Lyr Req: The Forgotten Soldier (Rod Shearman)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Forgotten Soldier (Rod Shearman)
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Jan 22 - 02:27 PM

Thank you Kitty!That's great - now I must book that hearing test.....
Des

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Forgotten Soldier (Rod Shearman)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 20 Jan 22 - 12:46 PM

Now with cookie restored

Kitty

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Forgotten Soldier (Rod Shearman)
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Jan 22 - 12:45 PM

It's pretty much as you posted, Des:

THE FORGOTTEN SOLDIER

Stark glows the first light, slow grows the dawn-light
The birds hardly stirring, the day scarce begun
A new sun is rising, to light the horizon
Of the last day, for this mother’s son

Chorus:         When the poppy blooms red in November
                The bells ring on Armistice Day                
                Remember that forgotten soldier
                And hallow the spot where he lays

His crime it is proven, his actions guilt woven
The sentence of death is passed and must stand
The general staff deeming, no ray of hope gleaming
Eighteen years a boy and one month a man

No regiment owns him, his comrades must scorn him
No rank or insignia graces his sleeve
In full martial purdah, and judicial murder,
Alone he must stand as this life he leaves

The firing party contains scarce a hearty,
Each one ill at ease standing nervous and tense,
The order a loud shout, a volley it rings out,
Eighteen short summers have come to an end.

Your memories linger, as each page is fingered,
Of history’s years that roll by and away
A sad anger haunting, the thought ever taunting,
For the Blimps and the donkeys are still here today

Kitty

Subject: Lyr Req: The Forgotten Soldier (Rod Shearman)
From: Des Gander
Date: 19 Jan 22 - 09:21 AM

I came rather late to Rod Shearman's songs and I can't quite make out a few words/phrases of this song from a CD I have. Here's hoping someone here has a copy of the 'Rod Shearman Songbook' (no longer available I understand) and could please check what I think I hear? Especially the third verse.

The Forgotten Soldier

Stark grows the first light
Slow grows the dawn light
The birds hardly stir in the day scarce begun
A new sun is rising to light the horizon
Of the last day for this mother’s son
Chorus:
When the poppy blooms red in November
The bells ring on Armistice Day
Remember that forgotten soldier
And hallow the spot where he lay

His crime it is proven, his actions guilt woven
The sentence of death it is passed and must stand
The general staff deeming, no ray of hope gleaming
Eighteen years a boy and one month a man
Chorus:

No regiment owns him, his comrades must scorn him
No rank or insignia [graves him to see?]
In full martial purdah for judicial murder
Alone he must stand as this life he leaves
Chorus:

The firing party contains scarce a hearty
Each one ill at ease, standing nervous and tense
The order a loud shout, the full volley rings out
Eighteen short summers have come to an end
Chorus:

Your memory lingers as each page’s finger
             of history’s book that flows by and away
A sad anger haunting, the thought ever taunting
The Blimps and the Donkey’s are still here today
Chorus: