Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War

Subject: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 14 Mar 10 - 08:19 PM

This is an edited PermaThread® on Songs in the English Language about the Spanish Civil war, edited by Geoff Lawes. Feel free to post to this thread, but remember that all messages posted here are subject to editing or deletion.
-Joe Offer-

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THE PURPOSE OF THIS MUDCAT THREAD IS TO COMPILE A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF SONGS WHICH HAVE BEEN WRITTEN IN ENGLISH ABOUT THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR.IT ALSO AIMS TO COLLECT INFORMATION ABOUT THE CREATION AND SINGING OF THE SONGS

The thread is now very long with 100+ songs listed and so be aware that if you use a blue click link to access a location outside of this thread (mostly YouTube) it may take a bit of time for the thread to download when you come back

Posts to this perma thread are being consolidated and organised thematically according to song title and topic.
Clickable links to the location of these consolidated and organised postings are provided in the SONG LIST and TOPIC LIST below.
PLEASE DO NOT POST LYRICS OF SONGS TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH: there are a great many, most are well known and most can be found HERE

THE SONG LIST

CLICK THE SONG TITLE TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE POSTS ABOUT IT AND USE THE BACK ARROW TO GET BACK TO THE LIST

SONGS MARKED *** HAVE LYRICS POSTED

PERFORMERS MARKED # HAVE A HYPERLINK TO THEIR PERFORMANCE OF THE SONG IN THE MAIN POST ABOUT THE SONG
Also ( Another thread listing performers is HERE)

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 TITLE                                      WRITTEN BY,              RECORDED BY
  Abraham Lincoln Brigade, The .......... JOHN McCUTCHEON ........... John McCutcheon # 
 Abraham Lincoln Lives (Walks) Again ... LEWIS ALLAN (Abel Meeropol) Tony Saletan#    
  *** Adelante (The Ballad of Clem Beckett)....JOE SOLO...............Joe Solo #
   ***Always the Cause  .................. AL STEWART.................  Al Stewart#   
 ***Another Valley...................... GEORDIE MCINTYRE........... Geordie McIntyre & Alison McMoreland#
 ***Antyfascist Steve................... WOODY GUTHRIE.............. - 
 ***Any Bread ……................         SEAN COONEY................The Young’uns #
  ***As I Walk Jarama Valley............. GEOFF PARRY,NEVILLE GRUNDY. Neville Grundy
 At the Siege of   Madrid................ ROBB JOHNSON............... Robb Johnson#
***Ay Carmela    ..................……………. SEAN COONEY ................The Young’uns# 
    

    Badajoz............................. BRUCE BARTHOL.............. Bruce Barthol#
    Ballad of Frank Ryan,The............  ANDY IRVINE...............  Andy Irvine#

 ***Ballad of Heroes.................... AUDEN,SWINGLER,BRITTEN .... Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
  ***Battlefields of Spain,The .......... JOE MULHERON .............  ? 
  ***Beloved Comrade .................... LEWIS ALLAN & FRED KATZ.... Josh White#,Max Parker,Tony Saletan, Jamie O'Reilly
    
 ***Bite,The............................ NA MARA.................... Na Mara #   
  ***Bleeding Hearts..................... SI KAHN.................... Si Kahn 
 ***Blood And Rain...................... JOHN YOUNG.................  John Young +band # 

 ***Bob Cooney's Miracle .................SEAN COONEY..............  The Young'uns #
   ***Bones of '36,The.................... CHRIS TYMKOV...............  Chris Tymkow 
    

    

  ***Casualties We Here Recall............ MANUS O'RIORDAN,BLANAID SALKELD,LESLIE DAIKEN,EWART MILNE
  *** Cable Street ...............…       SEAN COONEY..............…The Young’uns #
 ***(A)Candle for Durruti ...............…Al GREERSON..............… Al Grierson#,David Rovics 
 *** Carrying the Coffin ................. SEAN COONEY..............…The Young’uns #
   ***Catalonia    ........................ PHIL & JUNE COLCLOUGH ..... De Dannan   
    ***Civil War In Spain,The.............. JOE MULHERON & OTHERS?..... Pol MacAdaim#,Gerry Jones #
      Civil War Yeah!..................... 12E AS HISTORY & LEONARD COHEN ?The Animals?#
   Clarence Kailin........................ SI KAHN.................... Si Kahn # 
  ***Clem Beckett........................ GEOFF LAWES................ Geoff Lawes# 
   ***Clem Beckett........................ ROY BLACKMAN............... Roy Blackman #
 ***Come Ye Anti-Fascists Rally......... BOB COONEY ................    ? 
 Connolly Column,The....................    JOE MULHERON.............  ? 
 Connolly Column Song, The..............    ?     .................. Max Parker# 
 ***Connolly's Rebel Song...............  JAMES CONNOLLY............. ? 
 ***Cookhouse...........................     ?    .................. Pete Seeger and The Almanac Singers#  
    

  ***David Guest...................…... SEAN COONEY...............…The Young’uns # 
***Dundee Lassie,The................... MARY BROOKSBANK ........... Maureen Jelks
                                                         ........... Ray Fisher 
                                                         ...........&Janet Jones#     

  ***Ebre1938 (The)..................... BERNI ARMSTRONG ..........  Berni Armstrong #
***Eddie's Song........................ UTAH PHILLIPS ............. Utah Phillips,David Rogers#  
 ***Eight Men From Hull................. GEOFF LAWES ............... Geoff Lawes#
 ***English Penny....................... PAUL McNAMARA & ROB GARCIA.  Na Mara#
    Ethel On The Airways ............... ALISTER HULETT............. Alister Hulett #
    

  ***For Eddie........................... S.HAYNES & E.VON HEITLINGER  Aliotta, Haynes and Jeremiah# 
 ***Fight For Spain, The................ BILLY STEWART.............. Billy Stewart + band# 
 *** Fighting Against Franco............ JOHN MALCOLM............... John Malcolm +band# 

  ***Folk Song Army,The.................. TOM LEHRER ................ Tom Lehrer#               
 Fountain Of Tears...................... ROBERT ARMOUR.............. Robert Armour# 
 ***For Whom The Bell Tolls............. METALLICA.................. Metallica#
 ***Freedom's Galtee Boys............... MANUS O'RIORDAN/C.MOORE/P.HALLORAN..   - 
 ***From Bellshill To Barcelona......... CHRIS ROGERS............... Chris Rogers# 
    

***General Lister?s Last Command  ....... MANUS O?RIORDAN............. - 
***Guernika.............................. ANDY ROBERTS.......... Andy   Roberts#
 Guernica(Tribute to Picasso) ......... MICHAEL ANDREWS & GARY JULES........  Michael Andrews and Gary Jules#
 ***Ghosts Of Cable Street, The ........ THE MEN THEY COULDN'T HANG........ The Men They Couldn't Hang#  
  Ghosts Of Spain, The ................. GORDON NEIL................ Gordon Neil#  
***Goodbye Barcelona.................... KARL LEWKOWICZ.............. The cast of Goodbye Barcelona# 
***Great Tomorrow(The) ................... SEAN COONEY................The Young’uns# 
  ***Graves in Spain...................... MARY BROOKSBANK words,EILEEN PENMAN tune...... Eileen Penman#


    

 ***Harry Was a Bolshie....................ELIN WILLIAMS.............. The Limeliters,Ken Penny,Robert Hunter,Joe, Glazer#
  ***Hasta Luego (Fitba Not War).......     FRANK RAE................... Frank Rae# 
    ***Holding Out Against The Night..... EWAN McLENNAN.............. Ewan McLennan# 
 ***Hostel Strike      …......………..       SEAN COONEY……...............…  The Young’uns # 
    

  ***If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next ................ Manic Street Preachers #
      In Guernica....................... PETER  SCHICKELE ...........  Joan Baez#
  ***I Want To Go Home................... GITZ RICE/ANON ............ ?
 ***Internationale, The................. POTTIER, De GEYTER/ANON ... Alister Hulett#,Billy Bragg#,Marc Blitzstein&chorus#,
    

  ***Jamie Foyers........................ EWAN MacCOLL .............. Ewan MacColl,Dick Gaughan#,Robin Laing#, Cockersdale#,Martin Simpson#
 ***Jarama    ........................... ALEC McDADE ............... Tom Glazer
                                                         ........... PeteSeeger&ArloGuthrie# 
                                                         ........... Woody Guthrie#
                                                         ........... Ewan McLennan#, David Rovics#,  The Wakes#                                                     
***The Valley of Jarama    ........................……as performed by The Young’uns for The Ballad of Johnny Longstaff# 
***Just Another Dirt Track............. SUE HAITHWAITE.............  ?  
     

 ***   Lancashire Lads, The  ............. JOHN KIRKPATRICK ........  Neil Gore & David Heywood  # 
     La Passionaria, .....................   ... ? .................  McDermott's 2 Hours & The Levellers # 
     La Passionaria(for Dolores Ibarruri)   BOB A. FELDMAN ......... Bob A. Feldman   # 
     La Passionaria: A Musical Epitaph ... EDDIE MAGUIRE  ........   The Whistlebinkies # 
   ***Last Lincoln Veteran, The...........  DAVID ROVICS............. David Rovics# 
 ***Laurie Lee's Spain(Sixty Years On).. PETER SMITH ...............    - 
    Letter From Bilbao ................. LOWEST OF THE LOW ......... Lowest of the Low# 
***Lewis Clive >......................…... SEAN COONEY...............…The Young’uns # 

       

***Manana Song ........................   ?       ................. Max Parker#
***Maria De La Rosa ................... RON KAVANA ................ Ron Kavana#
***Market Day at Guernica ............. MIKE BATT.................. Katie Melua#
***Miners Against Fascism ............. TRACEY CURTIS.............. Tracey Curtis#
 Mother's Wish, A..................... CLAIRE McGHEE..............  Clair McGhee #   
    

***New Saint, Your...................... LORCAN OTWAY............... Lorcan Otway
***Noddy   ........................…….  SEAN COONEY...............…The Young’uns # 
***No Hay Pan.......................... SEAN COONEY...............…The Young’uns # 
******Non Intervention....................    ?       ................ -
  No Pasaran............................ GARY KAY..................  Gary Kaye#
  No Pasaran............................    ?      ................   The Minority#
   No Pasaran ........................... GERRY KEARNS..............The Oldham Tinkers#
  No Pasaran      ........................ JOE SOLO.................   Joe Solo #
  No Pasaran............................    ?      ................   The Minority#
     

  ***O'Duffy's Ironsides................. DIARMUID FITZPATRICK....... Ronnie Drew#  
***Off To Salamanca.................... DIARMUID FITZPATRICK.......  ?
  *** Old Brigades' Song................. RORY MCLEOD...............  Rory McLeod# 
    


***Old Man's Song,The ................. IAN CAMPBELL............... Ian Campbell#,Christy Moore#
***Once A Jolly Franco................. ANON ...................... - 
***One Last Kiss In The Rain........... GREG QUIERY................ Greg Quiery  # 
***Only For Three Months............... P.McNAMARA & J. TEJEDOR.... Na Mara# 
***Our Open Eyes Could See No Other Way  MICHAEL SAM WILD..........; Michael Sam Wild #  
***Over the Ebro ..................…... SEAN COONEY...............…The Young’uns # 
 ***Owt For Nowt......................... JOHN WATT  .............John Watt# , Jim Bainbridge 
    

  ***Paella   ………...................   SEAN COONEY................The Young’uns # 
***Paul Robeson........................ SUMISHTA BRAHM  ........... Sumishta Brahm #
 ***People's Front...................... EDWARD BRANGWYN  ........... - 
 ***Picasso Paints Guernica............. ROBIN LAING................ Robin Laing# 
    

  ***Quartermaster's Song  .............. ANON ...................... Pete Seeger and The Almanac Singers#

    

  *** The Rat (Named Franco) ............ HARRY BERLOW...............   
  ***  Red Moon .......................... N.BETHUNE & R.RIVAL........   Evan Rogister,Benjamin C S Boyle &Salle Cortot #
*** The Road To Barcelona.................   PATRICK DEXTER............   Eilís Dexter # 
 ***Robson’s Song   ..................………. SEAN COONEY................The Young’uns # 

     

     Salud Brigadista.................... FOUNDLINGS................. Foundlings #
 ***Salud International Brigade! ....... JIM BROWN.................. Jim Brown#
 ***Silver Duro........................ PAUL McNAMARA & ROB GARCIA.. Na-Mara  # 
 ***Skeletons Of Quinto,The............. CHRISTOPHER GUEST.......... The Folksmen # 
    Sketches Of Spain................... NITS.......................  # 
    Song For Charlie Donnelly  ......... MANUS_O’RIORDAN  ..........  Manus_O’Riordan  
 ***Song For James Moir ................ IAN McLAREN................ -
 ***Song For Unsung Heroes ............. NANCY WHITE................ Nancy White
 ***Song Of The American Consol ........ THE CONVULSIONARIES?....... Max Parker# 
 ***Song of the Lincoln Battalion....... 4 AMERICANS ON THE WAY TO SPAIN - 
***Song Of The United Front ........ ERIC BENTLY,BERTHOLD BRECHT,HANNS EISLER...  Jamie O'Reilly & Michael Smith# 
 ***Spanish Bombs....................... THE CLASH.................. The Clash # 
 ***Spanish Civil War Song, The......... PHIL OCHS ................. Phil Ochs#            
 ***Spanish People, The................. ANON & S.POKRASS ..........Clare Roberts & Zoe#
 ***Start !............................. PAUL WELLER................ The Jam#
 ***Sussex By The Sea (Communist Version) ERNIE TRORY .............. ?
  
       

  ***Ta-Ra to Tooting............. ..... SEAN COONEY……...............The Young’uns # 
   Taro................................. JOE NEWMAN ................ Alt-J  
Taste of Ashes.......................... BRUCE BARTOL .............. Laurie Lewis#

Ten Oldham Men(No Pasaran)............. GERRY KEARNS.............  The Oldham Tinkers  #
 ***These Days.......................... LOTHIAN 121................ Lothian 121 #
    These Hands......................... THE WAKES.................. The Wakes #
    They Shall Not Pass................. GRACE PETRIE .............. Grace Petrie#
 ***Tom Wintringham..................... PAUL FRITH................. Paul Frith & The Considerate Lovers #
***Toast To Those Who Are Gone, A....... PHIL OCHS.................. Phil Ochs,Raymond Crooke#
***Trench Tales.......................... SEAN COONEY............….The Young’uns # 
    

  ***Underneath The Spanish Stars........ EDITH SEGAL................ Helene Williams#
    

  ***Viva Los Brigadistas............... GEORDIE MCINTYRE........... Geordie McIntyre& Alison MacMoreland  #
 ***Viva España!;Fighting Against Fascism GRAHAM FUDGE (CARTER).... Graham Carter# 
 ***  Viva La Quince/Quinte Brigada...... CHRISTIE MOORE ............. Christie Moore# et al      
    Volunteer,The....................... STEVIE (S.Simpson).........   Stevie  # 
    

 ***We Are The Fighting Antifascists....      ?      ............... Milton Wolff#
 ***We Came To Sunny Spain..............      ?      ............... Paddy Doyle
     When The Call Comes ................... ? ..................... #George Archibald&Ian McCalman
 White Flag.......................... HEATHER YOUNG.............. Heather Young +band# 
     

Young Man From Alcala,The...........      ?    ................. Pete Seeger& the Almanac Singers#  

     

  

 
THE TOPIC LIST 

    

 Sites With Songs In Other Languages
  Other Mudcat Threads Dealing With Spanish Civil War Songs
  Albums of Spanish Civil War Songs
  Brigader Ed Balchowsky As A Performer
  Brigader Bob Cooney As A Singer
  Otto Estensen, Brigadista and Mandolinista
  Brigader John Longstaff and Spanish Civil War Music
  Brigader Bart Van Der Schelling as a Singer
  Brigader Miles Tomalin As A Performer
  Brigader Sam Wild As A Singer
  Brigaders Singing At Sam Wild's Funeral
  Unknown Parody of Los Cuatro Generales
  Na Mara
  Australia and the Spanish Civil War
  Canada and the Spanish Civil War
  New Zealand and the Spanish Civil War
  QUESTIONS THAT STILL NEED ANSWERS
  Spanish Civil War Jacob's Ladder Parody 
  The Marching Song of the Chapaev Battalion
   Little Yellow Roses 
   Radio 4 Programme In Our Hearts Were Songs of Hope
   The Ballad of Johnny Longstaff 
  

Subject: Lyr Add: OFF TO SALAMANCA
From: MartinRyan
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 04:16 AM

As an irish contribution, here's something I found on my computer - can't for the life of me remember where I picked it up!:

Battle song of the Irish Christian Front; "Off to Salamanca"


OFF TO SALAMANCA

My name is Owen O'Duffy,
And I'm rather vain and huffy
The side of every Bolshie I'm a thorn in
But before the break of day
I'll be marching right away
For I'm off to Salamanca in the morning!

Chorus
With the gold supplied by Vickers
I can buy Blue Shirt and knickers
Let the Barcelona Bolshies take a warning
For I lately took the notion
To cross the briny ocean
And I start for Salamanca in the morning

There's a boy called Paddy Belton,
With a heart that's soft and meltin'
Yet the first to face the foemen, danger scorning
Tho' his feet are full of bunions
Yet he knows his Spanish onions
And he's off to Salamanca in the morning.

Chorus

Now the "Irish Christian Front"
Is a Lombard-Murphy stunt
(Hark! the ghostly voice of Connolly gives warning)
And Professor Hogan's pals
Can don their fol-de-lals
And start for Salamanca in the morning

Chorus

When they get kicked out of Spain
And they travel home again
Let them hearken in good time to this our warning
If they try their Fascist game
They'll be sorry that they came
Back from Salamanca in the morning!

Chorus


Regards

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 09:56 PM

MARTIN RYAN: I have done a bit of Googling and it seems likely that Off to Salamanca was written by Somhairle Macalastair, pen name of Irish poet Diarmiud Fitzpatrick. There is an article about him written by H. Gustav Klaus called "The Authorship of the Somhairle Macalastair Ballads", Irish University Review, XXVI:2 (1996), 107-117. The first page of it can be read HERE If anyone has access to this without the need to cough up the 24 dollars that JSTOR are asking to read it then it would be nice to know if the article does confirm his authorship of the song. Another possibility is that the song is one of the 'same one or two ballads' by Somhairle Macalastair which the above article says are printed in the Penguin Book of Spanish Civil War Verse. Could somebody who has this book have a look please?

Does anyone have a tune for Off To Salamanca? Has it been recorded by anyone?

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: MartinRyan - PM
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 03:24 AM

Geoff

The tune is presumably "Off to Philadelphia in the morning".
Off To Philidelphia In The Morning

I actually came across the song, in print, relatively recently - but am damned if I can recall the circumstances. It may well have been in the Irish Traditional Music Archive in Dublin - I'll check. For many years, there was a satirical magazine called "Dublin Opinion" and it would not surprise me if that was the source. I've never heard it sung and had copied it with an eye to learning it.

Regards

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 08:10 AM

Thank You Martin - you probably know the historical context of Off To Salamanca but here is a link in case anyone wants to know more about Robert Belton and the Irish Christian Front

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: MartinRyan - PM
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 06:52 PM

Geoff

In case you haven't seen it: if your Spanish is up to it, there's a reference to "Off to Salamanca" in THIS ARTICLE with the same attribution

Regards

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FOLK SONG ARMY (Tom Lehrer)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 08:29 AM

THE FOLK SONG ARMY

Interesting project.

What on earth is this one doing on your list; it seems marginal at best to me:

Folk Song Army,The             TOM LEHRER,      Tom Lehrer

Charley Noble

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 09:49 AM

Yes Charlie, it is marginal in terms of its musical genre. But it does,I think,give an interesting critical perception of the impact of the SCW on popular culture in the post SCW period. And it is about folk music.


The Folk Song Army
By Tom Lehrer

We are the folk song army.
Everyone of us cares.
We all hate poverty, war, and injustice,
Unlike the rest of you squares.

There are innocuous folk songs.
Yeah, but we regard 'em with scorn.
The folks who sing 'em have no social conscience.
Why they don't even care if jimmy crack corn.

If you feel dissatisfaction,
Strum your frustrations away.
Some people may prefer action,
But give me a folk song any old day.

The tune don't have to be clever,
And it don't matter if you put a coupla extra syllables into a line.
It sounds more ethnic if it ain't good English,
And it don't even gotta rhyme--excuse me--rhyne.

Remember the war against Franco?
That's the kind where each of us belongs.
Though he may have won all the battles,
We had all the good songs.

So join in the Folk Song Army,
Guitars are the weapons we bring
To the fight against poverty, war, and injustice.
Ready! aim! sing!

If nothing else this thread is bound to prove that 'we had all the good songs'- so it might be considered the thread's theme tune?

TOM LEHRER -Wikipedia
The Folk Song Army by Tom Lehrer
Regards, Geoff

Subject: Lyr Add: EDDIE'S SONG (Utah Phillips)
From: Mark Ross
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 05:27 PM

EDDIE'S SONG

by Utah Phillips
written for Eddie Balchowsky.

Standing in your shadow, afraid to go outside,
I could listen to your music all night long,
But the world keeps on changing; there's still no place to hide,
I know that we can't change it with a song.

CHORUS;
One hand on the keyboard and moonlight fills the room,
One hand on the Ebro, no regrets,
One hand on tomorrow reaching for the sun,
One hand on the sun that never sets.


The white cliffs of Gandesa lie sleeping in the rain,
I guess some places always have their kings,
And now I hear you singing the forgotten songs of Spain.
I wish we could remember all those things.

CHO.;

I thought that I had trouble when I was on the loose,
That must have been our carnival instead,
And now I hear our children, they're singing "What's the use?"
They drop a little something for their head.

CHO.:


Mark Ross

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 09:56 PM


MARK ROSS:By Googling I discovered that Utah Phillips wrote Eddie's Song prematurely since he wrote it in response to an incorrect report that Eddie Balchowsky had died. Eddie Balchowsky, a pianist who lost an arm fighting with the International Brigades, has come up before in threads about the SCW but I don't recall this song being mentioned -so thanks .

A YouTube performance of Eddie's Song by David Rogers

YouTube Documentary video about Ed Balchowsky
LINK to more information in this thread about Ed Balchowsky
Youtube Performance of "Eddie's Song" with U Philip's Introduction about Eddie starts around 36.5 into video, performers unknown

Link to post below about   EDDIE'S SONG by Utah Phillips

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 06:47 PM

UKNOWN PARODY of Los Quatros Generales
Are you counting English translations Geoff? We have a recording somewhere of Paul Robeson singing Three(?) Insurgent Generals.
My father sang a few verses of what sounded like a parody which I can't remember but which ended;

....... from Gandesa to the sea.
And keep your bloody head down and don't shoot me.
Jim Carroll

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 09:56 PM

JIM CARROLL: At this stage I am not looking for translations of songs but thank you very much for the fragment your father sang:

....... from Gandesa to the sea.
And keep your bloody head down and don't shoot me.


Can anyone give us the rest?


Geoff

Subject: Lyr Add: JAMIE FOYERS
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 09:06 PM

JAMIE FOYERS

Jamie Foyers by Ewan McColl was a complete re-working of a much older song going back to Wellington's time. The earlier version is in the DT as Jamie Foyers2

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DIGITRAD POSTING HERE

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Subject: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 24 Mar 10 -

Jamie Foyers

By Ewan MacColl
Sung Ewan MacColl, Dick Gaughan

Faur distant, faur distant, lies Foyers the brave
Nae tombstone memorial shall hallow his grave
For his bones they lie scattered on the rude soil o Spain
An young Jamie Foyers in battle wis slain

He's gane frae the shipyaird that stauns on the Clyde
His haimmer lies idle, his tools laid aside
Tae the wide Ebro river young Foyers has gane
Tae fight by the side o the people o Spain

Thair wisnae his equal at wark or at play
He wis strang in the Union till his dying day
He wis grand at the fitbaa, at the dance he wis braw
Young Jamie Foyers wis the flouer o thaim aa

He cam hame frae the shipyaird, took aff his warkin claes
O, A mind the time weill in the lang simmer's days
He said, "Thinknae lang, lassie, A'll come back again"
But young Jamie Foyers in battle was slain

In the fight for Belcite, he was aye tae the fore
An he focht at Gandesa till he couldnae fight more
For he lay owre his machine gun wi a bullet in his brain
An young Jamie Foyers in battle was slain

Faur distant, faur distant, lies Foyers the brave
Nae tombstone memorial shall hallow his grave
For his bones they lie scattered on the rude soil o Spain
An young Jamie Foyers in battle was slain

LINK TO DICK GAUGHAN'S SONG ARCHIVE
Another Thread On The Song Here

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Jamie Foyers by MartinSimpson
Jamie Foyers by Cockersdale
Jamie Foyers by Robin Laing
Dick Gaughan singing Jamie Foyers
Dick Gaughan ‎-Dave Burland, Tony Capstick, – Jamie Foyers

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FROM AN OLDER MUDCAT THREAD (click BLUE LINK it to visit)
Subject: RE:Lyr Add: Jamie Foyers (old and new)
From: Jim Carroll - PM >br> Date: 11 May 09 - 03:00 AM

It first appeared in print in 'Scotland Sings' in 1953 (WMA publication). Ben Harker's biography, 'Class Act' gives it as having been written during the Spanish Civil war, following the death of two of his friends there:

"His anxiety was sharpened during the Spanish Civil War, in which around 2,200 British volunteers joined the International Brigades, and 526 were killed. Life in the ranks didn't appeal to Jimmie, but he knew at least a dozen of the British dead, and lost two of his closest comrades and friends in the heavy fighting at Jarama. Bob Goodman and Alec Armstrong, still in their early twenties, shared Jimmie's politics, his interest in theatre, and his love of rambling and climbing. Goodman was killed in February 1937, Armstrong in June.

Jimmie gave vent to some of the feelings of rage, guilt and loss in his second enduring song (the first was 'The Manchester Rambler'). 'Jamie Foyers' was a folksong Betsy used to sing lamenting a Perthshire militiaman killed in Spain during the Peninsular Wars. Recent events gave the song a new layer of associations, and Jimmie updated the text. In Jimmie's 'Jamie Foyers', the hero is a Clydeside shipyard worker, a composite of Goodman and Armstrong, who joins the International Brigade and dies fighting in Spain. Jimmie celebrates Foyers' life, dramatises his departure for Spain, and unblinkingly confronts the physical reality of his death: 'He lay owre his machine-gun wi' a bullet in his brain.' The song was a haunting requiem for fallen comrades, but closed on a note of murderous vengefulness:

He lies by the Ebro in far away Spain, He died so that freedom and justice might reign; Remember young Foyers and others of worth And don't let one fascist be left on this earth.

The Spanish Civil War augmented Jimmie's militancy. He regarded Spain as 'the front line' where 'the bourgeoisie and proletariat stand face to face in open struggle at last, no more arguments, no more trimmings', and he raged against a British political establishment that had prevaricated and fudged as the fascist threat grew. He remained extremely active within the Communist Party: he lectured on working-class history and cultural traditions to the city's YCL and party branches;123 he and Joan participated in a series of Communist pageants in which the party paraded its own distinctive version of history's march through the streets of Manchester; they provided dramatic interludes for communist-led public meetings celebrating the achievements of the Soviet Union, raising funds for the Daily Worker, and collecting cash and food for the Republican cause in Spain."

Scotland Sings give both the old and new version, the traditional one got from his mother, Betsy. Jim Carroll

Subject: Lyr Add: CLARENCE KAILIN (Si Kahn)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 10:27 PM

CLARENCE KAILIN
By Si Kahn

Si Kahn has written a song about his friend Clarence Kailin (Lincoln Brigade veteran from Madison, WI) who died recently. I don't know if it has been recorded.

I wonder if the decision to exclude foreign-language songs and translations doesn't introduce an artificial distinction. In context, at least at SCW-related events, the English-language songs were always sung with the others.

Gail Malmgreen, Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives, Tamiment Library, NYU

---

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 09:27 PM

After Gail's Guest post I did some Googling and found that there is a You Tube video of Si Kahn talking about and then singing his tribute song for International Brigader Clarence Kailin's 95 birthday which you can see here Clarence Kailin

Thanks Gail

Geoff

YouTube Video about Him
Obituary in The Volunteer

Television Obituary

Television Interview 11 days before death

---

From: GUEST,Josh Dunson - PM
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 08:41 AM

Si Kahn has recorded "Clarence Kalin" on his May, 2010 release Courage.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BATTLE OF GENDESA (The Limeliters)
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 10:50 PM

The Limeliters sang "The Battle of Gendesa" in both Spanish and English. If I remember them correctly, the English lyric for the first verse was

If you want to drop a line
You must know where you can find me
At the Battle of Gendesa
Where the fire tries to blind me

And I guess the song of the Lincoln Battalion is the one set to Red River Valley

There's a valley in Spain called Jarama
It's a place that we all know so well
For 'twas there that we gave of our manhood
Where so many of our brave comrades fell

We are proud of the Lincoln Battalion
And the fight for Madrid that we made
There we fought like true sons of the people
As a part of the Fifteenth Brigade

Now we're far from that valley of sorrow
Though its memory we'll never forget
In the midst of the struggles around us
Let's remember our glorious dead

I've seen a few other verses, but these are the most commonly sung.

Charles

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: open mike
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 12:58 AM

ALBUMS OF SPANISH CIVIL WAR SONGS

Pete Seeger has a whole album of songs called Spain in My Heart here:
SPAIN IN MY HEART CD it is actually a compilation done by many artists. this is on Appleseed recordings. http://www.appleseedmusic.com/peteseeger/

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From: GUEST Date: 17 Mar 10 - 07:54 PM
a great album , not yet mentioned, is "Songs Of The Spanish Civil War" by Jamie O'Neil and Michael Smith.....Frank of Toledo

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From: Amos - PM Date: 23 Mar 10 - 01:05 PM
Several relevant cuts by the Almanac Singers can be found in this album ALMANAC SINGERS: The Sea, The Soil And The Struggle (1941-1942)

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From: Amos - PM Date: 23 Mar 10 - 01:09 PM
PASIONES: SONGS OF THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR 1936-1939 By Michael Smith & Jamie O'Reilly

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SONGS FOR POLITICAL ACTION Disc Four has Pete Seeger and the Almanac Singers performance of six Spanish Civil War Songs

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SONGS OF THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR VOLUME 1- PETE SEEGER FOLKWAYS RECORDS Includes Songs of the Lincoln Brigade & Six songs for Democracy reissue of records from the 1940's

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SONGS OF THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR VOLUME 2 FOLKWAYS RECORDS,1966

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GEORGE AND RUTH-SONGS AND LETTERS OF THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR by Tony Saletan, Sylvia Miskoe, Dan Lynn Watt, Molly Lynn Watt

---

From: GUEST Date: 14 Apr 10 - 10:05
Al Tocar Diana: AT THE BREAK OF DAWN: SONGS FROM A FRANCO PRISON , by Max Parker

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: MartinRyan
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 04:55 AM

On the question of language: in recent years, I've taken to introducing a version of the Valley of Jarama with the first verse of Lorca's lament for a dead bullfighter - A las cinco en punto de la tarde.... The effect is, IMHO, quite powerful.

Regards

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: Ross
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 05:48 AM

NA MARA

Have you heard any music by Na Mara

Information here

They have an interest & write songs

Rob Garcia

Rob was born in London of Spanish descent â€" his parents arrived in the UK as child refugees from the Spanish Civil War in 1937 â€" he trained as a professional musician and classical guitarist, studying at music conervatoires in the UK, Spain and Sweden.

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: na-mara - PM
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 07:20 AM

na-mara's songs about the Spanish Civil War: Part of na-mara's project recently has been to research the history, and write songs about the Spanish Civil War. Our song 'The Bite' is based on the experiences of the British International Brigader George Wheeler. We also perform a song entitled 'Solo por Tres Meses/Only for Three Months' which is about the exodus of the Basque Children from Bilbao in May 1937, following the carpet bombing of Guernica by Franco's fascist forces. We performed both songs at a gathering of the International Brigades Memorial Trust at the Imperial war Museum recently, and perform our Civil War songs at their yearly gathering in July at the International Brigades Statue/Memorial in Jubilee Gardens, at the South bank. For more information and to listen to our songs I would suggest people go to:

www.utube.com: type in 'na-mara the bite' and see and hear performances of this song www.myspace.com and type in 'namaramusic' to hear a performance of 'Only for Three Months' and background to the song. www.na-mara.com: for information on na-mara www.facebook.com and type in 'na-mara' www.international-brigades.org.uk: for information on the Internantional Brigades

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 07:33 AM

SAM WILD AS A SINGER

My Dad Sam was a Commander of the British Battalion in the IVth Brigade and was a great singer. Bob Cooney of Aberdeen, , the political commisar, who lived for a long time with the singing Campell family in Birmingham used to stay with us and I have a cyclostyled book of his songs and poems.

I wrote and sang one for the 70th Anniversary Celebations and Spanish citizenship awards for surviving veterans, in Barcelona

I'll post it later.

I took the title from a poem by C Day Lewis and also incorporated some other lnes from veterans we knew.

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 10:25 AM

Hi Mike, thank you for your Mudcat post. Something you can definitely help with if you have the time is to post information about your knowledge of the performance context of Spanish Civil War Songs. I did not know that your father, Sam Wild, was himself a singer, so that is very interesting. Did Sam sing in folk clubs or at Brigade reunions or only at home? He will, I guess, have sung many of the old Brigader songs in Spanish and German and maybe some translations. Did he sing any of the songs that were composed in English like Jarama or Jamie Foyers. Did he express any opinions about any of the later songs written about the SCW?

I look forward to seeing your song posted.

Regards, Geoff

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild - PM
Date: 19 Mar 10 - 07:11 AM

Geoff

As well as songs from Spain my Dad sang a lot of Irish songs, Burns, Blues and comic songs as well as union songs and songs from when he was in the Royal Navy. I learnt Paddy McGinteys Goat, Joe Hill, Cafferty, Frankie and Johnny etc etc .

In Spain, like any soldiers they sang mainly to keep their spirits up. They weren't dour Stalinists. There were working class and OxBridge poets writing about their experience and Jim Jump jrs book has a lot in . The original Jarama song was a 'gripe' an a piss take about being left in the trenches so lon and forgotten. They sang about 'There's a valley in Spain called Jarama, it's a place that we all know so well. It was there that we wasted our manhood and most of our old age as well!' Obviously after they left Spain it made a good celebration and rallying song.

The political stuff was songs like The Internationale and the revised Jarama at meetings and reunions back home. He liked the Spanish Viva la Quinte Brigada song , with Ay Manuela chorus..But even there they sang in English 'When you cross the Rio Ebro, Rumbala etc -'Better get your bleeding skates on'.

I was born in 1939. After Spain I remember reunions and socials where a variety of songs were sung but again in a very mixed way. This was before the 2nd folk revival but at camps, Clarion club and coop meetings and YCL socials, Unity Theatre etc there was a mixed bag of songs.

My Dad came with cooney to a few fok clubs but the atnmosphere wasn't his scene. He preferred a pub sing song night. Bob was more comfortable with the folk clubs because of his Campbells association I think.He taught me a lot of bothy ballads as well as political songs and was always learning and writing.

My old man was happier in the snug of our local Irish pub The Union on Stockport Road in Manchester.His family were from that community.

He was a bit ambivalent about Jimmy Miller , as he always called him!

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 19 Mar 10 - 09:55 AM

Thank you Mikesamwild: That was very valuable information about Sam Wild ( whom I have seen called the best commander of the British Battalion in Spain). And thank you for posting your great song. Have you recorded it ? There are quite a few points that I will be picking up later such as the history of Alex McDade's Jarama.

Subject: Lyr Add: COME ALL YE ANTI-FASCISTS RALLY (B Cooney
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 07:07 PM

COME ALL YE ANTI-FASCISTS RALLY
By Bob Cooney

To the tune Men of Harlech

Come ye anti-fascists rally,from your towns and hamlets sally,
Over moor and hill and valley,chase the fascists
Now's the time for action if we'd beat reaction
Men of steel, make Franco reel
For all his crimes we must have satisfaction
Each for all, and all for each we stand
Comrades in a loyal determined band
And thus united, soon we'll see the dawn of victory.

Even Eden's foul intervention - criminal " Non- Intervention" -
Won't defeat our firm intention- Franco's hopes are doomed
Let there be no quaking,history we are making
Every foe that we lay low
Means for our martyred dead, revenge were taking
Each for all, and all for each we stand
Comrades in a loyal determined band
And - thus united, soon we'll see the dawn of liberty.

Did anyone ever hear Bob Cooney sing this? Does anyone know when it was written. The lines:
'Even Eden's foul intervention - criminal " Non- Intervention" -
Won't defeat our firm intention...'
suggest that it was written while the Spanish Civil War and Anthony Eden's Non-Intervention policy was still going on.

Geoff

Subject: Lyr Add: LITTLE YELLOW ROSES
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 18 Mar 10 - 07:15 PM

LITTLE YELLOW ROSES

---

Editorial Note added 31 July 2012
Below there is a letter from Trevor Peacock who wrote the song in 1962. He says that he does not recall that he wrote the song specifically about the Spanish Civil War but rather that it is about all freedom fighters.

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild - PM
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 07:33 AM

Fay Hield sings Yellow Roses, which is I think a Translation . The words are in Forest Schools songbook it will be on her forthcoming Topic CD.

---

.............and his suggestion that The words of Yellow Roses are from the Forest Schools songbook. I followed a Google trail and found this

Forest Schools Camps
which has a section called Glee where the words are printed.It doesn't tell us the background - but I know Fay Hield has posted on Mudcat before so perhaps she might come on and tell us what she knows?

                                    
Yellow Roses

I lay on my back with the sun in my eyes
Soon I shall know what no living man knows
All of my life's been a fight against lies
Death brings the truth, now it's my turn to know

Send my mother a lock of my hair
Send my father the watch that he gave me
Tell my brother to follow me if he dare
Tell them I'm lost now, and no-one can save me

Remember, remember, send my love little yellow roses

My father taught me that all men are equal
Whatever colour, religion or land
Told me to fight for the things I believed in
This I have done, with a gun in my hand

Send my mother a lock of my hair....

I met my love in a garden of roses
She pricked her finger - how sharp the thorn grows
We made a promise that till Death did part us
We'd never look on that wild yellow rose

Send my mother a lock of my hair
Send my father the watch that he gave me
Tell my brother to follow me if he dare
Tell them I'm lost now, and no-one can save me

Remember, remember, send my love little yellow roses

---

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: Folkiedave - PM
Date: 18 Mar 10 - 05:24 PM

"Little Yellow Roses" sung by the Fay Hield Trio on the EP Looking Glass - to be a Topic CD around September. And do catch them if you get chance they are good.

I haven't been able to recover where I first read this as a Spanish Civil song but I definitely did and Fay believes it dates from then. I have a vague memory about the words being passed through the bar of a cell by a dying man.

Fay got it from a camp fire song book.

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: Folkiedave - PM
Date: 18 Mar 10 - 08:46 PM

I couldn't remember the name of the outfit - but that is the one.

Interestingly if you type "Little Yellow Roses+Lyrics" into Google you get the Jackie DeShannon Song which seems to have some borrowings. If it is a Spanish Civil War song then she seems to have knicked her chorus.

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 19 Mar 10 - 10:20 AM
Thank you Folkiedave for the Jackie DeShannon information. I have googled and her song is here Jackie DeShannon's Little Yellow Roses Elsewhere I saw that it was recorded in 1963 and reached 110 in he US charts. If you compare the lyrics with the Yellow Roses lyrics above then clearly one is a re-written version of the other. I would guess that the Jackie DeShannon version had the harder edged references to death and war removed rather than these being added later. On this link to a Flickr photo of a Jackie DeShannonPromotional Disk we can see the name (Trevor Peacock or Penrock )?? under the title suggesting someone else's hand in the altered song.
I suggest that you look at the You Tube link fairly quickly because another You Tube video of the song has been removed for a 'violation' which suggests that Miss DeShannon's team are quite hot on copyright violation.

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From: Fay - PM
Date: 30 Mar 10 - 04:14 PM
Hi all, I don't have much more info about Little Yellow Roses from the FSC songbook - only that Sam Lee (a fellow FSCer) told me it was writen as a poem by a man due to be hung the following day and passed through his cell bars to the guard. Jon asked a taxi driver about the tune when he was over there giging last year, and was told it was an old Spanish tune. I do appreciate though that these sources are not rigerously academic! If I hear anything from the process of publication re the DeShannon link I'll let you know... All best, Fay

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From: mikesamwild - PM
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 07:43 AM
I just found this about Yellow Roses following a link from Jon Boden's Folk Song a Day project.

http://www.afolksongaday.com/2010/07/14/yellow-roses/#comments
It says it was written before The SCW in English. Interesting

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From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 11:16 AM
Hi Mike thank you for that information and link about Yellow Roses. I have changed the address which you gave into a clickable link now.

The suggestion on the site that the song originated as a prize winning poem BEFORE the Spanish Civil War is very interesting. It is contained in a post on that site by SRD which can be seen directly.

HERE

but the whole thread on Jon Boden's site is worth looking at not least because Jon gives a very good rendition of the song.

I have tried to follow that up on the net and have found a poet of the suggested authorial name, J. Hooker Hamersley, in a search list which has Yellow Roses and other poems listed next to his name – but that is all far too inconclusive to be enlightening. I have emailed SRD in case he/she has a source for the original information.

I think that if Adam Faith was singing that set of words to the same tune that Jon Boden uses then he also probably got it from the Forest School Camps.

Regards, Geoff

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From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 07:59 PM
Adam Faith's words to Yellow Roses are the same as Jon Boden's but not the same as the lyrics Jackie de Shannon sang as Little Yellow Roses,whose words are credited on the recrd to Trevor Peacock. As I said above, this Jackie de Shannon version was probably a re-written version for the pop market. It also possibly has the other lyric as its original. I have been given the email address of the theatrical agents for Trevor Peacock and have sent them a message asking them to pass on my request that Trevor Peacock help us to sort out the provenance of the song(s).

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From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 19 Jul 10 - 11:29 AM
There was a suggestion culled from Jon Boden's Folksong A Day site ( link above)that the origin of the song Yellow Roses was in a competition winning poem published prior to the Spanish Civil War.I contacted the person who suggested this and she said she got this idea from a book in the Glasgow Reference library which refered to a poem called Yellow Roses by J. Hooker Hamersley which had won a competition although no words to the poem were given. I tried to contact Glasgow Reference library unsuccesfully but in the process was referred to the Ask a Librarian Service.

The ASK A LIBRARIAN web service found me the following link to a volume of poems called Seven Voices by J. Hooker Hamersley, published in 1898 and published now on the web by Google Books. On page 3 is a poem called Yellow Roses but its words bear no relationship to the lyrics of the song we are discussing in either of its two recorded versions. If you want to see for yourself click the link and then click the PRINT option on the left side of the page and then the pdf download option which appears.
HAMERSLEY'S Yellow Roses

The same informant gave me the link to Trevor Peacock's agent and I am still awaiting a response to my enquiry in that direction.

Regards, Geoff

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From: mikesamwild - PM
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 01:47 PM
On another post on Little Yellow Roses (HERE) I put some of the words of Hamersley's Yellow Roses poem 1896 which I got off Google Books..

Very corny and not related to this one at all.

I hope Trevor Peacock comes up trumps!

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From: mikesamwild - PM
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 07:15 AM
Has anyone traced Sheila Lewis who is said to have set a poem to music.

I've asked on a separate thread by her name

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From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 17 Sep 10 - 06:33 PM

ADAM FAITH'S LITTLE YELLOW ROSES on YouTube

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From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 06:40 PM
Fay Hield can be heard singing Little Yellow Roses on YouTubeHERE

From: GeoffLawes Date: 24 Dec 10
Details from where a library copy of the sheet music is lodged

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From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 31 July 12

I have just received a reply to the letter which I wrote to Trevor Peacock enquiring about the origin of the song Little Yellow Roses I reproduce the letter below, in full .

Dear Geoff, Re-“Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War” What a wonderful subject! I hope your searching will lead to a book, or part of a book. I don’t think I can help much, but here goes… Around 56 years ago I was involved writing scripts, and then some songs for BBC TV. The pop world was in its infancy, and I wrote for, amongst others, Joe Brown, The Vernon Girls, Jess Conrad, and Adam Faith. I seem to remember writing Little Yellow Roses for a B side for Adam in about 1962. I wrote the tune and the lyrics, and John Barry did that particular arrangement, as I worked with him a lot. I hadn’t heard the song for half a century until your letter arrived. I don’t remember writing it for the Spanish Civil War specifically – it was a song for ALL freedom fighters really. So I’m afraid Fay Hield has made the wrong assumption. I’m now wondering if it’s registered with PRS, so I’d better check. I hope this clarifies the situation.

Yours, Trevor Peacock

There was a PS written on the back of the envelope which saidYes, fully documented with P.R.S.”Little Yellow Roses”

Thank you for giving us the provenance of your song Trevor.

Subject: Lyr Add: OUR OPEN EYES COULD SEE NO OTHER WAY
From: mikesamwild
Date: 19 Mar 10 - 07:11 AM



OUR OPEN EYES COULD SEE NO OTHER WAY

Here's that song I wrote 70 years on.I was asked to sing a song at the celebrations but felt there wasn't one that said enough after a lifetime had passed. Originally I meant to sing it to a melodeon or concertina accompaniment but decided it was best unaccompanied.The tune is one I 'made up' but it may have sub conscious echoes of dance tune we heard in Catalunya when we went out there with Sheffield Morris.


Our Open Eyes Could See No Other Way
By Michael Sam Wild
Now three score years and ten have passed
The olive tree of peace is green at last
And you who took the flag and carry on the fight
Must know, as we did, that the cause was right

From many lands and tongues we came
And no one came for private gain
From mills and mines and ivory towers
To join the struggle that was ours

We were not dupes or mindless slaves
We were not pawns in some great game
We were at war and yet we were at peace
We came to share the fight for freedom and release

So if they ask you why we came
What brought us here to fight for Spain
The only answer we would say
'Our open eyes could see no other way."

So plough this earth in which so many lie
And sow the seeds that will not die
And let the people live as one
That all may take their place beneath the Sun

Repeat

So if they ask you why we came
What brought us here to fight for Spain
The only answer we would say
'Our open eyes could see no other way."

Mike Wild sings Our Open Eyes could See No Other Way on YouTube

Subject: Lyr Add: SPANISH BOMBS (The Clash)
From: GUEST,Chris Steller
Date: 19 Mar 10 - 07:45 AM

SPANISH BOMBS
by The Clash
on their "London Calling" album:

Spanish songs in Andalucia
The shooting sites in the days of '39
Oh, please, leave the vendanna open
Fredrico Lorca is dead and gone
Bullet holes in the cemetery walls
The black cars of the Guardia Civil
Spanish bombs on the Costa Rica
I'm flying in a DC 10 tonight

CHORUS
Spanish bombs
yo te quiero infinito
yo te quiero oh mi corazon
Spanish bombs
yo te quiero infinito
yo te quiero oh mi corazon

Spanish weeks in my disco casino
The freedom fighters died upon the hill
They sang the red flag
They wore the black one
But after they died it was Mockingbird Hill
Back home the buses went up in flashes
The Irish tomb was drenched in blood
Spanish bombs shatter the hotels
My senorita's rose was nipped in the bud

CHORUS

The hillsides ring with "Free the people"
Or can I hear the echo from the days of '39?
With trenches full of poets
The ragged army, fixin' bayonets to fight the other line
Spanish bombs rock the province
I'm hearing music from another time
Spanish bombs on the Costa Brava
I'm flying in on a DC 10 tonight
Spanish songs in Andalucia, Mandolina, oh mi corazon
Spanish songs in Granada, oh mi corazon

---

From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 01 Dec 10 - 08:07 PM

The following is an interesting extract about Joe Strummer and Woody Guthrie from Nora's Page of the Official Woody Guthrie Website dated May 2001. It is reproduced with the permission of The Woody Guthrie Foundation. The full text of Nora Guthrie's web posting can be read at the link HERE

But then, quite by accident, I came across a miscellaneous note on the site from one Brian Sheppard which referred to a Clash song 'Spanish Bombs' which was released on their London Calling record in 1979. Surprised and ever curious, I picked up a book about The Clash which I just happened to get from Billy Bragg for my birthday. Browsing through The Last Gang in Town by Marcus Gray (Owl Books), trying to find out about the song 'Spanish Bombs', I found instead that punk-rocker Joe (John Mellor) Strummer, Clash front man and songwriter, actually nicknamed himself "Woody" Mellor!

Gray goes on to explain; "Woody was the real-life Woody Guthrie, the hobo folksinger who traveled the USA in the Thirties.... 'Yeah, you could call us a folk group,' he (Mellor) told Sean OHagan when discussing the Clash in 1988. 'I came out of Woody Guthrie, in a way.' Indeed, upon his arrival in London John went one step further than Bob Dylan, who had merely borrowed Guthrie's singing voice and identity, by adopting the folk singer's name; for the best part of six years from September 1970 onwards, everyone who met him knew him as Woody."

Thanks to Tiffany Colannino,the Archivist at the Woody Guthrie Archives.

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From: GeoffLawes
Date: 05 Jan 2011 - AM

WIKIPEDIA : Spanish Bombs entry

Subject: Lyr Add: IF YOU TOLERATE THIS YOUR CHILDREN WILL..
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Mar 10 - 08:18 AM

IF YOU TOLERATE THIS YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE NEXT

mikesamwild mentioned a Spanish Civil War song by Manic Street Preachers (another group associated with Strummer, though he wasn't in it). The song is "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next"

Wikipedia has an article about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_You_Tolerate_This_Your_Children_Will_Be_Next

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 12:02 PM

Here Is a You Tube video using the song as performed by The Manic Street Preachers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHMRMXIyKIw
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

By The Manic Street Preachers

The future teaches you to be alone
The present to be afraid and cold
'So if I can shoot rabbits
Then I can shoot fascists'

Bullets for your brain today
But we'll forget it all again
Monuments put from pen to paper
Turns me into a gutless wonder

And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
Will be next, will be next, will be next

Gravity keeps my head down
Or is it maybe shame
At being so young and being so vain

Holes in your head today
But I'm a pacifist
I've walked La Ramblas
But not with real intent

And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
Will be next, will be next, will be next


'And on the street tonight an old man plays
With newspaper cuttings of his glory days'

And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
Will be next, will be next, will be next

There are lots of videos posted on You Tube which use this song as a soundtrack. The following link will give you many others to choose from MORE
 

Subject: Lyr Add: SPANISH CIVIL WAR SONG (Phil Ochs)
From: GUEST,Rog Peek Minus Cookie)
Date: 19 Mar 10 - 12:25 PM

SPANISH CIVIL WAR SONG
Phil Ochs

Oh, say do you remember 25 years ago,
They fought the fascist army, they fought the fascist foe?
Do you remember Franco, Hitler's old ally?
He butchered Spain's democracy,half a million free men died.

Ai, ai, ai, ai--
Did you wonder why?
Did you ever pause and cry?

And don't forget the churches and the sad role that they played:
They crucified their people and worked the devil's trade;
But now the wounds are healing with the passing of time,
So we send them planes and rifles and recognize their crime.

Ai, ai, ai, ai--
Did you wonder why?
Did you ever pause and cry?

So spend your tourist dollars and turn your heads away.
Forget about the slaughter, it's the price we all must pay,
For now the world's in struggle, to win we all must bend:
So dim the light in Freedom's soul: sleep well tonight, my friend.

Ai, ai, ai, ai--
Did you wonder why?
Did you ever pause and cry?

RP mar10
YouTube SPANISH CIVIL WAR SONG Phil Ochs
Another YouTube Version

---

Subject: Phil Ochs Spanish Civil War Song
From: GeoffLawes
Date:08 Mar 16- 10:07 AM
In the recordings Phil Ochs acknowledges that his song is based on " a Spanish Civil War song". I think the tune is taken from the song "El Quinto Regimento", sometimes called " Venga Jeleo" Compare Here on YouTube
and Venga Jaleo HERE

Subject: Lyr Add: LAURIE LEE'S SPAIN (SIXTY YEARS ON)
From: mikesamwild
Date: 19 Mar 10 - 02:33 PM

LAURIE LEE'S SPAIN(SIXTY YEARS ON)

This is getting very informative.

I have just remembered that Sheffielder Pete Smith wrote a great song about Spain, As I Roved out one Midsummer Morning , juxtaposing the laurie lee idelaism with modern Costas.

Roy Blackman of Rotherham, a noted poet and singer) also wrote one , Quiet Flow the Irwell and the Don. it's about Clem Beckett who was killed on the first day of Jarama along with writer and poet Chris Cauldwell ( real name Christopher St John Sprigge)

Clem was from Oldham and a noted Speedway rider for Sheffield and Manchester Belle Vue Aces. Hence the title

Roy B is an expert on sport and was the TV memory man!

I'll get the words to you unless they come on Mudcat first.

I'm also chasing some songs by Manus O'Riordan of Dublin whose dad Michael (RIP) was in Spain.My Dad sent the young feller across the Ebro clutching the brigade flag, as he said 'I made a great target, thanks to Sam Wild!' The family are great singers and musicians.

---

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST (Peter Smith)
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 09:07 AM
Hi,

I was talking to Mike Wild last night in the pub and he asked me to forward a copy of a song I wrote in 1997. The idea for the song, although it started out as a poem, came early one morning on holiday in Mercia, Spain, whilst waiting up for my youngest daughter to return from one of the local nightclubs. At the time I was reading Laurie Lee's book 'As I walked out on One Mid Summer's Morning' and looking round I found it hard to believe that all those who went off to fight for the democratically elected gov't in 1936 would appreciate the modern Spain that caters for British tourists. Unforunately things have not significantly changed since the song was written.

To my knowledge I am the only person to have sung the song and there is no recording. It was always my intention to make a recording and post it on my website (ispy4.co.uk)HERE but unfortunately I have never quite got round to doing it.

LAURIE LEE'S SPAIN (SIXTY YEARS ON)
By Peter Smith

As I walked out on one midsummer's morning
A jubilee since the promise of the name
To taste and smell the riches of the morrow
To see times effect on Laurie Lee's Spain

There's still the heat and the scent of jasmine
Cicadas hammering down the heat of the sun
But no more mystery and innocence of purpose
Franco's costa is the victory won

Still the graffiti of the fresco minded
Of fashion and pop and doodling fun
But no more calls of 'La Pasionaria'
A million Dolores in a land of one

No more calls from the donkey-peasant
Tanned to leather by the sun and pain
Only the pose of mobile messengers
Ephemeral and plastic like the coast of Spain

Bikini ladies as bare as the landscape
Shaped by olives and the soaring sun
Stirring dreams and dazzling the senses
Stymming the thoughts of Owell's man

Where are the hopes and promises of yesteryear
Where are the bones of Hemmingway's Spain
Not drifting on the tides and the sounds of the costas
But walking on the morn of an Andean name

Stand to the chords of L'Internationale
Raise your hopes above the flash mundane
Remember the aims of Sam Wild's army
On one midsummer's morn in Laurie Lee's Spain

As I walked out on a midsummer's morning
To taste and feel the past of Spain
Only the words of remembered poets
On one midsummer's morning in modern Spain

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 11:37 AM

THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN BRIGADE
Here is a link to a You Tube video of THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN BRIGADE by John McCutcheon

Subject: Lyr Add: THE DUNDEE LASSIE (Mary Brooksbank)
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 11:48 AM

THE DUNDEE LASSIE

By Mary Brooksbank

This is the Mary Brooksbank song also known as Eh'm a Dundee Lassie.

---

Subject: Brooksbank's Dundee Lassie
From: GUEST,Mike Arnott - PM
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 10:46 AM

The Dundee Lassie
I am a Dundee Lassie you can see
You'll aye find me cheerful
Nae metter whar I be
There's times I feel doonhearted
Often sad and ill
I'm a spinner intae Baxter's Mill.

My Mither de'ed when I was young
My father fell in France
I'd a liked tae be a teacher
But I never got the chance
I'll soon be getting merried
Tae a lad ca'd Sammy Hill
He's an iler intae Halley's Mill.

I'm chumming wi a lassie
They ca' her Jeenie Bain
She says she'll never marry
Her lad got killed in Spain
I affen hear her speak aboot
A place they call Teruel
She's a winder intae Craigie Mill.

Dundee Lassie sung by Janet Jones

Subject: Lyr Add: BLEEDING HEARTS (Si Kahn)
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 12:34 PM

These Lyrics for BLEEDING HEARTS are from the Digital Tradition

BLEEDING HEARTS
By Si Kahn

A
Who's that new guy
D
Just can't learn to weld a fender
A
Where's old Eddie
E
That could do it every time
A
Fourteen years
A
And he just empties out his locker
D
Rolls on out the gate and says,
A
"I'll see you boys some time."


Dmi
But now he's lying

On some rocky Spanish mountain
Bb
With his rifle on his shoulder
A
And his heart pinned to his sleeve
Dmi
'Cross the valley
C
As he sights along the barrel
Bb
He can see the distant outlines
A
Of the things that he believes

He was never
The one who made the speeches
Down at Chrysler
Where we fought 'em from the line
Eddie never
Got his picture in the paper
He was never out in front
But he was always right behind

But now he's lying
On some rocky Spanish mountain
With his rifle on his shoulder
And his heart pinned to his sleeve
'Cross the valley
As he sights along the barrel
He can see the distant outlines
Of the things that he believes

Don't you think
That there's something inside people
Like a spring
That life winds up so tight
Till one day
Something snaps and all the power
That's been coiled up inside them
Comes breaking through like light

But now he's lying
On some bloody Spanish mountain
With his rifle bent and smoking
And his heart that pumps and bleeds
Through the dying
He can feel the future rushing
And it feels a little closer
To the things that he believes

--------------------------------------------
copyright Joe Hill Music 1982
recorded by Si Kahn on "Doing My Job" (1982)

This is my favourite Si Kahn song because words and music together create
a very dense atmosphere. If you can get your guitar to play some
Flamenco chords in the chorus, you may get there.

The song is about an American member of the International Brigade in the
Spanish Civil War 1936-39.

THE LYRICS AND NOTES IN SI KAHN SONGBOOK

@war @union @death @Spanish @work
filename[ BLEEDHRT
MJ

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 08:26 PM

THESE HANDS
Here is a link to a You Tube video of THESE HANDS by Glasgow group The Wakes.

Mikesamwild also posted a link to the bebo site where the song can be heard at http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=3610402984 984

---

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild - PM
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 09:51 AM

Thanks for that link Geoff. they are a geat young group and very committed. I was on the same bill at Manchester Mechanics at a memorial last year and it's nice to see they have a CD out. I originally Googled 'The Wake' but they were another indie band from the same area!

The thread has spurred me to work on a couple more songs that have been lying dormant , good on you!

Subject: Lyr Add: CONNOLLY'S REBEL SONG
From: mikesamwild
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 10:58 AM

here's piece by Manus O'Riordan from the recent tribute to Jack Jones at the Imperial War Museum. Connolly's song was adopted by the battalion as a marching song.
The British Battalion's anti-imperialism was even more strongly affirmed by its adoption, as one of its marching anthems throughout the course of the Spanish Anti-fascist War, of James Connolly's own "Rebel Song". At the IBMT Pyrenees commemoration ceremonies in the Figueras fortress of Castell de Sant Ferran, there were three International Brigade veterans present: the late Bob Doyle of Dublin and the late Jack Jones, a Liverpool Club supporter, accompanied by his lifelong comrade and friend from youth - notwithstanding the fact that he's an Everton supporter! - this veteran whom, to the end of his days, Jack Jones both addressed and referred to as Young Jackie Edwards, although his senior by only one year! . And in that Catalan fortress, on Easter Sunday 2006, there could be heard, loud and clear, the voices of both of those Liverpudlian brigadista Jacks, as they heartily joined with me in singing these verses by James Connolly:


CONNOLLY'S REBEL SONG

Come workers sing a rebel song,
a song of love and hate,
of love unto the lowly
and of hatred to the great.
The great who trod our fathers down,
who steal our children's bread,
whose hands of greed are stretched to rob
the living and the dead.

Chorus:
Then we'll sing a rebel song
as we proudly march along
to end the age-old tyranny
that makes for human tears.
And our march is nearer done
with each setting of the sun
and the tyrant's might is passing
with the passing of the years!

We sing no more of wailing
No songs of sighs or tears;
high are our hopes and stout our hearts
and banished all our fears.
Our flag is raised above us
that all the world may see,
'tis Labour's faith and Labour's arm
alone can Labour free.

Chorus

Out of the depths of misery
we march with hearts aflame;
with wrath against the rulers false
who wreck our manhood's name.
The serf who licks the tyrant's rod
may bend forgiving knee;
The slave who breaks his slavery's chain
a wrathful man must be.

Chorus

Our army marches onward
its face towards the dawn,
in trust secure in that one thing
the slave may lean upon.
The might within the arm of him
who knowing freedom's worth,
strikes hard to banish tyranny
from off the face of earth.

Then we'll sing a rebel song as we proudly march along
to end the age-old tyranny
that makes for human tears
And our march is nearer done with each setting of the sun,
and the tyrant's might is passing with the passing of the years

LINK to sheet music here

---

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Apr 10 - 10:05 PM

My grandfather recorded several songs, at least two of which I believe were written in English (Connolly Column Song and the Song of the American Consul; the second was my favorite as a kid;) the Smithsonian now has the collection. The PDF with lyrics and stories is free, and you can hear clips for free as well. Al Tocar Diana: At the Break of Dawn: Songs from a Franco Prison, by Max Parker I think the English parts of the Manana song were originally in English, but of course it has lengthy Spanish bits.

---

From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 22 Oct 10 - 07:56 PM
I have received an interesting songbook of Spanish Civil War-related songs called THEIR SONGS NOT FORGOTTEN from Lynda Walker in Belfast. It was published in 2006, in honour of the men of the International Brigades and besides containing 22 songs and poems it also carries some interesting information about some of the songs which have not so far surfaced in this thread. I have Lynda's permission to post this information here and will do so in the following posts.

Connolly's Rebel Song

This is a workers' song written by James Connolly. It first appeared in 1903 in the May number of an Edinburgh paper, the Socialist. (*John McDonnell, 1979, p. 42–43.) The Irish adopted the song as their anthem during the fight against the fascists in Spain. At a meeting in Belfast on 17 May 2006 Manus O'Riordan said that his father, Michael O'Riordan, learnt the words of the song whilst he was fighting in Spain. In Connolly Column Michael writes: "The Scottish comrades sang a song that they had well preserved, but which at that time had almost disappeared in Ireland: Connolly's 'Rebel Song'." (p. 126)

*McDonnell, John (1979) SONGS OF STRUGGLE AND PROTEST. Dublin: Gilbert Dalton.

Subject: Lyr Add: CATALONIA
From: mikesamwild
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 01:11 PM

CATALONIA
Here's a link to the album details of Catalonia from a De Dannan recording
Catalonia by De Dannan

With a comment that it's better than a lot of political songs from after the event.

I do think a lot of songs from Socialist Choirs etc fall into the didactic and heavy school. I think Waltzing Matilda, Willy McBride   etc are more effective with modern audiences.
Strangely I don't remember any songs sung amongst surviving IB'ers about individual men who gave their lives . I think they wouldn't single out any one man as a lot had died. The symbolic or representative Jamie Foyers is a powerful song nowadays but my Dad found 'the bullet in the brain' bit of Jamie Foyers sensationalist and felt that McColl had no right to write the song as he'd not been there.

And yet as a Fenian (his description of himself) he'd gladly sing Kevin Barry and Kelly the Boy from Killane!

---

From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 28 June 11


CATALONIA
Words and music Phil and June Colclough

There's blue skies across the bay,
Sunlight on December days,
And white horses over the waves,
That fall on Catalonia,

The northern winter's dull and grey,
And peace so easily slips away,
And many's the young one fled away
To fight in Catalonia.

Barcelona's dressed in banners bright,
And ballad singers in the night,
With voices high they tell of the fight,
That breaks in Catalonia,

The world's eyes turn on Spain,
Where everyone's a child again,
And right and wrong it seems so plain,
On roads to Catalonia.

