author of this ditty, Bill Williams, as 'a POW extraordinaire'. Bill used to write little poems to entertain his fellow POWs in Changi prison camp. This was one of them:

OVER THE HILL

It's not the grey hair that makes a man old
Nor the faraway look in his eye I am told
But if the heart makes a contract the body can't fulfil
You're over the hill, brother, you're over the hill

If you look at a Venus and just heave a sigh
If you hear a rude joke and you laugh till you cry
If it's all in the mind and you can't raise a thrill
You're over the hill, brother, you're over the hill

You can fool your dear wife with the tenderest of lies
You can shear the old sheep, pull the wool over her eyes
But if she asks for an encore and you say that you're ill
You're over the hill, brother, you're over the hill

Now life is a struggle and the conflict is keen
There are just so many shots in the old magazine
When you've fired the last shot and you cannot refill
You're over the hill, brother, you're over the hill

Now this is my story, alas and alack
When you've squeezed out the toothpaste you can't put it back
So if you want to make whoopee don't wait until
You're over the hill, brother, you're over the hill

Bill Williams
Changi prison camp, Singapore.

Subject: RE: Here's a song for Veterans' Day.
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 01:18 AM

MG, hope you do come back to introduce yourself. Thoughtful post and song. Thank you and welcome to the Mudcat.

katlaughing

Subject: Lyr Add: WE REMEMBER - a song for Veterans' Day.
From: M. Garvey
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 03:34 PM

Here is a song for Veterans Day...for the Korean Veterans who are so ignored.....tune is Dainty Davey

(and I haven't found my tapes with the women's songs on it yet...it's here somewhere...and I shall introduce myself once I can figure out all the commands here..)

WE REMEMBER

Those we left there in the cold
We remember we remember
Have no fears of growing old
Oh do we remember

Those who fell in prison yards
We remember we remember
Savage weather savage guards
Oh do we remember

Those who died face down in mud
We remember we remember
Asian soil Yankee blood
Oh do we remember

Those whose names we can't forget
We remember we remember
Comrade spirits with us yet
Oh do we remember

Heartbreak Ridge and Pork Chop Hill
We remember we remember
If we don't honor them who will
Oh do we remember

Those who died when far too young
We remember we remember
It is for them this song is sung
Oh do we remember

mg