On mountain slopes in pallid sun,
Ragged soldiers sing a song,
The boy so soon becomes a man,
On hills in Catalonia,

And frost turns the trenches white,
And sentries shiver in the night,
And snipers kill in the early light,
From peaks in Catalonia.

There's sleepless nights and endless days,
When dice are thrown and cards are played,
The young one learns a soldier's ways,
On hills in Catalonia.

But there the soldier finds no fame,
And many will never see home again,
The lucky ones they catch the train,
For leave in Catalonia.

In railway cars the soldiers dream,
Of feather beds and Spanish wine,
With girls who're waiting by the line,
For trains in Catalonia,

In Barcelona no one speaks,
And tired soldiers find no peace,
And spies haunt the empty streets,
Of towns in Catalonia.

In river valleys and mountain sides,
Soldiers now are forced to hide,
The fate of Spain the world decides,
And that of Catalonia.

The sun sinks in the Spanish sky,
And darkness comes to hide the lie,
The young ones now must run or die,
On the fields of Catalonia.

But flowers bloom in the Spanish Spring,
And small birds they find their wings,
And hope sings of summer winds,
To those of Catalonia,

On old fields new seed is grown,
And not in vain the good die young,
For those of heart this song is sung,
For the child of Catalonia.


These lyrics were harvested from another Mudcat thread Lyr Req: Lost in Catalonia? (De Dannan) HERE
Another Mudcat Thread dealing with the song is HERE

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 09:18 PM

SITES WITH SONGS IN OTHER LANGUAGES

There are many good songs in Spanish and German, such as the songs collected and recorded by Ernst Busch - but there are already several existing threads on Mudcat which deal with these songs. There are also several fairly comprehensive websites where the history, lyrics and mp3's of these songs can be found.



Himnos Y Canciones de la Guerra Civil: http://www.guerracivil1936.galeon.com/canciones.htm (Spanish)

Altovoz del Frente:http://www.altavozdelfrente.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=4&id=14&Itemid=30 (Spanish)

Etapa Republicana: http://icodrepublicano.iespana.es/letrascanciones.htm (Spanish)

erinnerungsort.de: http://erinnerungsort.de/Lieder-A-Z-_86.html (German)

YouTube Collection (various languages)

and One Hour of Spanish Republican Music

11 Songs of the Spanish Civil War (1936-39)

Here is a link to three YouTube Videos < Historic Songs - Spanish Civil War 1, 2 and 3 >, presenting songs from both sides in the conflict

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ql0OJXpL4o

Subject: Lyr Add: JUST ANOTHER DIRT TRACK
From: GUEST,MC Fat (at work)
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 06:51 AM

JUST ANOTHER DIRT TRACK
By Sue Haithwaite
Mike came to the sesh at the Hillsborough last night. We were tlking about this thread. On the Clem Beckett theme Sue Haithwaite from Huddersfield wrote a song for me called 'Just Another Dirt Track' about Clem. I'll get the words and post it on.

---

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST,MC Fat - PM
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 09:40 AM

ANOTHER DIRT TRACK

My dear I hope you understand
The reason why I came
I could not have lived my life at home
Knowing what went on in Spain
My love, the battle rages on
The bullets round us fly
But you should know I love you still
Though I know I soon may die

Dear Clem I know your love of life
And I can't believe you'll die
That's why when you said 'so long kid'
A tear ne'er left my eye
You always lived your life at speed
Challenged the Wall of Death
You ousted wrongs, stood up for right
They will not steal your breath

Chorus        This is just another dirt track
        Leading onto victory
        Another race the 'just' must win
        To set each of us free
        Hear engines roar, hear people cheer
        Instead of guns and screams
        We must never say it was in vain
        These lives weren't lost for dreams

My love I know we've little time
We're once more on the road
Arganda Bridge we must defend
Where Jarama River flows
We're ill equipped but fight we must
So now I take my leave
Remember life's for living love
Do not a long time grieve

Chorus        This is just another dirt track
        Leading onto victory
        Another race the 'just' must win
        To set each of us free
        Hear engines roar, hear people cheer
        Instead of guns and screams
        We must never say it was in vain
        These lives weren't lost for dreams

My dear they came to me today
They said that you were gone
Only five months since you left my arms
I felt they must be wrong
You'd so much life before you still
But I'm forced to realise
I'm only one thousands
Valedictions tears in my eyes

Chorus        This is just another dirt track
        Leading onto victory
        Another race the 'just' must win
        To set each of us free
        Hear engines roar, hear people cheer
        Instead of guns and screams
        We must never say it was in vain
        These lives weren't lost for dreams

This is just another dirt track
United will win our dream

---

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 06:53 PM

Thank you for getting us the words for ANOTHER DIRT TRACK Jim and please thank Sue for letting her song be posted here.

I notice that you originally referred to the song as JUST Another Dirt Track. I put it in the Song List that way and have not yet altered it - could you ask Sue if the Just should be there or not so that I get it right?

Regards, Geoff

---

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 11:39 AM

This is an amazing song that gets me in the heart everytime I hear it. This needs to be recorded asap. PPPPlease please please. X

---

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: MC Fat - PM
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 12:20 PM

I sang it with Sue on the main stage at Saddleworth FF. To my knowledge it's not been recorded apart from on a home recording by Sue.

---

From: Red and White Rabbit - PM
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 06:12 AM

Hi

On holiday in a fortnight and will get round to swapping song Another Dirt Track from cd to MP3 for posting somewhere for whoever it is that wants to listen.

I was in contact with Clem's family in Saddleworth when researching for the song. They sent me a couple of newspaper clippings about their unsung hero and a photo of him with the lion cub he used to drive round with on the back of his bike.

Thanks MCFAT for requesting a song about this amazing record breaker and humanitarian.

Sue

Subject: Lyr Add: CLEM BECKETT
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 08:30 AM


CLEM BECKETT
By Geoff Lawes

I have a song of my own about Clem Beckett which I wrote last year. I went to a Festival across the other side of the Pennines and on the way back I decided to call in and see the Oldham memorial to the International Brigades, having seen it in the book MEMORIALS OF THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR. I went to the Museum/ Library, where the book says ' Visitors to Oldham will find a permanent memorial to Clem Beckett and his fellow volunteers in the form a beautifully designed relief sculpture in the entrance hall'. I couldn't see it and so I asked at reception and was told that I would need to make an appointment to see it because it is now kept in the store room. So I wrote the song. I sang the song for the first time in public last month during the annual Jarama Commemoration march at the International Brigades Memorial at Jarama, where Clem Beckett died.

Clem Beckett


Clem Beckett was an Englishman, whose praise I'm proud to sing,
Not some media-made celebrity, or millionaire or king.
It was skill at motorcycling that made Clem a household name,
But he lost his life in battle, in the Civil War in Spain.

Chorus
Ride on Clem Beckett, and the Wall of Death defy,
May your name live on forever and your spirit never die.

In Oldham Clem was born and raised, and learned the blacksmith's trade,
And it's there his social conscience and, his politics were made.
But with speed being Clem's great passion he began to dirt-track race,
And by his middle twenties he'd become a speedway ace.

Some kick away the ladder when, they've scaled the heights of fame,
Some lose their fellow feeling and give up the common aim,
But for Clem there was no turning, and no principle betrayed,
Instead he formed a union for the riders' mutual aid.

Clem criticised promoters who exploited riders' lives,
So they took his Speedway licence and withdrew his right to ride.
But he still continued riding as his means of earning pay,
Though he now rode for his living in a Wall of Death display.

In Summer,1936, Spain's army coup began,
And Clem was quick to answer to the cry, ' No Pasaran!',
On a hillside at Jarama, felled by fragments of grenade,
Died the finest dirt track rider that England ever made.

Ride on Clem Beckett, and the Wall of Death defy,
May your name live on forever and your spirit never die.
Ride on Clem Beckett, and the Wall of Death defy,
May your name live on forever and your spirit never die.

Clem Beckett was an Englishman, whose praise I'm proud to sing,


Geoff Lawes sings "Clem Beckett" at the IBMT Rally, 3/7/10

© Geoff Lawes January 2010


Here are some links to further information about Clem Beckett
http://www.grahamstevenson.me.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44:clem-beckett&catid=2:b&Itemid=98
http://spartacus-educational.com/SPbeckett.htm
http://www.national-speedway-museum.co.uk/clem%20beckett.html

---

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild - PM
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 08:58 AM
Nice song about Clem , Geoff. My Dad was badly injured in the same engamenet, he was a fellow machine gunner. I'm only here because he survived, and several times after that too.Sorry we couldn't get to the Jarama memorial this year. (When I first saw Richard Thompson 's song title Wall of Death I thought it was about Clem!)

There is some great material and pictures on Clem in Sheffield University Fairground Archive, he was a star at the track and in carnivals. Ironially Jarama is now the name of a race track! A fact I have woven into the novel I may never finish!

Thanks for the info on editing. I have no problem I just didn't know the ground rules.It would be nice to think sources and credits weren't lost for ever.

I saw Pete Smith last night at the same session Jim mentioned and he said he'd come on here and enter his song it's a good

---

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 04 Jul 10 - 08:20 PM

Thanks to Geoff Parry who filmed my song Clem Beckett last Saturday and posted it on YouTube HERE
It was performed at Jubilee Gardens, near the London Eye as part of the Annual International Brigades Memorial Day.

Subject: Lyr Add: LAURIE LEE'S SPAIN (SIXTY YEARS ON)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 09:07 AM

Hi,

I was talking to Mike Wild last night in the pub and he asked me to forward a copy of a song I wrote in 1997. The idea for the song, although it started out as a poem, came early one morning on holiday in Mercia, Spain, whilst waiting up for my youngest daughter to return from one of the local nightclubs. At the time I was reading Laurie Lee's book 'As I walked out on One Mid Summer's Morning' and looking round I found it hard to believe that all those who went off to fight for the democratically elected gov't in 1936 would appreciate the modern Spain that caters for British tourists. Unforunately things have not significantly changed since the song was written.

To my knowledge I am the only person to have sung the song and there is no recording. It was always my intention to make a recording and post it on my website (ispy4.co.uk) but unfortunately I have never quite got round to doing it.

LAURIE LEE'S SPAIN (SIXTY YEARS ON)

By Peter Smith

As I walked out on one midsummer's morning
A jubilee since the promise of the name
To taste and smell the riches of the morrow
To see times effect on Laurie Lee's Spain

There's still the heat and the scent of jasmine
Cicadas hammering down the heat of the sun
But no more mystery and innocence of purpose
Franco's costa is the victory won

Still the graffiti of the fresco minded
Of fashion and pop and doodling fun
But no more calls of 'La Pasionaria'
A million Dolores in a land of one

No more calls from the donkey-peasant
Tanned to leather by the sun and pain
Only the pose of mobile messengers
Ephemeral and plastic like the coast of Spain

Bikini ladies as bare as the landscape
Shaped by olives and the soaring sun
Stirring dreams and dazzling the senses
Stymming the thoughts of Owell's man

Where are the hopes and promises of yesteryear
Where are the bones of Hemmingway's Spain
Not drifting on the tides and the sounds of the costas
But walking on the morn of an Andean name

Stand to the chords of L'Internationale
Raise your hopes above the flash mundane
Remember the aims of Sam Wild's army
On one midsummer's morn in Laurie Lee's Spain

As I walked out on a midsummer's morning
To taste and feel the past of Spain
Only the words of remembered poets
On one midsummer's morning in modern Spain

---

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 09:55 AM

Peter Smith that is a well written and well observed lyric. Please DO get round to recording and posting it on your web site and come back here and let us know when you have done it- lyrics need tunes like fish need water.

Regards, Geoff

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BITE (McNamara/Garcia)
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 12:26 PM

THE BITE
Here is a You Tube video of THE BITE by Na Mara at Cambridge Folk Club

Na Mara, THE BITE
AND HERE IN THE STUDIO

---

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: na-mara - PM
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 02:34 PM

"The Bite" by na-mara Music: R.Garcia / Words: Paul McNamara

This is our homage to all those from the British Isles who volunteered to fight fascism in the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. The willingness to leave the comforts of home and family to lay one's life on the line to fight for an idea and confront evil in a foreign land deserves greater remembrance than these heroes and heroines have received from decent people to date.

The song is loosely based on the experiences of George Wheeler who, when interviewed by the Guardian newspaper in 2000, told of his 'bite', a small piece of wood he would place in his mouth as he went onto the battlefield and which he could clench as a small defence against shell shock. This poignant detail moved us both greatly.

In recent years we have had the honour to play The Bite at the annual gathering of the International Brigaders in Jubilee Park, London, and have received many requests to record it. Finally, we have honoured our promises.

Listeners will note the reference in the song to the 'tricolor d'Espagna'. For those who know only the red and yellow flag of today's Spain, the flag of the elected Republican government of Spain comprised red, yellow and dark purple bands.

From all corners of the land our forces gathered
Arm in arm we gathered to fight
Comrades committed to the battle,
To stem the rising tide of fascist might

We had nurses we had students and shipbuilders
The brave responded to the call
And rallied to the 'tricolor d'Espagna'
Fighting for the future one and all

Chorus
I used to lie awake before the dawning
Thinking on the next day's bloody fight
Then the brightness of the Spanish morning,
Check your gun, your bullets, and your bite

We had comrades form the East End of London
At Cable Street they'd ruined Moseley's day
We had miners from the valleys of Carmarthen
All proud to wear La Quinta's black beret

At dead of night their homes these heroes parted
And quiet to Spain they made their way
Leaving grieving wives and sweethearts
Ignoring all entreaties there to stay

Chorus

By train to Perpignan then onwards
We crossed the Pyrenees by night
Avoiding French soldiers at the border
(And) its on to Albecete at daylight

We battled at the Ebro and Jarama
Were baked by Brunete's burning sun
Disbanded at the fall of Barcelona
La Passionaria praised us every one

Chorus

And now my life is nearly over
Did my comrades fall in vain?
No – fascists must be challenged 'ere they muster
In Blackburn, Barnsley or Brick Lane

Chorus
Chorus

---

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 02 April 10 -

Guardian Interview with Brigader George Wheeler
Independent Obituary of George Wheeler

Subject: Lyr Add: AS I WALKED JARAMA VALLEY
From: GUEST,Neville Grundy
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 08:11 PM

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 08:30 PM

TASTE OF ASHES
By Bruce Bartol

Here is a link for a video using TASTE OF ASHES performed by Laurie Lewis

Taste of Ashes - Laurie Lewis

This is on SPAIN IN MY HEART CD

Subject: Lyr Add: ANOTHER VALLEY
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 05:28 AM

ANOTHER VALLEY
Geordie McIntyre wrote and recorded a song called "Another Valley" about the SCW. You might e-mail him for the lyrics and tell him about this project, as he may not be a mudcatter and may have other songs worth a mention.
You can contact him at http://alisonmcmorland.com/

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 07:01 AM
Thank you GUEST for posting about Geordie McIntyre's song ANOTHER VALLEY which I heard him sing during Whitby Folk Week last Summer. It was on my list of songs about which to make further enquiries. And thank you for the contact details which I have noted and then edited out of your post so that Geordie does not get emails offering him a penis extension or the chance to earn a million pounds just for making his bank account temporarily available for the transfer of funds from Nigeria.

Regards, Geoff

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 06:38 AM

I saw Geordie McIntyre at Whitby Folk Week in August and he very generously gave me permission to reproduce the lyrics and the notes to his song Another Valley as they appear in INVERORAN: Songs by Geordie McIntyre, published in Great Britain by Lyngham House, St Ervan, Wadebridge, Cornwall, PL27 7RT. ISBN 1 903963 20 6

Another Valley

Words © Geordie McIntyre, ISA Music, 1986.
Tune: Ian Duncan

Across the valley – the sleeping warrior,
Crimson, hard against the sky.
Shadows dance across the hillside:
Crystal spirits that never die.

In time of need we made the journey
To join the worthy folk of Spain.
'No Pasaran' - we marched thegither.
A camaraderie of pain.

Empty eyes of children staring
On broken flesh and twisted bone.
The shameless tears of the fallen comrade
Dripping on the blood-red stone.

Shadows freeze as night is falling.
Visions fade in the setting sun.
Only the cry of the crystal spirit
Breaks the silence of the dawn.

The sun breaks o'er the Golden City.
Morning - shrouds soon disappear.
Flowers shine from a darkened corner,
A laverock rises in the air.

Iron hearts and fists of steel
Cannot smoor the vibrant voice
That sings for peace and cries for justice,
Calling us to make a choice.



No Pasaran: ' They shall not pass' (Spanish Republican slogan)
Laverock: skylark.
Smoor: smother

A song inspired by the reminiscences of the late Eddie Brown, a volunteer in the International Brigades which fought for democracy and against fascism in the Spanish Civil War( 1936 – 39), regarded by many as the prologue to World War Two. After one recording session Eddie and I went out on to the verandah of his high – rise flat in Glasgow and gazed North, in the fading sunset, across the Clyde Valley to the Campsie Hills. His comments about comrades who had died set up an echo of that 'other valley' – Jarama, Spain. This was the springboard for the song. Written in 1986. -------------------------------------------------------------------- A YouTube video of Geordie McIntyre & Alison McMoreland performing this can be reached using the following link Another Valley,Geordie McIntyre & Alison McMoreland

Subject: Lyr Add: THE YOUNG MAN FROM ALCALA
From: Amos
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 10:23 AM

THE YOUNG MAN FROM ALCALA

The Lincoln Battalion, by cracky,
A bunch of brave boys from Kentucky
They would hold down the line
For weeks at a time
Getting sick on Italian spaghetti.

Yippee-ki-yippee-ki-yo!

A sole ragtag excerpt from a song I once knew. Sorry I don't have more.

A

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 11:18 AM

Thanks Amos: It is a verse from The Young Man From Alcala. The song was first recorded in 1943 on an album called Songs of the Lincoln Battallion by Pete Seeger and The Almanac Singers.Here is a YOUTUBE video

THE YOUNG MAN FROM ALCALA

Here is some further information about the song which was a parody of an earlier song

'The melody used for The Young Man from Alcala comes from a 19th century song called Yip-Ay-Addie-I-Ay that was later adapted as the theme song for the animated spinach-loving seafarer, Popeye, in the 1930s'.

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 02 Apr 10 - 07:56 AM

Alcala de Henares was a place where the Fifteenth Brigade was briefly given leave from the Jarama front in the Spring of 1937.
Alcala De Henares

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date:12 Aug 2015 -
Some discussion of the song is also to be found in a post to this thread Date: 06 Aug 15 - 09:48 PM under the heading Oh The Lincoln Boys Fought at Jarama (THE YOUNG MAN FROM ALCALA ) with a few posts which follow that.

Subject: Lyr Add: MARIA DE LA ROSA
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 08:19 PM

MARIA DE LA ROSA

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: Steve Shaw - PM
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 01:20 PM
Ron Kavana used to sing an absolutely beautiful song about the Spanish Civil War called Maria De La Rosa. As far as I know he wrote it himself. I heard him sing it in 1993 at the Tree Inn Folk Club in Bude. He subsequently recorded it for his album Alien Alert.

---

I posted above about Ron Kavana's song "Maria De La Rosa" which appeared on his live "Alien Alert" album in the late 1990s. I wrote down the words to the best of my ability this afternoon and I have Geoff and Joe Offer to thank for easing my mind about copyright issues! So here are my jottings. I must point out that the album insert doesn't print the lyrics and I'm assuming that the place-name "Lérida," a town in Catalonia, is what Ron sings. Also, "Finn O'Mara" is my interpretation of the name. Ron does sing exceptionally clearly. In the intro to the song on the album Ron states that the song is based on a true story thst he gleaned whilst on holiday in the Basque country. I heard him singing it several years before this album was released, in fact I can state that it was on October 1 1993 at the Tree Inn folk club in Cornwall on a night that no-one who was there will forget. I have a somewhat ropey cassette recording of him singing it that night which, in its way, is even more beautiful than the album version. I think it's a truly lovely song. So there!

..........................................

I set out for Spain with a romantic notion
To trace the paths of Irish volunteers
Who had left their homeland to fight and die on foreign soil
In the late '30s, Franco's bloody years

In a sleazy bodega in the back streets of Bilbao
I met a girl with bright green eyes and long red hair
Maria De La Rosa O'Mara sang in Spanish
A version of She Moved Through The Fair

Maria De La Rosa O'Mara
Sing your song one more time
Por favor
Tell us the tale of your dead grandfather
And his part in the Spanish Civil War
Tell us the tale of crazy, noble glory
Finn O'Mara in the Spanish Civil War

Finn O'Mara joined the Basques up near San Sebastian
In the northern campaign of '38
Kept the supply lines open on the border
'Til Barcelona fell and it was all too late

Captured by the Blueshirts somewhere near Lérida
He faced the fascist firing squad that very day
His one last request "Bury me in Basque country
But know I die for freedom, not for Spain."

Maria De La Rosa O'Mara
Sing your song one more time
Por favor
Tell us the tale of your dead grandfather
And his part in the Spanish Civil War
Tell us the tale of crazy, noble glory
Finn O'Mara in the Spanish Civil War

A short recorded excerpt can be heard HERE

Subject: Lyr Add: THE CONNOLLY COLUMN SONG
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 07:11 AM

THE CONNOLLY COLUMN SONG
mikesamwild posted information and lyrics to Connolly's Rebel Song further up the thread but Gail Malgreen of the Tamiment Library in New York has told me of a song called "Connolly Column Song" ("Proudly we're marching, proudly we're singing.....") which appears to be a different song. Does anyone know anything about this one?

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From: GUEST
Date: 14 Apr 10 - 10:05 PM

Al Tocar Diana: At the Break of Dawn: Songs from a Franco Prison, by Max Parker,Track 209 Click on the ► symbol 209 to hear a performance extract.

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The Connolly Column Song


Proudly we're marching, proudly we're singing.

The song of our country we all hold so dear

Far from our native land, proudly we take our stand

We're members of the International Brigades.

Think of the guns we bear, think of the clothes we wear

Think of the insults endured in thy name

Tempered by the sun of Spain, hardened by the wind and rain

We're members of the International Brigades.


The lyrics above are an extract from the liner notes on the Smithsonian /Folkways Al Tocar Diana site (below) but the next page is missing. I guess there is more to the song . Does anyone know more, or have access to the complete Notes?If you do will you post the full lyrics here please?

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From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 06:56 AM
The Connolly Column Song

Many thanks to Manus O'Riordan for identifying the tune to which this song is sung as being O'Donnell Abu,

O'Donnell Abu in DIGITRAD

And thanks also to Manus for directing me to the YouTube video of

LIAM CLANCY AND TOMMY MAKEM SINGING O'DONNELL ABU

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From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 07:22 AM
The Connolly Column Song

Thanks to Heather Bridger for looking at her paper copy of the liner notes for this song on the Max Parker recording Al Tocar Diana: At the Break of Dawn: Songs from a Franco Prison Heather confirmed that the lyrics which I reproduced above are the complete lyrics as they are reproduced there.

Subject: Lyr Add: VIVA LA QUINCE BRIGADA
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 05:08 PM

VIVA LA QUINCE BRIGADA

Here are some YouTube videos of Christy Moore's song Viva La Quince Brigada
Note that the song is sometimes called Viva La QUINTE Brigada a mistake Christy Moore made in naming the the song when he originally wrote and recorded it but which he later corrected.
Also note that the same title is also used for a very well known Spanish song Ay Carmela, AKA Ay Manuela, AKA The Crossing of the Ebro with its distinctive chorus of 'Rumbla, Rumbla, Rumbla-la'

Viva La Quinta Brigada with lyrics, YouTube

VIVA LA QUINCE BRIGADA performed by Charlie & The Bhoys

VIVA LA QUINTE BRIGADA performed by Ronnie Drew

VIVA LA QUINTA BRIGADA Christie Moore live at Barrowland Glasgow

Viva La Quince Brigada
By Christy Moore

Ten years before I saw lhe light of morning
A comradeship of heroes was laid.
From every corner of the world came sailing
The Fifteenth Inlernational Brigade.
They came to stand beside the Spanish people.
To try and stem the rising Fascist tide
Franco's allies were the powerful and wealthy,
Frank Ryan's men came from the other side.
Even the olives were bleeding
As the battle for Madrid it thundered on.
Truth and love against the force af evil,
Brotherhood against the Fascist clan.

Chorus:

Vive La Quince Brigada!
"No Paseran" the pledge that made them fight.
"Adelante" was the cry around the hillside.
Let us all remember them tonight.

Bob Hillard was a Church of Ireland pastor;
From Killarney across the Pyrenees ho came.
From Derry came a brave young Christian Brother.
Side by side they fought and died in Spain.
Tommy Woods, aged seventeen, died in Cordoba.
With Na Fianna he learned to hold his gun.
From Dublin to the Villa del Rio
Where he fought and died beneath the Spanish sun.

Chorus

Many Irishmen heard the call of Franco.
Joined Hitler and Mussolini too.
Propaganda from the pulpit and newspapers
Helped O'Duffy to enlist his crew. The word came from Maynooth: 'Support the Fascists'.
The men of cloth failed yet again
When the bishops blessed the blueshirts in Dun Laoghaire
As they sailed beneath the swastika to Spain.

Chorus

This song is a tribute to Frank Ryan.
Kit Conway and Dinny Coady too.
Peter Daly, Charlie Regan and Hugh Bonar.
Though many died I can but name a few.
Danny Doyle, Blaser-Brown and Charlie Donnelly.
Liam Tumilson and Jim Straney from the Falls.
Jack Nally, Tommy Patton and Frank Conroy,
Jim Foley, Tony Fox and Dick O'Neill.

Chorus

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From: GeoffLawes
Date: 05 Jan 2011AM

WIKIPEDIA: Viva La Quince/ Quinte Brigada entry

and cyclopaedia.net

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 09:51 AM

BRIGADERS SINGING AT SAM WILD'S FUNERAL

I've got the Topic EP with the Spanish one on. We played it at my Dad's funeral in Sheffield, along with England Arise by Edward Carpenter.

After the funeral we went with those IBrs who'd made it to the funeral and had a few jars and a wake and a singsong at the Royal Standard, a nice Ward's house in those days. I am wracking my memory for some of the songs they sang but itwas a strange day.

Bob Cooney was not quite with it at the time sadly and goodness knows how he got there but he did and he declaimed some of his poems and sang The Old Maid in the Garret, one of my Dad's favourites.

Subject: Lyr Add: ONLY FOR THREE MONTHS
From: na-mara
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 02:37 PM

ONLY FOR THREE MONTHS
Music: J.Tejedor / Words: Paul McNamara
Performed by Na mara More Information Here

Here are the lyrics to na-mara's song about the evacuation of the Basque Children from Bilbao in May 1937. To listen to the song go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSGlCcjcd2Y&feature=youtu.be OR
http://www.myspace.com/namaramusic

This is a song inspired by the story of Rob's father, Fausto, who was evacuated as a child from Bilbao in 1937 when the city was surrounded and blockaded by Franco's fascists during the Spanish Civil War. Fausto was 9 years old at the time and travelled with his older brother Theo, aged 11. They were amongst 4,000 children brought to the UK to escape the bombs and the fighting. After much shameful prevarication by a British Government keen to appease the burgeoning fascist powers in Europe, the evacuation was undertaken following increased pressure from British socialists and others after the criminal carpet bombing of Guernica by the German Condor Legion. Parents were not allowed to travel with their children and the parting must have been unbearable. In order to console their children, mothers told them it was "only for three months" - "solo por tres meses".

After Bilbao fell to Franco, most of the children were repatriated. However, around 400 remained in the UK, largely because the authorities could find no trace of any living relatives - either because they were no longer alive, had escaped to other parts of Republican Spain or were refugees in France. Fausto was amongst the group that remained in the UK. He didn't see his own parents until the end of the Second World War - nearly 10 years after he had left Bilbao. His own parents had suffered many trials and tribulations in Spain and North Africa before finally arriving in the UK in 1946. His mother hardly recognised him and, indeed, some of the other children who were re-united with their parents had forgotten their mother tongue and could not communicate with their parents in Spanish. Those that remained did, in the words of the song, "make their way".
This song is dedicated to the memory of Rob's father, Fausto Garcia., Paul wrote the words using information supplied by Rob, and from Adrian Bell's book "Only for Three Months".

The music is taken from the tune 'Cimiano' written by Javier Tejedor from the Tejedor album 'Musica na Maleta'. Javier has very kindly given us permission to use the tune here. We hope the song goes some small way to recording what must have been a truly heartbreaking parting.

Only For Three Months

It was nineteen thirty seven, on the twenty first of May
We boarded the Habana, and from home we sailed away,
Solo por tres meses, we heard our mothers say
And to England we were taken
And it's there, for many years we were destined to stay

Oh it's well do I remember, childhood days before the war
They were filled with peaceful pleasures, we thought they'd last forever more
But Mola's troops pressed harder, and loud the guns did roar
And in silence we retreated
Into the city, where we crowded on every floor

Proud Bilbao was surrounded, blockaded from the sea
And with air raid sirens howling, to the refuge we would flee
As desperation mounted, rumours came to be
A ship would sail for England
And through the night, our mothers queued to set us free

At the station we assembled, and with tears said our goodbyes
(And) the rain it was our comfort for the bombers could not fly
And Franco's ships stayed silent, when Fearless they did espy
And through the stormy Bay of Biscay
Basque children, in their thousands sailed by

When we landed at Southampton, the Sally Army band did play
Our 'exilio Ingles', it began that very day
But when we heard Bilbao had fallen, our tears we could not stay
Forlorn and broken hearted,
It was sure, that in England we'd make our way.

It was nineteen thirty seven, on the twenty first of May
We boarded the Habana, and from home we sailed away,
Solo por tres meses, we heard our mothers say
And to England we were taken
And it's there, for many years we were destined to stay

---

From: Herga Kitty - PM
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 07:47 PM

Na Mara gave us a brilliant evening at Herga on Monday, and I especially appreciated "only for 3 months", because it made me think of my mother saying her final goodbye to her father in Berlin when she escaped to England in 1938.

Kitty

Subject: Lyr Add: SONG FOR UNSUNG HEROES
From: GUEST,brendan byrne
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 04:29 PM

SONG FOR UNSUNG HEROES

I picked up a casette some years ago with songs by Nancy White
( produced in 1994)from an a tribute LP to IB Volunteers from Canada Songs mostly are in Spanish with one SONG FOR UNSUNG HEROES in English which celebrates the contribution made by Mackenzie-Papineau Batallion in Spain. I can dig it out and forward on the lyrics ( written by Nancy White )if okay. Impressed with the whole project and congratulations to the ONLIE BEGETTER ( WHO ? )

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 06:11 PM

Hi GUEST, brendan byrne Thanks for your post. Howard Kaplin sent me a PM to tell me about Nancy White's song SONG FOR UNSUNG HEROES and he put me in touch with her. She said she was happy to send me the words with background information as soon as she can, but cannot do it for a while. Now that I have your post about the song I shall put the title in the song list index at the top and make a click link Thanks, Geoff

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From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 05:50

Song For Unsung Heroes
By Nancy White. 1993

from the cassette "Songs of the Spanish Civil War and Other Struggles" by Nancy White and Rick Whitelaw
TRACK LIST HERE

1. It was against the law, you know,
It was against the law to go,
And it was someone else's struggle, someone else's land,
But they were fourteen hundred men,
And half were never seen again,
For they were men of such conviction that they took that stand.

2. Boys from the city and the farm
Heard news of Spain with great alarm,
Heard of the international brigade, a siren call,
Went to Jarama and Madrid,
We are so proud of what they did,
We who have never had to watch a treasured comrade fall.

3. And those who gave away their youth
To fight for freedom and for truth
Were not received with any victory parade,
But we salute them here today,
With all our hearts let's join and say
"Viva los MacPaps, may their memory never fade."

   CHO: Let us sing a song for unsung heroes,
             The men who fought the war in Spain,
             Let us celebrate their deeds of valor,
             Let us celebrate the few who still remain,
             The MacKenzie-Papineau Battalion,
             Canada's bravest without doubt,
             The ones who couldn't stand by
             And let freedom's flame go out.


Many thanks to Nancy White for sending me the lyrics to post here.
Nancy White's My Space

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 09:11 AM


Brigader ED BALCHOWSKY AS A PERFORMER

FROM AN EARLIER MUDCAT THREAD
HERE
Subject: RE: BS: Abraham Lincoln Brigade
From: Art Thieme - PM
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 12:17 AM

Si Kahn did that song you mentioned on my old NPR radio show (The Flea Market--Chicago--early 1980s). He did it because ten minutes earlier I had introduced him to Ed Balchowsky, a veteran of the Lincoln Brigade. Ed was a concert pianist who had lost an arm in a battle near the Ebro River. After surgery, for pain he had been given morphine to which he became addicted. He stayed that way for the next 40 years. Ed would still sing the stirring songs of that war and play the piano with his one hand. (See, also, Utah Phillips fine song about Ed "One Arm On The Ebro".)(EDDIE'S SONG) There were many more than the mentioned 12 members of the Lincolns. As I recall it, there were 3,200 people who felt strongly enough about stopping Franco and fascism that they went over and fought in that war. Only HALF came back alive. Hitler practiced for World War 2 in Spain supporting Gen. Franco with his Luftwaffe and bombs. It's felt by many (as was said) that he could've been stopped if the USA had gone after him then as in Kuwait recently. There were also volks in Germany fighting in the Spanish Civil War against Franco and their own Hitler. These volunteers made up the International Brigades. Yes, these were leftists and Socialists and Communists and Democrats and just anti-fascists. I'll always be proud to've been a friend of Ed Balchowsky's. Many of todays youth choose to use their limited supply of testosterone shooting their wad into the black hole and sponge-like stock market and gambling industry rather than dedicate their lives to humanity and allied causes.-----Because that choice has been made by them --- to indulge their personal greed rather than nurture their altruistic potentials----we are stuck with the the mentality that prevails in so many parts of today's world. I admired Ed Balchowsky's life-long commitment and I definitely prefer his ism to Donald Trump's.
Art Thieme

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From: GeoffLawes
20 April 2010

Here is a link to a brief biography of Ed Balchowsky with photo:ED BALCHOWSKY'S BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

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From: GeoffLawes
28 December 2010

Ed Balchowsky plays and sings in The Good Fight, the film made about the Abraham Lincoln Battalion which can be seen on YouTube divided into twelve videos.

Video IV Ed Balchowsky plays and sings The Peat Bog Soldiers at 0.47/8.52
Video VIIEd Balchowsky plays and sings Manana at 8.24/9.21

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From Geoff Lawes
30th January 2011
Here is a 7 minute film from 1989 about International Brigader Ed Balchowsky called Peat Bog Soldier. He is the subject of Eddie's Song by Utah Phillips which is discussed above.
http://www.mediaburn.org/Video-Preview.128.0.html?&uid=5630

On YouTube the same film can be seen with an introdction HERE :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXoMvBShMJY

The song He went to Paris, written by Jimmy Buffet is about Ed Balchowsky according to this Video HERE, in Part 2 at 1.04 on the counter but the song makes no mention of the Spanish Civil War and doesn't seem to reflect Ed Balchowsky's life except for a reference to playing the piano. See what you think?
Jimmy Buffett- He Went To Paris [Lyrics]

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From Geoff Lawes
13 April 2011

This link, HERE , is to a book of reminiscences by Skip Haynes in which he has a chapter ( 8 ) devoted to telling a story about Ed Balchowsky. The words to his own song about Ed Balchowsky can be seen on page 93 but the song doesn't say anything explicitly about the SCW. On page 96 he says that there are at least 7 songs written about him. Does anyone know any that we haven't mentioned in this thread yet?

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 01:14 PM


OTHER MUDCAT THREADS DEALING WITH SPANISH CIVIL WAR SONGS

These threads include a wide range of songs in different languages but within them information about English language songs may be found

Spanish Civil War music (13)

Spanish Civil War Songbook Can You Help(9)

Lyr Add: Los Cuatro Muleros & Los Cuatro Generales (16)

Help: Songs of the Lincoln Brigade (25)

Lyr Add: Ay Carmela (1)

happy? - July 18 (Spanish Civil War) (2)

Lyr Req: Jack Atky & All: Spanish Civil War Song

CD: Spanish Civil War Songs and Letters (1)

Lyrics/Context: United Front Song (Einheitsfront) (2)

Lyr Add: The Civil War in Spain (15)

Lost thread on Spanish Civil War? (7) (closed)

Abraham Lincoln Brigade (25)

Help: Songs of the Lincoln Brigade (25)

LP of Spanish Civil War Songs, English? (4)

Jamie Foyers

BILL FEELEY,Lancs Singer&Int. Brigader

ADD: Viva la Quinta Brigada (Christy Moore & not)

Origins: Viva La Quince Brigada (Christy Moore?)

THE BATTLEFIELDS OF SPAIN / THE CIVIL WAR IN SPAIN

Lyr Req: Mass for a Fallen International Brigader

Subject: Lyr Add: THE OLD MAN'S SONG
From: mikesamwild
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 03:23 PM


THE OLD MAN'S SONG


Has anyone mentioned The Old Man's song about 'one long bloody war' Sorry if I missed it. I know it keeps getting new verses added as we go on with just and evil wars

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild - PM
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 08:28 AM

The Old Man's Song is on Ian and Lorna Campbell, The Circle Game 1968 . Transatlantic TRA 163 http://www.orpheusweb.co.uk/gatherer/scottish/artists/ianc.html

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: zozimus - PM
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 05:39 PM

Hi Geoff, The Old Man's Song was written by Ian Campbell and recorded by the Ian Campbell folk Group. The lyrics are in Digitrad.

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 02 Apr 10 - 06:23 PM
THE OLD MAN'S SONG sung by CHRISTY MOORE
The Old Man's Song sung by The Ian Campbell Folk Group

The Old Man's Song
By Ian Campbell
Tune: Nicky Tams

At the turning of the century I was a boy of five,

My father went to fight the Boers and never came back alive.

My mother, left to bring us, up no charity would seek,

So she washed and scrubbed and scraped along on 7/6 a week.



When I was twelve I left the school and went to get a job,

With growin' kids my ma was glad of the extra couple of bob.

I knew that better schooling would have stood me in better stead,

But you can't afford refinements when you're struggling for your bread.



When the Great War started I didn't hesitate,

I took the royal shilling and went off to do my bit.

We fought in mud and sweat and blood three years or thereabout,

Then I copped some gas in Flanders and was invalided out.



When the war was over and we'd finished with the guns,

We got back into civvies and I thought the fighting done.

I'd won the right to live in peace but I didn't have no luck,

For soon I found I had to fight for the right to go to work.



In 'twenty six the General Strike found me out on the street,

For I'd a wife and kids by then and their needs I couldn't meet.

But a brave new world was coming and the brotherhood of man,

But when the strike was over we were back where we began.



I struggled through the Thirties, out of work now and again,

I saw the Black Shirts marching and the things they did in Spain.

But I raised my children decent and I taught them wrong from right,

Then Hitler was the lad that came and showed them how to fight.



My daughter was a Land Girl, she got married tae a Yank,

They gave my son a gong for stopping one of Rommel's tanks.

He was wounded just before the end and convalesced in Rome,

Married an Eyetye nurse and never bothered to come home.



My daughter writes me once a month a cheerful little note,

About their colour telly and the other things they've got.

She has a son, a likely lad, he's just turned twenty-one,

Now she says they've called him up, to fight in Vietnam.



Now we're on the Pension and it doesn't go too far,

Not much to show for a life that seems like one long bloody war.

When you think of all the wasted lives it makes you want to cry,

I don't know how to change things but by Christ we'll have tae try.

GeoffLawes 09/03.216 I have just found that Scottish Brigader Bob Cooney, can be heard singing this song at an International Brigades reunion conference held in Loughborough, 30 to 40 years ago. It is on a tape recording held in Manchester Central Library The reference card for the tape recording may be seen using this linkHERE

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 06:14 PM


BRIGADER BOB COONEY AS A SINGER


Bob Cooney was an International Brigader and also a singer. While in Spain he was political commissar of the British Battalion and during the sixties and seventies sang in British Folk Clubs.He was a friend of Ian Campbell and his family and sang on their L.P The Singing Campbells (Topic 12T120, 1965)
Article about Bob Cooney as a singer

LP cover and track list

An Old MUDCAT Thread about Bob Cooney

BOB COONEY ON Dick Gaughan's site

Another site with information about Bob Cooney

http://aberdeenvoice.com/2011/06/the-amazing-life-of-bob-cooney-part-1/

http://aberdeenvoice.com/2011/06/the-amazing-life-of-bob-cooney-part-2-fighting-fascism/

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From: GeoffLawes
Date: 23June 2011

Chris Coe told me that Bob Cooney taught her The Licht Bob's Lassie which can be found in the DIGITRAD HERE

I have also been given a copy of WHEN OF HEROES WE SING -Songs & Poems of Bob Cooney by Neil Cooney, Bob's nephew.
These are the titles included in this booklet published in 1982 for the Aberdeen Folk Club.

HASTA LA VISTA MADRID (poem)
WASHINGTON CHURCH (to the tune of Hosannah, Loud Hosannah
TORRY BELLE (BARREL DODDIE) (to the tune of 'Gin I Were Where The Gaudie Rins)
MORAL OLD MEN( to the tune of Lord Franklin)
1305 ( to the tune of Let Him Go, Let Him Tarry)
GIRLS OF DAGENHAM (with printed music)
THE REBEL CORE ( to the tune of Paddy On The Road)
DAY OF ERIN GO BRAUGH (with printed music)
JAMES CONNOLLY ( to the tune of Come All Ye Tramps And Hawkers)
PEACE IS THE ANSWER ( to the tune of Waltzing Matilda)
AULD MAN AT HEAVEN'S GATE (poem)
COME YE ANTI FASCISTS RALLY ( to the tune of Men of Harlech)

Subject: Lyr Add: COOKHOUSE
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 30 Mar 10 - 06:16 AM


COOKHOUSE


Here is a link to a YouTube Video using the song
COOKHOUSE

Cookhouse

Performed by Pete Seeger & The Almanac Singers

From the Album: Canciones De Las Brigadas Internacionales -
Songs Of The International Brigade.

There is an old cookhouse
not far away
Where we get sweet damn
all three times a day.
Ham and eggs we never see,
damn all sugar in our tea,
and we are gradually
fading away.

Old soldiers never die,
Never die, never die,
Old soldiers never die
They just fade away.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: Fay
Date: 30 Mar 10 - 04:14 PM

Hi all,
I don't have much more info about Little Yellow Roses from the FSC songbook - only that Sam Lee (a fellow FSCer) told me it was writen as a poem by a man due to be hung the following day and passed through his cell bars to the guard. Jon asked a taxi driver about the tune when he was over there giging last year, and was told it was an old Spanish tune. I do appreciate though that these sources are not rigerously academic! If I hear anything from the process of publication re the DeShannon link I'll let you know...
All best, Fay

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 30 Mar 10 - 07:15 PM

Hi Fay, thanks for posting. Have you seen my post which carried the link to the YouTube video of Jackie DeShannon singing Little Yellow Roses? I have just moved that post so that it is consolidated with all the other posts about this song. It can now be found by using the click link for Yellow Roses in the Song List in my initial post.

Does she use the same tune as you? Do you call the song LITTLE Yellow Roses or just Yellow Roses? Was Jon's gig in Spain or the US?

Geoff

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 09:40 AM


QUARTERMASTER'S SONG

Quartermasters Song - Pete Seeger and the Almanac singers

From the Album: Canciones De Las Brigadas Internacionales -
Songs Of The International Brigade.

Subject: Lyr Add: JARAMA
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 12:57 PM


JARAMA
By Alec (Alex) McDade



There's a valley in Spain called Jarama,

That's a place that we all know so well,

For 'tis there that we wasted our manhood,

And most of our old age as well.



From this valley they tell us we're leaving

But don't hasten to bid us adieu

For e'en though we make our departure

We'll be back in an hour or two



Oh, we're proud of our British Battalion,

And the marathon record it's made,

Please do us this one little favour

And take this last word to Brigade:



"You will never be happy with strangers,

They would not understand you as we,

So remember the Jarama Valley

And the old men who wait patiently".



This is probably the most widely known song written in English to come out of the Spanish Civil War. When Alex McDade, from Glasgow, wrote it in the Spring of 1937 it was as a parody of the well known American song Red River Valley and it made wry and humorous comment upon the soldiers' conditions on the Jarama front where the British Battalion was then stationed. The lyrics later went through a number of changes which are outlined in this Wikipedia article HERE

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 10:56 AM

On the subject of Alec McDade's Jarama:in BRITONS IN SPAIN by William Rust which was originally published in January 1939 after the British Battalion had returned from Spain but before the official end of the Spanish Civil War,Rust reproduces the Jarama words which I gave above and also says about the origin of the song

'The long-expected rest came at the end of April, when the Battalion went into billets at Alcala de Henares. But before they had time to shake themselves down they were back in the line again, and stayed there until the middle of June. It was upon the return to the line that Alex McDade of Glasgow wrote the following song (to the tune of ""Red River Valley"), which, because of its humorous cynicism, became popular in all Battalions.'

Does anyone have access to, or information about, an earlier publication of the Alec McDade lyrics? The Wikipedia article HERE says:

20/08/15 'The earliest known version of the lyrics was written by Alex McDade, of the British Battalion, XV International Brigade and published in 1938 in The Book of the XV International Brigade by the Commissariat of War, Madrid, 1938.'

The book referred to, The Book of the XV International Brigade was edited by Irish Brigader Frank Ryan,and I think I remember reading that it was published at about the same time as he was captured which would make it April 1938. Does anyone have access to this book and if so could you see if the lyrics printed are the same as the ones that I posted above?

---

,From: GeoffLawes
Date: 20 Aug 2015
I have now checked in a facsimile copy of The Book of the XV International Brigade published by Warren and Pell in 2003 and the words are exactly the same as those which I gave above.

---

I have read elsewhere that the words were printed in the Battalion or Brigade newspaper and it was there suggested that the words were quickly changed because the higher ranks did not like the implied criticism ( I shall have to track down where I read that).Do you Mike, or does anyone else,have access to Volunteer for Liberty or Our Fight so that an earlier publication could be checked?

In the Wikipedia article ( link above) it says of one early adapted version of the song

'According to scholar, Jim Jump, it was first published on 8 January 1939 in London in a booklet for an British Battalion reunion' Does anyone have the Jim Jump book which is here referred to?


Another point worth remarking on is that Rust's account mentions Alcala which indicates some of the background of another Spanish Civil War song, The Young Man From Alcala.

I have also just realised that today is the 71st anniversary of the official end of the Spanish Civil War.

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From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 10:31 AM
Here are some performances of Jarama/ Jarama Valley with a variety of lyrics and tunes:
EWAN Mc LENNAN
PETE SEEGER & THE ALMANAC SINGERS
WOODY GUTHRIE
ARLO GUTHRIE & PETE SEEGER
DAVID ROVICS
The Wakes

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 08:20 AM

After the initial battle they dug in at Jarama and the Republicans were there for ages as it dragged on.

The cookhouse song sounds like There is a happy land far far away , good for lots of parodies in lots of wars.


Didn't Ewan McColl, write the Old Man's Song . I heard it sung in a pub session recently with an added verse about Iraq and Afghanistan

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This is a very late response to your question Mike but the old Man's Song/ Tale is in the Mudcat Digitrad HEREand the words are attributed to Ian Campbell,set to the tune Nicky Tams.
GeoffLawes
12/08/2015

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 04:08 PM

We've got my Dad's copy of The Brigade Book edited by Frank Ryan and signed by many of Sam's conmrades before they left Spain . I've also got Jim Jump's (JJ Jr) book and I'll have a look in both after Easter.. I'll have a look in Jason Gurney's book cos he was at Jarama too.


Incidentally a similar signed copy of The Brigade book which belonged to George Fletcher who was also a Commander and good friend of my Dad (They were married in a joint wedding in Manchester on this day April 1 1939), came up on ebay and we alerted his family who bought it. They don't know how it got out of his posession to an antique dealer in Crew. But it's in safe hands agin now.

Frank Grahame another Briader from The North East who died recently did a republished edition of that book which is often available from dealers. It was written as they were leaving Spoain so s not necessarily an acceptable history by modern standards but it is a living document and mention some of the men in Christy Moore's song including Frank himself.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE SONG OF THE LINCOLN BATTALION
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 08:04 PM


THE SONG OF THE LINCOLN BATTALION


Composed by 4 Americans on the way to Spain, Feb14th 1937


Tune: Over There

Published in Canciones de Guerra de Las Brigadas Internacionales, Madrid 1937


We march, we Americans,
To defend our working class-
To defend democracy.and
Mow the fascists down like grass-
We're marching to victory-
Our hearts are set, our fists are clenched
A cause like ours can't fail but win-
The fascist steel will bend like tin
We give our word, they shall not pass!
No Pasaran!
We give our word they shall not pass!


Over here,over here,
Hear us cheer ,hear us cheer, over here!
Oh - the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming,
To fight the fascists over here.
Over here,over here,
Hear us cheer ,hear us cheer, over here!
The Yanks are coming to fight the fascist,
And we won't go back till we beat them over here!

This Song of the Lincoln Battalion was collected by Ernst Busch for inclusion in the multi-language International Brigades songbook, Canciones de las Brigadas Internationales, which he produced while he was in Spain. It does not get mentioned in books about the Spanish Civil War and probably was not taken up by the volunteers themselves.In fact it was not included in the final edition of the songbook when it was produced in 1938. It should not be confused with the song usually associated with the title, The Song of the Lincoln Battalion, which is an adaptation of Alec McDade's Jarama.
For the tune you can listen to Over there -the original WWI U.S. song on YouTube

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BATTLEFIELDS OF SPAIN
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 02 Apr 10 - 07:20 AM


THE BATTLEFIELDS OF SPAIN / THE CIVIL WAR IN SPAIN / THE CONNOLLY COLUMN


By Joe Mulheron

CLARIFICATORY NOTE: This song was originally written by Joe Mulheron who called it The Connolly Column but it has since been sung by a number of other performers who have sometimes changed the title and/or added to the lyrics. The resulting song may be sung under any of the above titles. The following posts discuss all three Versions of the song and include a link to another thread which tries to summarise the discussion of the different versions - including an email from Joe Mulheron.

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The following 6 posts about this song are consolidated and copied from an earlier Mudcat thread
thread.cfm?threadid=44455#654357
Subject: Lyr Add: THE BATTLEFIELDS OF SPAIN
From: Suffet - PM
Date: 20 Feb 02 - 09:07 PM

To the same tune of "Roddy McCorley" and "Sean South" is this song from the Spanish Civil War.

THE BATTLEFIELDS OF SPAIN

For the James Connolly Column of the International Brigade Tune: "Roddy McCorley" (or "Sean South")

Oh, workers dear, did you hear our comrades' call to arms?
It echoed in the cities and it echoed on the farms,
In shipyard and in factory, and upon the fields of grain,
To defend our fellow workers on the battlefields of Spain.

John Riley was a trade union man, our shop floor he did lead,
He fought against the fascist thugs, he fought the bosses' greed,
And now he leads the Connolly Column of the bold Fifteenth Brigade,
And he's gone to fight the fascists on the battlefields of Spain.

Who will call the meeting now and who will take the chair?
And who will lead us out on strike when we demand our share?
For Johnny, brave young Johnny, at home shall not remain,
For he's gone to fight the fascists on the battlefields of Spain.

If fascist bullets won't permit our Wild Geese to come home,
Their tragic loss to Ireland we'll never cease to mourn,
For they fought for the Connolly Column in the bold Fifteenth Brigade,
And they died for the Spanish working class on the battlefields of Spain.


Great song!

--- Steve

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--- Steve Subject: RE: Patriot Game
From: Suffet - PM
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 04:54 PM

I heard "Battlefields of Spain" sung by three men in a pub -- the King's Head, I believe -- in Galway in 1987. I asked one of them to sing it again so I could write down the words. That's all I know about the song. I never heard it before or since.

--- Steve

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Subject: RE: Patriot Game
From: MartinRyan - PM
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 03:09 AM

Suffet Haven't heard that Spanish Civil War song before. Looks like it was intended to go to the "Bantry Girl's lament" air, appropriately enough, rather than "Patriot game".

Regards

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Subject: RE: Patriot Game
From: Suffet - PM
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 09:47 AM

"Battlefields of Spain" is set to the tune of "Sean South" or "Roddy McCorley." I mentioned it in this thread because the discussion turned to the late Mr. South and the song named after him.

--- Steve

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Subject: RE: Patriot Game
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan - PM
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 05:23 AM

"The Battlefields of Spain" was written by Joe Mulheron of Belfast/Derry, using "Bantry Girl's Lament" as the model. He also included it in a set of balladsheets he produced many years ago - which had an interesting consequence. When he had finished screen-printing them on to 500 sheets of high quality paper ("A pound a sheet, damn it!", as he said)he realised he'd overlooked a typo in the spelling of "Connolly Column"! This explains why, during a run of Spanish Civil War songs at the recent Inishowen Singing Festival, Frank Harte was heard to call on Joe to "Give us the one about the Con-ON-olly Column!"! Regards

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Subject: RE: Patriot Game
From: Suffet - PM
Date: 15 Jun 02 - 07:52 AM

Martin:

Job well done in tracing the origins of "The Battlefields of Spain"! Thanks.

--- Steve

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From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 23 April 10
THE BATTLEFIELDS OF SPAIN / THE CIVIL WAR IN SPAIN

By JOE MULHERON with amendments and additions by Pol MacAdaim (and others unknown?)

I have begun a new thread to try and establish the origin and history of this song which seems to have developed into two songs. THE BATTLEFIELDS OF SPAIN / THE CIVIL WAR IN SPAIN

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https://www.antiwarsongs.org/canzone.php?id=57844&lang=en

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 02 Apr 10 - 04:53 PM


BRIGADER BART VAN DER SCHELLING AS A SINGER



Bart Van Der Schelling was a Dutch International Brigader who was badly injured fighting in Spain, after which he went to the United States where he performed and recorded songs about the Spanish Civil War during the 1940's. An earlier Mudcat thread reveals some aspects of his amazing life.


Bart Van Der Schelling

Subject: Lyr Add: EIGHT MEN
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 02 Apr 10 - 06:23 PM


EIGHT MEN FROM HULL

By Geoff Lawes

Eight men, from Hull, left families and friends,
To go and fight Franco in Spain,
Four returned safe, to the city once more,
But four by the fascists were slain.

CHORUS
Ay Carmela, they lie in your arms tonight,
Let them sleep on, 'til the darkness is gone,
We’ll take up their watch 'til it’s light.
Ay Carmela, they lie in your arms tonight,
Let them sleep on, 'til the darkness is gone,
We’ll take up their watch 'til it’s light

Jack Atkinson was Hull’s first volunteer,
A driver of lorries by trade,
He died at Jarama defending Madrid
In the ranks of the 15th Brigade.

CHORUS
Rob Wardle and Jim Bentley were mates,
They’d grown up in Hull side by side,
Together set out and journeyed to Spain,
And at Calaceite both died.

CHORUS
Morris Miller died, on the Sierra Pandols,
Aged just twenty three when he fell.
His body lies buried at Hill 666,
Cut down by an artillery shell.

CHORUS
Richard Mortimer and Joe Latus returned,
Bert Wilson and Sam Walters too,
But four men remain in the soil of Spain,
Salud camaradas,salud!

© G Lawes June 2008

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 05:02 PM

I have just discovered that Geoff Parry has also put up on YouTube the other Spanish Civil War song that I sang at the Memorial meeting for the International Brigades on Saturday,03/07 2010. Here is the linkEIGHT MEN.
Thanks Geoff

Subject: Lyr Add: WE CAME TO SUNNY SPAIN
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 02:14 PM


WE CAME TO SUNNY SPAIN

We came to sunny Spain,
To make the people smile again,
And to drive the fascist bastards,
From the hill and from the plain,
Oh the Ri, Oh the Ri
Oh the Rio, Rio, Rio, Ha, Ha, Ha!

I have seen these described as the words to the British Battalion's Marching Song.
Does anyone have more information.
Are there any more words?
Is the tune a well known tune or an original?
Is it mentioned in any books?

It is mentioned at the end of this Guardian Interview with Brigader George Wheeler who was the inspiration for the Na Mara song THE BITE which is in the Song List above,

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From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 18 Apr 10 -

Oh we came to sunny Spain,
To help the people smile again,
And to show the fascist bastards,
That their fight was all in vain,
Oh the Ri, oh the Ro
Oh the Rio, Rio, Rio, Ha, Ha, Ha

Mussolini had some tanks,
And Franco taught 'em swell,
But our anti-tankers showed 'em,
When they blew them all to hell.
Oh the Ri, oh the Ro,
Oh the Rio, Rio, Rio, Ha, Ha, Ha.

These are the words sung by Brigader Paddy Doyle in a BBC radio programme written by Roy Palmer called IN OUR HEARTS WERE SONGS OF HOPE.This programme was broadcast on 13/07/1986.
Thanks to Roy Palmer.

---

From: GeoffLawes
Date: 01 June 2011

Mike Anderson of the International Brigades Memorial Trust sent me an email with the following information.
Hi Geoff, in George Wheeler's memoir "To Make The People Smile Again" page 67 refers to the following song:- Someone in the ranks ahead of me began to sing.Soon we were all singing, the words rolling out across the valley to the rhythm of our marching feet. It was a song I had learned while training in Chabola Valley, and now had a special resonance: "Oh we came to sunny Spain to make the people smile again. And to drive the fascist bastards from the hill and from the plain..."
Thanks Mike


Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 13 Jan 21 – 16.48 PM

Jim Jump of the IBMT has emailed to tell me some more about this song which he entitles ‘Song of the Anti-Tanks’ Jim’s lyrics are more extensive than those given above :

We’ve come to sunny Spain
To make the people smile again
And to chase the fascist bastards
O’er the hill and o’er the plain

CHORUS
Oleree… Olero… Oleree oree ore oree ha ha ha ha
Oleree… Olero… Oleree oree ore oree ha ha ha ha

And since we’ve been on the trail
We have made the fascists wail
And call upon the priest
For ‘Santa Agua’ in the pail

Mussolini had some tanks
AndFranco thought them swell
But we took our anti-tank guns
And we blew them all to hell

Jim also says “ I got the words of the ‘Song of the Anti-Tanks’ (see below) from Kev Buyers, an IBMT member in Aberdeen, who said they were written by Jack Black. “ Jim says he is trying to get more information about the song . I will post it here if anything new emerges

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 07:25 PM


AUSTRALIA AND THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR

What about Australia? Are there any songs about Australian International Brigaders? There were 66 volunteers from AustraliaAussies in The Spanish Civil War by David Leach

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Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 11 Apr 10

This is a link to another Mudcat thread which takes up this issue Australia and the Spanish Civil War

Subject: Lyr Add: BALLAD OF HEROES
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 07 Apr 10 - 03:23 PM

BALLAD OF HEROES

Dear Geoff Lawes,

I understand from the IBMT that you are collecting songs about the Spanish Civil War.

The attached was not a popular song, but it was performed at the concert to mark the return of the last British Briagders from Spain in 1939.

Best,

Andy Croft

The premiere of Ballad of Heroes was part of the 1939 'Festival of Music and the People'. It was organised by a team comprising the poet Randall Swingler, the composer Alan Rawsthorne, John Allen, Parry Jones, Margaret Leona and representatives of the London Labour Choral Union, Labour Stage and the London Co-operative Societies' Joint Education Committee. Alan Bush was the chairman, Edward Clark (secretary of the ISCM) the organising secretary and Will Sahnow the treasurer. The Festival was attended by over 10,000 people ; more than 1,000 people took part.

The Festival consisted of three concerts. The first was a performance, on Saturday 1 April at the Royal Albert Hall, of Music and the People, a historical pageant written by Swingler and set to music by twelve composers - Vaughan Williams, Arnold Cooke, Elizabeth Lutyens, Victor Yates, Edmund Rubbra, Erik Chisholm, Christian Darnton, Frederic Austin, Norman Demuth, Alan Bush, Elizabeth Maconchy and Alan Rawsthorne. Paul Robeson and Parry Jones were the principal singers, but there were five hundred other voices too - from twenty-three London Co-operative choirs (the Rhondda Unity Male Voice Choir also sang). There were a hundred dancers. Arnold Goldsborough was on the Albert Hall organ, while Alan Bush himself conducted the People's Festival Wind Band. The decor was by Michael Ross and Barbara Allen, and the Pageant was directed by John Allen.

The second concert was on 3 April at the Conway Hall, where the Fleet Street Choir conducted by TB Lawrence, sang works by Vaughan Williams, Percy Grainger, Zoltan Kodaly, Hans Eisler and Schonberg. 'Medvedeff and his Balalaika Orchestra' performed popular Soviet songs.

The third concert was on Wednesday 5 April, at the Queen's Hall. The London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Constant Lambert, (leader George Stratton) were joined by 300 voices from twelve Co-operative and Labour choirs. The concert was the occasion for the first public performance in Britain of Bush's Piano Concerto (Swingler's text sung by Dennis Noble, with Bush at the piano) and the premiere of Benjamin Britten's Ballad of Heroes. Written to mark the return of the last British volunteers from Spain, and to honour the men of the British Battalion who did not return, the libretto was by Auden and Swingler. Ballad of Heroes opens with Swingler's stately 'Funeral March' :

You who stand at doors, wiping hands on aprons,
You who lean at the corner saying : 'We have done our best,'
You who shrug your shoulders and you who smile
To conceal your life's despair and its evil taste,
To you we speak, you numberless Englishmen,
To remind you of the greatness still among you
Created by these men who go from our towns
To fight for peace, for liberty, and for you.
They were men who hated death and loved life,
Who were afraid, and fought against their fear !
Men who wished to create and not to destroy,
But knew the time must come to destroy the destroyer.
For they have restored your power and pride,
Your life is yours, for which they died.

This was followed by part of Auden's 'It's Farewell to the Drawing-room's Civilised Cry,' the beguiling, handsome voice of the Devil who has 'broken parole' - the voice of Fascism and War. The third movement combined texts by both Swingler and Auden. The chorus sang verses by Auden from On the Frontier ('They die to make men just/ And worthy of the earth') as the lowered flags of the British Battalion were carried into the hall and Walter Widdop's tenor voice sang Swingler's lovely
recitative :

Still tho' the scene of possible Summer recedes,
And the guns can be heard across the hills
Like waves at night : though crawling suburbs fill
Their valleys with the stench of idleness like rotting weeds,
And desire unacted breeds its pestilence.
Yet still below the soot the roots are sure
And beyond the guns there is another murmur,
Like pigeons flying unnotic'd over continents
With secret messages of peace : and at the centre
Of the wheeling conflict the heart is calmer,
The promise nearer than ever it came before.

The above information was kindly supplied to me by Andy Croft and here is a sound sample Ballad of Heroes Another sample of Ballad of Heroes can be heard as an added soundtrack to the following Youtube video "Original film of the return of the International Brigade British Battalion 07.12.1938" HERE Ballad of Heroes

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 08 Apr 10 - 06:14 PM

ABRAHAM LINCOLN LIVES (WALKS) AGAIN
By Lewis Allan ( Abel Meeropol)

Does anyone have the lyrics or more information about a song sung by Tony Seletan called Abraham Lincoln Walks Again?
Here is a link to a site with some information and the facility to play a bit of the song
George & Ruth--Songs and Letters of the Spanish Civil War CD,Tony Saletan et al Click on the ► symbol 23 to hear a performance extract.

---

From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 12:34 PM
I have now discovered that the song, Abraham Lincoln Walks Again which appears on the CD George & Ruth--Songs and Letters of the Spanish Civil War, performed by Tony Saletan, was actually written by Lewis Allan, aka Abel Meeropol, in 1938. It was probably originally called Abraham Lincoln Lives Again.

I have begun another thread on Mudcat HERE giving references for this new information and asking for offers of further information and a complete set of lyrics.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 09 Apr 10 - 06:29 PM

NON-INTERVENTION
Amirah Inglis, Australians in the Spanish Civil War, page 26, refers to a Sydney University songbook, Dirt Cheap, from 1938, which had the lyrics of Non-Intervention, to be sung to the tune of Waltzing Matilda. Inglis gives bits and pieces of the lyrics:

Once a jolly Franco started up a civil war
Liking himself as the top dog you see
....
Aeroplanes from Italy are raining bombs on wrecked Madrid
Gunners from the Volga side are firing merrily
And the League still declares, with the simple faith of infancy
Non-intervention's a reality.

Apparently the song had a go at all the parties to the dispute, but above all, the League of Nations.

---

From: GeoffLawes -
Date: 14 Apr 10 -

Does anyone know more of the words?

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 10 Apr 10 - 08:22 PM

NEW ZEALAND AND THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR

Does anyone have this book,

Kiwi Companeros: New Zealand and the Spanish Civil War by Mark Derby?

If so has it got anything about songs or singing in it?

---

From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 14 Apr 10 -
There is now a separate thread on New Zealand
NEW ZEALAND AND THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST,Bruce Barthol
Date: 12 Apr 10 - 01:17 PM

BADAJOZ
By Bruce Barthol

Hello Geoff,

I suppose you have Taste Of Ashes from Spain In My Heart. There's another song, Badajoz, which like Taste Of Ashes is from the SF Mime Troupe's play Spain '36. I put it out on my cd, and have performed it at the vet's events and other places.
Salud,
Bruce

Album Title: The Decline & Fall of Everything Release Date: 1/1/2008

A short part of the song can be sampled HERE

---

Another, different sample here http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-decline-amp-fall-of-everything-mw0001685885

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 14 Apr 10 - 09:37 AM

NO PASARAN

By Gary Kaye

I have just discovered this song on YouTube.
It is obviously a fairly recent song. Does anyone know any more about the song or the singer? Was anyone at the performance?

NO PASARAN

On Cable Street where comrades meet
They stopped the fascists in their tracks
As side by side they stood with pride
They turned the black shirt bastards back
Then down in Spain they felt the pain
Those comrades fought and there they fell
With Stalin’s help a blow was dealt
They damned the fascists into hell

No pasaran No pasaran We will not yield these streets today
No pasaran No pasaran The people here will have their say

People said no, rivers won’t flow
The blood will not spill in our land
So Powell’s words stopped being heard
As decent people took a stand
Monsieur Le Pen he tried again
To be a fascist President
People of France they took their chance
And knocked him down with common sense

No pasaran No pasaran We will not yield these streets today
No pasaran No pasaran The people here will have their say

The BNP spread their disease
And dress it up as politics
We are not fooled we won’t be ruled
By those who stand there spouting shit
This war’s not won it’s just begun
For every woman, child and man
So don’t give in ‘cos we can win If we cry out No pasaran

No pasaran No pasaran We will not yield these streets today
No pasaran No pasaran The people here will have their say

Subject: Lyr Add: I WANT TO GO HOME
From: GUEST,John Fisher
Date: 14 Apr 10 - 04:39 PM

I WANT TO GO HOME

My dad was a member of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade (see Harry Fisher, Comrades, Tales of a Brigadista in the Spanish Civil War, University of Nebraska Press, 1997).

He loved Viva La Quince Brigada, and the other SCW songs. But he always said that's not actually what the guys sang in Spain. The song he remembered best, and still loved to sing decades later was a remake of an old WWI song with the lyrics...

I want to go home, I want to go home
Machine guns they rattle and cannons they roar
I don't want to go to the front any more
So take me over the sea
Where the fascists can't get at me
Oh, my, I'm too young to die
I want to go home

I've never seen the song recorded.

John Fisher
[e-mail]

---

From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 14 Apr 10 - 08:34 PM
Hi GUEST John Fisher,

I have just come across this very song in Michael Petrou's book,RENEGADES, about the Canadian volunteers in Spain. Below are the words as Petrou writes them and you will see that one or two of the words are slightly different.

I want to go home,
I don't wanna die
Machine guns they rattle
The cannons they roar
I don't want to go to the front any more

Oh take me over the sea
Where Franco can't get at me
Oh! My! I'm too young to die
I wanna to go home!

Petrou's footnote to these lyrics says he got them from Irving Weissman who was being interviewed by Mac Reynolds, circa 1965 and that the interview is now kept in The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Radio Archive.

This song is based on a World War One song written by a Canadian called Gitz Rice and here is some more information about the original songwriter and song.
LINK TO ORIGINAL SHEET MUSIC
Newspaper Cutting 'THE STORY OF GITZ RICE'
OBITURARY of GITZ RICE

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 14 Apr 10 - 08:34 PM

QUESTIONS THAT STILL NEED ANSWERS

---

JIM CARROLL's father sang a song including the fragment :
....... from Gandesa to the sea.
And keep your bloody head down and don't shoot me.

Can anyone give us the rest?

---

---

Link toTHE SONG LIST for Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War posted above

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 14 Apr 10 - 08:45 PM

CANADA AND THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR


The opening few paragraphs of Chapter 9 of Michael Petrou's book called RENEGADES are about singing among the Canadian Brigaders.He says:

'Singing was a popular pastime among volunteers in the International Brigades, as it has always been for soldiers in any army. At night Canadians could occasionally hear Moors or Spaniards singing in the trenches opposite them. A few of the Internationals even had guitars and other musical instruments. Most of their songs were generic, if beautiful, odes to fighting fascism and working-class solidarity. Some were sung in Spanish; some were not. The American Finn Carl Syvanen recalls that in the predawn gloom before the internationals launched their attack on Brunete, a Canadian nicknamed K.O. because of his boxing talents broke the tension by shouting out the lyrics of Robert Service's classic poem " the Shooting Of Dan McGrew"." A bunch of the boys were whooping it up in the Malamute saloon," he sang reciting the story of a barroom shooting that happened one frozen night during the Yukon gold rush to several hundred men about to sweep across a scorching Spanish plain to attack a village bearing the familiar name of Canada. (Villanueva de la Canada)

None of this was particularly out of the ordinary in a war that had such an international character, and it certainly wasn't anything to worry the commanders and political commissars of the internationals in Spain. But some Caanadians imported songs that soon caused consternation among their political bosses, such as this marching song:

I want to go home,
I don't wanna die
Machine guns they rattle
The cannons they roar
I don't want to go to the front any more

Oh take me over the sea
Where Franco can't get at me
Oh! My! I'm too young to die
I wanna to go home!

Irving Weisseman, a political commissar and leading American communist in Spain, decided, along with his fellow commissars, that it was unacceptable for anti-fascist volunteers to sing such lyrics and tried to stamp out the song.

" We commissars had a hell of a time because we had to fight that song," he said. "At least we thought- we were very solemn and straight-laced - we thought we had to fight it... This song became the chant of the people who just felt, what the hell were we there for?" Weissman did not say if the commissars' censorship campaign had any success, but it seems unlikely.

In truth there was little seditious about the song. According to Weissman, it originated with Canadian soldiers in the First World War and was simply adapted to Spain.'

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 19 Apr 10 - 02:37 PM

BRIGADER MILES TOMALIN AS A PERFORMER

Miles Tomalin had a musical group and there's a well known picture. I think they were the antitank crew and a bit 'eccentric'. i've seen photos witha mandolin and recorder.

---

From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 19 Apr 10 - 08:29 PM
Hi Mike, yes I've also seen that picture of Miles Tomalin playing the recorder with the anti-tank battery where someone,unnamed is playing the mandolin - it is in James Hopkins book INTO THE HEART OF THE FIRE, and some other books. Tomalin apparently inscribed his recorder with the names of the SCW battles in which he fought.

The writer and poet Miles Tomalin went to Spain in 1937. Shown here are his recorder, inscribed with the names of the battles in which he fought - extract from catalogue of the items displayed in cases in the exhibition 'Spanish Civil War - Dreams and Nightmares'held at The Imperial War Museum , London,, 20 October 2001 - 28 April 2002).

LINK, scroll down to CASE F: INTERNATIONAL BRIGADE and BRITISH VOLUNTEERS IN SPAIN

Does anyone know anything about the type of music he performed? I found this in the FolkTrax on-line catalogue


TOMALIN, Miles - England\ Songmaker\ 1971 -- ZOOM MUSIC JAM 1971 (M) Advent of Steam accomp Steve BENBOW (voc/ gtr) with Denny WRIGHT (bass) All comp songs HERE

which suggests a connection with folk music ,after the SCW at least.

---

From: GeofLawes - PM
Date: 08 July 2012 LINK to photo of Miles Tomalin and the Anti-Tank Battery in the book International Brigades in Spain 1936-39 By Ken Bradley & Mike Chappell

If you scroll down to the next page in the book, p.54, there is another photo of Miles Tomalin , on the left with his arms folded.
Mike, your father, Sam Wild is pictured on page 55 with Bob Cooney standing behind him.

---

From: GeofLawes - PM
Date: 10 July 2012 Thanks to Almudina Cros who enquired about the recorder for me and writes I asked Stefany Tomalin about the recorder, and she said it is in the Imperial War Museum! She gave them lots of stuff, including the recorder, which YES, had the battles inscribed in it! So the Imperial War Museum might want to start cleaning their archives and they'd better find this precious instrument!

Subject: Lyr Add: SONG OF THE AMERICAN CONSOL
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 07:57 PM

SONG OF THE AMERICAN CONSOL


Sung by Max Parker
On LP Al Tocar Diana, At Dawn Break: Songs From A Franco Prison
Folkways Records Album No FH 5435, 1982
FOLKWAYS RECORDING DETAILS Click on the ► symbol 106 to hear a performance extract.



CHORUS
Honey, honey, honey, honey, etc.
Comrades we love you, honey
Comrades we love you, honey
Love you in the springtime and the fall.
Comrades we love you, honey
Comrades we love you, honey, love you best of all,

"Oh the border is closed. You better turn back."
Were the words of the American consol.
(Words of the American consol.)
But we all laughed , 'cause we all knew
He was only straining his tonsil.

Oh the border is closed, and the guards are there.
Oh pray what can we do? (Pray what can we do?)
As you can see, our task must be,
To climb the Pyrenees.

Oh I had a dream the other night that put me in good humor.
(Put me in good humor.)
When I awoke, I found that dream,
Was just a lousy rumor

March on to kill the Fascist beast.
"Forward to the front we say". (" Forward to the front we say".)
At six o'clock our sergeant says,
"Forward to do K.P."


Excerpts From The Album Notes pdf


'Manana Song and Song of the American Consol may, in part, be parodies of American pop songs of the day. Other songs sung in the prison included current songs like Stardust and Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, and various camp, folk and union songs.'

'Attributed to the singing group, the Convulsionaries, most of whom died in Spain.The songs chorus welcomes arriving Lincoln recruits, brave young men of goodwill who are hence "loved best of all".'


Does anyone recognise a popular song of the thirties of which this song could be a parody? The line 'Love you in the Springtime and the Fall'
makes me think of the song 'Little Eyes, I Love You' which I recall singing in pubs forty years ago down in St Just, Cornwall. The whole pub would be crowded and singing. The chorus of 'American Consol'would fit the tune of the chorus for 'Little Eyes' but I don't recall the tune for the verse part.

Does anyone know anything more about the Convulsionaries?

---

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 08:29 PM
I have done some Googling and found things which make me pretty sure that the American Consol is a parody of whichever song Little Eyes (or Little Lize) is itself based on.Here is a link to a site dealing with Cornish Folksongs which gives the Cornish lyrics and traces them back to a recording by THE DEEP RIVER BOYS issued in the 1950's but speculating that there was an earlier version.CORNISH LYRICS of LITTLE EYES
Here is a link to the singing of Little eyes in its Cornish version.
SINGING OF LITTLE EYES

If you compare the lyrics of American Consol and Little Eyes I am sure you will agree that there are too many similar phrases for these songs not to have a common source. Honey, honey, it convinces me.

Little Eyes
I dreamed a dream, the other night
The strangest dream of all
I dreamed I saw you kissing her
Behind the garden wall
Chorus:
And she said:
Little eyes I love you (honey!)
Little eyes I love you
I love you in the springtime and the fall (fall-fall-fall)
Little eyes I love you (honey!)
Little eyes I love you
I love you best of all.

I took my true love down the lane
Beneath the spreading pine
I put my arms around her waist
And pressed her lips to mine

And she said: (chorus)

I took her round to my back yard
To see my turtle dove
O tell me honey tell me true
Who is the one you love.

And she said: (chorus)

Does anyone recognise a common ancestor for these songs dating to the 1930's?

---

From: mikesamwild - PM
Date: 21 Apr 10 - 07:27 AM

just dredged up

I had a dream the other night
The funniest dream of a-a-all
I dreamed I saw a great big man
behind the garden wall

Oh, Elize ah loves yah
Elize ah oves yah
ah loves you in the springtime and the the fa-a-a-all
Elize ah loves yah, Elize ah loves yah
Ah loves you the best of all.

I took her round to my backdoor ( or sometmes ' she came around to my bedside')
to see my turtle d-o-o-ove
Now tell me honey come tell me true
who is the one you love?
dah dah dah ' Elize etc

Repeat chorus started slow and built up to quite a few repeat choruses.

---

From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 21 Apr 10 - 10:03 AM
I have found sheet music for HONEY/LITTLE 'LIZE dated 1898 HERE

Subject: Lyr Add: MANANA SONG
From: GUEST,Guest-Tim Parker
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 11:05 PM

MANANA SONG

Sung by Max Parker
On LP Al Tocar Diana, At Dawn Break: Songs From A Franco Prison
Folkways Records Album No FH 5435, 1982 FOLKWAYS RECORDING DETAILS Then click on the ► symbol 108 to hear a performance extract.

There are many words in Spanish that we would like to know.
Dictionaries they are scarce as roses in the snow.
But there is one word in Spanish that you never ought to miss.
So listen carefully and you will find that it is this:

Manana. Manana. That old familiar cry.
Manana. Manana. We'll hear it 'til we die.

When will the kitchen have in stock a grapefruit or banana?
Cook shakes his head and whispers low that mystic word, "Manana."

Manana si, ahora no. No tengo cambio.
Regancha, regancha, regancha. No hay, no hay, no hay.
Yo comprendo. Yo entiendo. Hablo, hablas, habla. Hablamos, hablais, hablan.

the following is an excerpt from notes to Al Tocar Diana, Max Parker, Folkways FW 05435:Album Notes pdf

Note: "I have no change" was in general reference to the currency complications in Republican sectors. Under conditions of the National Front's sabotage of currency basis, each village, town and city had to use different currencies. Hence, frequently, no change for out of town money!

---

From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 29 Dec 2010
I have started a fresh thread requesting information called MANANA: 1930's& Spanish Civil War Song HERE. It gives new information and lyrics to the song as performed by Ed Balchowsky plus a link to his singing of the song in the film The Good Fight.

Subject: Lyr Add: O'DUFFY'S IRONSIDES
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 07:05 PM

O'DUFFY'S IRONSIDES

By Diarmuid Fitzpatrick, 1936

Possibly amended by Brendan Behan

Air: The Valley of Knockanure. Tune available in Digitrad HERE


Let loose my fierce crusaders,
O'Duffy wildly cried,
My grim and bold mosstroopers,
That poached by Shannon side,
Their shirts are blue, their backs are strong,
They've cobwebs on the brain,
And if Franco's moors are beaten.
My Irish troops remain

In old Dublin town my name is tarred,
On pavement and slum wall.
In thousands on her Christian Front,
The starving children call.
But with my gallant ironsides,
They call to us in vain,
For we're off to slaughter workers in,
The sunny land of Spain.

At Badajo's red ramparts,
The Spanish workers died,
O'Duffy's bellowing Animal Gang,
Sing hymns of hate with pride.
The sleuths that called for Connolly's blood,
And Sean MacDiarmuid's too,
Are panting still for worker's gore,
From Spain and far Peru.

Fall in! Fall in! O'Duffy cried,
There's work in Spain to do,
A harp and crown we all will gain,
And shoot the toilers through.
In Paradise an Irish harp,
A Moor to dance a jig,
A traitor's hope, a hangman's rope,
An Irish peeler's pig.

The lyrics above and the information below is taken from the article The Authorship Of The Somhairle Macallistair Ballads by H. Gustav Klaus, Irish University Review, Vol 26,No 1 (Spring – Summer, 1996), pp. 107-117

Dairmuid Fitzpatrick subsequently became involved in Republican politics and from some time in the nineteen thirties organised Na Fianna Eireann, the Irish Republican Youth Movement. It was here that he would have met the young Brendan Behan (born 1923). One of the many songs in Behan's unfinished play Richard's Cork Leg is an adapted version of Fitzpatrick's ballad "O'Duffy's Ironsides", originally published in The Worker of 1936 as " Brigade Ballad No3" and signed, not Somhairle Macallistair, but " Tom Moore junior.


Behan's version retains four of the original eight stanzas, but presents them in a different order with minor amendments in several lines." A harp and crown we all will gain", for example, originally ran " A martyr's crown we all will gain". The Hero sings the ballad as a " welcome" to one of the Blueshirts "that was out fighting against the Communists in Spain". This is exactly in keeping with the original intention of the song. I am,of course, not suggesting here a direct handling down of the material- Fitzpatrick was much too secretive about his literary exploits- merely that "O'Duffy's Ironsides" passed into leftwing folklore of the day and may have been sung by the Republican Scouts on a number of occasions.And in the process, as happens with oral transmissions, the song was to some extent reshaped.

Alternatively Behan may have spotted " O'Duffy's Ironsides" in publications for sale in the Communist Bookshop in Ormond Quay, which he used to frequent after school.


O'Duffy's Ironsides sung by Ronnie Drew

Guaranteed, Ronnie Drew, Record Cover and Track ListClick the triangle by the title to hear extract

INFORMATION ABOUT RICHARD'S CORK LEG

The Tune is described as Traditional: can anyone name it please?

---

Subject: RE: Tune Req: O'Duffy's Ironsides, on Ronnie Drew LP THREAD LINK HERE
From: Fred McCormick - PM
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 12:18 PM

The tune is The Valley of Knockanure.
Thanks Fred,Regards, Geoff

---

From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 23 Oct 10 - 09:02 AM

The following information and the set of complete original lyrics for O'DUFFY'S IRONSIDES is taken with the kind permission of Lynda Walker from her songbook of Spanish Civil War-related songs called THEIR SONGS NOT FORGOTTEN published in Belfast in 2006.

The following information and the set of complete original lyrics for O'DUFFY'S IRONSIDES is taken with the kind permission of Lynda Walker from her songbook of Spanish Civil War-related songs called THEIR SONGS NOT FORGOTTEN published in Belfast in 2006.

O'DUFFY'S IRONSIDES
Somhairle Mac Alastair


You've heard of Slattery's Light Dragoons,
Who fought at Waterloo,
And those who ran at Bunker Hill—
Or bunked at Timbuktu?
There's still a page in history
Which may never be uncut,
To tell the glorious story of
O'Duffy's Mounted Foot.

In old Dublin town my name is tarred
On pavement and slum wall,
In thousands on its Christian Front
The starving children call.
But with my gallant Ironsides
They call to us in vain,
For we're off to slaughter workers
In the sunny land in Spain.

"Let loose my fierce Crusaders!"
O'Duffy wildly cries,
"My grim and bold moss-troopers
That poached by Shannonsides.
Their shirts are blue, their backs are strong,
They've cobwebs on the brain;
If Franco's troops are beaten down
My Irish troops remain.

"Fall in, fall in!" O'Duffy cries,
"There's work in Spain to do;
A martyr's crown we all will gain,
And shoot the toilers through.
In paradise an Irish harp,
A Moor to dance a jig,
A traitor's hope, a hangman's rope,
An Irish peeler's pig."

On Badajoz' red ramparts
The Spanish workers died,
And Duffy's bellowing Animal Gang
Sang hymns of hate and pride.
The sleuths who called for Connolly's blood,
And Seán Mac Diarmada's too,
Are panting for the workers' gore,
From Spain to far Peru.

"Bring forth my warhorse Rosinante,"
The bold O'Duffy cries;
"My squire, Patsy Panza,
The man who never lies;
My peeler's baton in my hand,
A gay knight-errant I;
Oh, Allah guide our gallant band,
And Hitler guard the sky.

Put on my suit of Daily Mail,
A crescent on my back,
And hoist the Independent flag
The Freeman's Castle Hack.
My name is tarred in Dublin town,
On pavement and slum wall,
But far away in distant Spain
Grandee and landlord call.
With Foreign Legion, Rif and Moor,
We'll fight for Al-fon-so,
And the fame of Duffy's Ironsides
Will down the ages go.

On the village pump in Skibbereen
An eagle screams its woe
As it hears the tramp of armèd men
From the bogs of Timahoe.
The war drums roll in Dublin town,
And from each lusty throat
The Fascists sing the ancient hymn,
"The Peeler and the Goat."

Somhairle Mac Alastair was the pseudonym of Diarmuid Mac Giolla Phádraig. For more background to this song and its writer see Connolly Column by Michael O'Riordan (1979), p. 38–40, and the 2005 edition, p. 2.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 04:02 PM

My dad said they made up a version of O'Slattery's Mounted Foot I may be able to trawl it up. He sang the O'Slattery version and I've got a letter from the bereaved parent of a Brigader whose son had told them in a letter of Sam's comic songs.

Oh you've heard of Julius Caesar and the great Napoleon too
And how the Turks and Russians beat the French at Waterloo
But there's a page of history that stll reamins uncut
and that's the gallant story of O'Slattery's mounted foot. etc

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 04:08 PM

There's a Wikipedia entry on the Percy French song

---

Link toTHE SONG LIST for Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War posted above

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 01:19 PM

I meant great singers!:)


By the way , I wrote a song based around a verse from the poem by John Lepper, Battle of Jarama 1937.

The second verse:

Death stalked the olive trees
Picking his men
His leaden finger beckoned
Again and again


it always gripped me from being a kid.


All I know is that he was a journalist who was already in Spain, then joined up and was sent to the front, was 'traumatised' and went AWOL and was then imprisoned and later repatriated in September 1937. He returned to Britain but there seem to be no record of his later life. Has anyone any details or contacts etc?

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST,Duncan Longstaff
Date: 08 May 10 - 08:08 AM

BRIGADER JOHN LONGSTAFF AND SPANISH CIVIL WAR MUSIC

My father was Johnny Longstaff who was the runner for No2 Company of the British Battalion of the 15th International Brigade, He had 3 records of the Spanish Civil war Songs these were the two Folkways Lp's which include some songs in English and the Ian Campbell Ep Songs of Protest which included "Viva La Quince Brigada" sung in Spanish.
My father told me that Alan Bush the Marxist composer thought that my father would have a fine voice when he heard his deep north east accent, how wrong, he was affectionately known by the family as "foghorn" when he tried to sing.

I see there is a thread regarding Miles Tomalin and the photograph of the Anti Tank Battery taken in late 1937, I have a copy of this photo' my father has indicated some of those present, left to right in backgound 1)Allan Gilchrist,2)Chris Smith 3,4,5,6,7,)? 8) Miles Tomalin with recorder 9)? in foreground 10)? 11) Johnny Longstaff 12) Otto Estenson. Remainder unknown.
From my dads unpublished memoirs he records just before the battle of the Ebro "Folk singing was also appreciated by all present, this was sometimes organised by Miles Tomalin who served in the Brigades Anti Tank Battery, and his playing of the penny whistle was legendary".unfortunately does not mention which songs these were.

---

From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 09 May 10 - 09:39 AM
Duncan Longstaff: thank you for your post about your father's SCW records. If anyone is interested in seeing the songs included on these records the following links will give track lists.

SONGS OF THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR VOLUME 1 FOLKWAYS RECORDS

SONGS OF THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR VOLUME 2 FOLKWAYS RECORDS,1966

SONGS OF PROTEST EP - Ian Campbell Folk Group Topic Records, 1962

Your information about Miles Tomalin and the musicians in the anti-tank battery was interesting - I have not seen such a complete list of the men's names before. By chance the photo you refer to is on the cover of the new book Antifascistas, and Amazon have a picture of the cover which you can see using the following link:
PHOTO OF THE ANTI -TANK MUSICIANS OF THE 15th BRIGADE
It is not the clearest reproduction of the photo but it is the best I found available - if anyone can give a link to a better image then please do.

Regards, Geoff

---

From: mikesamwild - PM
Date: 13 May 10 - 09:54 AM

hi Duncan. my dad talked about yours. A runner was a tough job and he admired their guts! Terry Ward was one who lost a leg aged about 18 and he lived with us in Manchester for quite a while afterwards. People were very supportive of each other after Spain.

Thanks for info on that picture it's more names I didn't have too. I just read Antifascistas - it came out to accompany a very good travelling exibition put together by IBMT members.

Subject: Lyr Add: SONG FOR JAMES MOIR
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 09 May 10 - 07:06 PM

SONG FOR JAMES MOIR

By Ian McLaren


"I've travelled far to join the fight.
Hiked across the Pyrenees, under dead of night.
My country's failed me, they had no right.
That's the reason here is where I lay my head tonight.


I'm only 20, my future bright.
But if I don't reach 21, I'll die knowing we were right.
My country's failed me, they had no right.
That's the reason here is where I lay my head tonight.


In this dark hole how do you think I feel?
The fear of death it haunts me as I hear my comrades squeal.
My country's failed me, they had no right.
That's the reason here is where I lay my head tonight.


I close my eyes and dream of better days.
And I wonder how these fascists justify their wicked ways.
So heads of state, unite in shame
And may your sleep be troubled by your role within this game.


My country's failed me, they had no right.
That's the reason here is where I lay my head tonight."


WEB SOURCE OF LYRICS
This song seems to have been written for a production presented at Perth Museum and Art Gallery on Thursday May 10th 2007 in honour of Perthshire's International Brigaders and was narrated by the historian Paul Phillipou.

I am trying to find out more information about the song but if anyone can add anything please do.

Regards, Geoff

---

From: GUEST,IanMcLaren - PM
Date: 20 May 10 - 03:05 PM

I am the writer of the song "Song for James Moir". It was written specially for the production "Not to a Fanfare of Trumpets" and was my response to reading the script of the production and trying to get inside the mind of the young volunteer James Moir. The song has since been performed at numerous fundraising events with guitar and harmonica accompaniment. The lyrics attempt to voice the frustration felt at the UK Government's non-interventionist stance and highlight how to this day heads of state can abdicate responsibility when it suits them to do so. I have not as yet recorded the song as it is a markedly different style to that which I usually write for my band Wang Dang Delta.

Subject: Lyr Add: HASTA LUEGO a.k.a. FITBA NOT WAR
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 21 May 10 - 03:25 PM


HASTA LUEGO aka Fitba Not War
By Frank Rae

At Wednesday's Songwriting Competition at Edinburgh Folk Club just this week, third prize went to Frank Rae for his song "Fitba Not War" - also inspired by the Spanish Civil War.

---

From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 03 Jun 10 - 07:36 AM
Thank you Tattie Bogle, I have found Frank Rae's My Space and although the SCW song is not up there yet I guess he will put it up some time and so here is a link for future use :
http://www.myspace.com/frankrae2
This song has been recorded on the CD From Blantyre to Barcelona by Frank Rae under the title of Hasta Luego.
> Further details of this CD can be found here thread.cfm?threadid=143174
I will try to obtain the words and post them here.

---

A YouTube recording of Frank Rae singing his song Hasta Luego is now accessible HERE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Js_h1nR7iY The song was is to be re-released on a new Greentrax recording on August 1st called No Pasaran (They shall not pass) - Scots in the Spanish Civil War. See http://www.greentrax.com/music/artists/reviews/no-pasaran/

This song was originally recorded on the CD From Blantyre to Barcelona Further details of this CD can be found here thread.cfm?threadid=143174

Rab didnae go tae the fitba' that day
Well, the league, it wis jist aboot won anyway
He said he had something he jist hid tae dae
And he spoke aboot folk he called fascists
He said you're auld enough noo Tam tae go on your own
I'm sure that ye ken the right bus tae get on
But I wisnae tae tell oor Ma where he wis goin'
Then he said he was headin' for Paris

He said gae me a hug and gae me a smile
Ask a man and he'll lift you ower the turnstile
Wave your red banner and hear the crowd roar
But always remember it's fitba' no war

At the end of our road Rab bumped intae some mates
Who quizzed him aboot the International Brigades
They said he was daft he said he couldnae wait
Tae march intae Spain wi' his brothers
Rab telt them a' that tae him it wis clear
If we don't fight them there, we will fight them here
He asked them tae join him said there's nuthin' tae fear
Jist as long as we a' stick thegither

He said ….etc

Rab said life's no like fitba' when the sides are a' square
Wi' a ref in the middle tae make sure it's fair
Sometimes the others need mair than oor prayers
And he, fur wan, widnae ignore them
Then he slipped me a tanner, tae spend at the game
Said "Hasta Luego", whatever that meant
He ruffled my hair, smiled, turned then went
And that was the last time I saw him

He said…..etc

So I gave him a hug and I gave him a smile
I asked a man and he lifted me ower the turnstile
I waved my red banner and hear the crowd roar
And I always remember, it's fitba' no war

© Frank Rae
HEAR THE SONG HERE

Thanks to Frank Rae who supplied the words in the West Central Scottish vernacular in which he wrote them. The words are collected from another Mudcat thread here: thread.cfm?threadid=145987&messages=12#top And thanks to all who contributed to that thread with helpful corrections to my own earlier attempt to transcribe the song from the recording.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 11 Jun 10 - 12:29 PM


SALUD BRIGADISTA

Jim Jump told me in an email that a band called Foundlings have recorded a song dedicated to Brigader Bob Doyle called 'Salud Brigadista'. I have found a snatch of it on this site:
Salud Brigadista - FOUNDLINGS
If anyone can supply the lyrics or more information, please do.

Geoff

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST,Andy Roberts
Date: 09 Jul 10 - 06:04 AM


GUERNIKA

By Andy Roberts

Hello, I was pointed to this thread by a report in a copy of the International Brigade Memorial Trust Newsletter passed on to me by Bob Cash in Romford.

I visited the north of Spain in 2003 and happened upon a meeting in the town square at Guernica Lomo to commemorate the day that town was firebombed in 1937. It was of course, a very emotional experience. The next day I began writing the song which I have titled "Gernika" interspersing the history with my own travel story. I've since recorded the song and published the lyrics both in English and in Basque which can be viewed at

Gernika

From the above link you can listen to the recording, download the mp3 file, read about it, view the lyrics and a youtube video of a live performance.

If there's any other information you require please ask.

Andy Roberts

Thanks for posting your song Andy -Geoff

Subject: Lyr Add: UNDERNEATH THE SPANISH STARS
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 14 Oct 10 - 07:12 PM


UNDERNEATH THE SPANISH STARS


By Edith Segal

Oh I dreamed of Spanish gardens, señoritas and guitars,
Spanish moonlight, lovers dancing underneath the Spanish stars.
And I fancied I would go there, quite romantic was I then
to dance and click the castanets, Lo recuerdo muy bien.

Oh I never stopped to think at all that there might come a war,
stain my pretty Spanish shawl and break my sweet guitar.
And now I think it's time ot waken, end my dreaming of romance,
and join the anti-fascists to halt Franco's advance.
...
And when that's done we'll dance again and we'll sing and strum guitars,
and live again and love again underneath the Spanish stars.

Poem and Melody
Copyright 1981 by Edith Segal
published with chordal arrangement by Maddy Simon
recorded by Helene Williams and piano accompaniment by Leonard Lehrman, 1990

The lyrics for this song have been copied from a post by Leonard Lehrman on another Mudcat thread called
Lyr Req: Underneath the Spanish Stars-Moe Fishman
which was started to find out about this song. That thread gives further details about the song and can be reached using the link HERE

Leonard Lehreman has now posted Underneath The Spanish Stars sung by Helene Williams on YOUTUBE

Thank you Leonard Lehreman

Jim Dixon on the other thread says that there is a song called UNDERNEATH THE SPANISH STARS, written by Jack Payne and Irving King, published in 1930.Does anyone know if that song uses the same tune as the one used in the Helene Williams YouTube video?

---

From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 15 Oct 10 - 05:35 PM

I have found a sound clip of an Al Bowlly recording of Underneath The Spanish Stars. The clip does not have Al Bowlly singing and seems like only the introduction to the song but even so the tune does not seem as if it is going the same way as the tune for the Edith Segal song. Listen for yourself , Number 3 on this site, HERE


If anyone else can shed light on any connection it would be good but otherwise it looks as if Edith Segal's song is unconnected with the better known Payne/Bowlly song.

Subject: Lyr Add: ANTYFASCIST STEVE (Woody Guthrie)
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 07:33 PM


ANTYFASCIST STEVE

By Woody Guthrie

I came across a reference to a little known Woody Guthrie song about the Spanish Civil War. I then started a new Mudcat thread to find out more about the song and this has quickly produced interesting results both about the Woody Guthrie song and about Joe Strummer whose song Spanish Bombs is in the above list.

WGuthrie song about BrigaderSteve Nelson THREAD HERE

The following is an extract about Woody Guthrie's song Antyfascist Steve from Nora's Page of the Official Woody Guthrie Website dated May 2001 and is reproduced with the permission of The Woody Guthrie Foundation. The full text of Nora Guthrie's web posting can be read at the link HERE (Thanks to BrooklynJay.)

Peter Glazer's production "Pasiones-Songs of the Spanish Civil War" followed the speakers. Jamie O'Reilly, Michael Smith and Katrina O'Reilly once again moved me to tears. Peter also produced the show "Woody Guthrie, American Balladeer" which has been touring the country and Europe on and off now for over 15 years. Well, it had me wondering if Woody had ever written a song about the Spanish Civil War?

The next day, I found a song in the archives called "Antyfascist Steve" which was written September 18th, 1953 while in Topanga Canyon, CA. It begins:

"I guess tears run to my eyes
Day I kissed you that goodbye
Headin over t' Spain t' fight
On my New Yorky ship that nite.
I says if I can stop Franco now
Maybe I'll mess Hitler up somehow
My hundred comrades on my shipsdeck
Gonna let Wall Street know we tried."

Following six more verses it's signed, "to my friend Stevey".

Thanks to Tiffany Colannino,the Archivist at the Woody Guthrie Archives.
Thanks also to Peregrina for helping me to get to see the full text of Antyfascist Steve.The full text is available in the magazine article Woody Guthrie's Lost Song To Lincoln Vet Steve Nelson written by Paul C Mischler which can be found on the two following pay-to-view sites.
http://www.jstor.org/pss/40404193

http://www.atypon-link.com/GPI/doi/abs/10.1521/siso.68.3.329.40302?journalCode=siso

I have not yet received permission to reproduce the complete set of lyrics.

UPDATE 07-12-2010
I have tried to get permission to reproduce the full lyrics and eventually arrived at the Hal Leonard Corporation in whose power it is to give permission HERE But the FAQ on their website say
Do you ever grant gratis permission?
We receive a number of requests from charitable or non-profit organizations. In an effort to be fair and equitable in our handling of these requests, it is our general policy not to grant gratis permission.

-------------

"But on the other side it didn't say nothing.
That sign was made for you and me"

Who wrote that?

Subject: Lyr Add: FREEDOM'S GALTEE BOYS
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 01:07 PM


FREEDOM'S GALTEE BOYS

By Patsy Halloran, Christy Moore and Manus O'Riordan

I have just received an email from Manus O'Riordan with the words to Freedom's Galtee Boys which is a version of the well known Irish song The Galtee Mountain Boy to which Manus added verses for his performance at the inauguration of the Kit Conway Memorial at Burncourt, Tipperary in 2005.Following, are first, the interesting notes Manus gives to the song and then the complete lyrics. Under the lyrics I have put a link to a YouTube video to shows the tune.



"THE GALTEE MOUNTAIN BOY" SUNG BY MANUS O'RIORDAN

The village of Burncourt, County Tipperary lies in the valley between the Galtee and Knockmealdown mountains. Known as Rehill until the mid 17th century - and Rehill still survives as the name of one of the local townlands - Burncourt derived its name from the imposing ruins of the castle adjacent to the village, burned in 1650 as Cromwell's army laid waste to our country. [Not every Republican development can be viewed positively in Ireland, particularly when the English Republican leader Oliver Cromwell set about his mass murder of "the mere Irish"!]   



"FREEDOM'S GALTEE BOYS"
"The Galtee Mountain Boy" is a popular song of the Irish War of Independence and Civil War, and was composed by Patsy Halloran. It was recorded by Christy Moore, who is best known to all those with a particular interest in the history of the Spanish Anti-Fascist War for his song paying tribute to 15th International Brigade's Irish volunteers, "Viva La Quince Brigada". When Christy recorded "The Galtee Mountain Boy" he also added a fourth verse. A further five verses have now been added by Manus O'Riordan to mark the unveiling of the Kit Conway memorial, and the song was sung by him at the unveiling ceremony itself.


I joined the Flying Column in 19 and 19,

In Cork with Sean Moylan, in Tipperary with Dan Breen.

Arrested by Free Staters and sentenced for to die.

Farewell to Tipperary, said the Galtee mountain boy.



We went across the valleys and over the hilltops green,

Where we met with Dinny Lacey, Sean Hogan and Dan Breen,

Sean Moylan and his gallant men that kept the flag flying high.

Farewell to Tipperary, said the Galtee mountain boy.



We tracked the Dublin mountains, we were rebels on the run.

Though hunted night and morning, we were outlaws but free men.

We tracked the Wicklow mountains as the sun was shining high.

Farewell to Tipperary, said the Galtee mountain boy.



I bid farewell to old Clonmel that I never more will see,

And to the Galtee mountains that oft times sheltered me.

The men who fought for liberty and who died without a sigh,

May their cause be ne'er forgotten, said the Galtee mountain boy.



So gathered here, let's raise a cheer for Burncourt's native sons,

Jack Ryan and Michael Guerin, defending with their guns

The Republic and Dail Eireann, the Irish people's choice.

First in the fray brave Kit Conway, with John Kearney and the Boys.



At Ballyporeen Kit's courage was seen on that Flying Column raid.

Of no RIC, nor Auxies, nor Tans was he afraid.

"A leader bold, in Tom Barry's mould!" - his commander would exclaim.

For freedom's light to the death he would fight on a war-scorched hill in Spain.



'36 the year, defying fear, saw the Spanish people vote

A Republic for the Rights of Man! But Franco would revolt.

Gernika ablaze from Hitler's planes, the Republic overthrown,

Despite the brave 15th Brigade, Kit Conway to the fore.



Outside Madrid 10,000 killed in Jarama's vale of tears.

In that war's hell Kit Conway fell that Spain might yet be free.

And with freedom Spain a gravestone raised, thanks gave in '94,

Where thousands lay with Kit Conway, far away from Galteemore.



In the year '05, Kit's name to inscribe, 'twas to Burncourt that we came,

Tipperary's fighting story to honour and proclaim!

With his comrades from the War in Spain, Mick O'Riordan and Bob Doyle,

A plaque unveiled, Kit Conway praised. Here's to freedom's Galtee Boys!


Manus O'Riordan

THE GALTEE MOUNTAIN BOY sung by Christy Moore in 1979

Subject: Lyr Add: A TOAST TO THOSE WHO ARE GONE
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 05 Dec 10 - 10:51 AM


A TOAST TO THOSE WHO ARE GONE

By Phil Ochs

      
Many's the hour I've lain by my window
And thought of the people who carried the burden   
Who marched in the strange fields in search of an answer   
And ended their journeys an unwilling hero.

CHORUS
So here's a song to those who are gone with never a reason why   
And a toast of the wine at the end of the line
And a toll of the bell for the next one to die.


Back in the coal fields of old Harlan county
Some talked of the union, some talked of good wages
And they lined them up in the dark of the forest
And shot them down without asking no questions.


And over the ocean, to the red Spanish soil
Came the Lincoln Brigade with their dreams of a victory
But they fell to the fire of Germany's bombing
And they fell 'cause nobody would hear their sad warning.


In old Alabama, in old Mississippi
Two states of the union so often found guilty
They came on the buses, they came on the marches
And they lay in the jails or they fell by the highway.


The state it was Texas, the town it was Dallas
In the flash of a rifle a life was soon over
And nobody thought of the past million murders
And the long list of irony had found a new champion.


Thanks to MudcatGUESTS Gerry and Rog who gave me the leads which enabled me to make this post. The Mudcat thread on which this information can be reached is HERE

These lyrics are taken, with thanks to Trent, from The Phil Ochs Lyric Index
where guitar chords are also printed

HERE is a YouTube Performance of the Song by Raymond Crooke

Subject: Lyr Add: CASUALTIES WE HERE RECALL
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 07:15 PM


CASUALTIES WE HERE RECALL


By Manus O'Riordan, Blanaid Salkeld, Leslie Daiken and Ewart Milne.


I have received Casualties We Here Recall from Manus O'Riordan. It is a setting by Manus O'Riordan of Blanaid Salkeld's poem, Casualties to the air and chorus of the Spanish Republican song, El Quinto regimiento; with cadenzas based on Spanish flamenco, Yiddish folk and Hebrew liturgical melodies and additional lines from Leslie Daiken's poem, To S O'S on the death of FR Higgins, and Ewart Milne's poem, Thinking of Artolas.

The song was sung by Manus O'Riordan in San Francisco on March 30, 2008 at Bay Area ALBA Reunion, after the unveiling of Abraham Lincoln Brigade Monument. It makes special mention of Charlie Donnelly Commander of the James Connolly (Irish) Section, Abraham Lincoln Battalion Killed at Jarama, February 27, 1937.

The lyrics are printed below and are followed by an article written by Manus about the song which was published in Labour History News, Summer 1993, pp 12-13.


                        Casualties We Here Recall

Salkeld            Who would think the Spanish war
                        Flared like new tenure of a star
                        The way our rhymes and writing are (Repeat)

Chorus            Venga, jaleo, jaleo
                        Sueño de una ametralledora
                        Y Franco, se va paseo. (Repeat)

Salkeld            That Hilliard spilled his boxer's blood
                        Through Albecete's snow and mud
                        And smiled to comrade death: Salud!

Chorus            Venga, jaleo, jaleo
                         Hear that avenging machine-gun
                         It will be the end of Franco. (Repeat)

Daiken              I too have heard companions' voices die
cadenza            O splendid fledglings they, in fiery fettle!
[flamenco         Caudwell and John Cornford
melody]            And Cathal Donnelly, our Cathal Donnelly,
                         Stormcocks atune with Lorca, shot down in battle
                         Young Charlie's cenotaph – Jarama's olive trees!

Salkeld            That Charlie Donnelly, small and frail,
                        And flushed with youth, was rendered pale –
                        But not with fear, in what queer squalor
                        Was smashed up his so ordered valour.
                        That rhythm, that steely earnestness,
                        That peace of poetry to bless
                        Discordant thoughts of divers men –
                        Blue gaze that burned up lie and stain.
                        Put out by death.

Chorus            Venga, jaleo, jaleo
                        Sueño de una ametralledora
                        Y Franco, se va paseo. (Repeat)

Salkeld            Put out by death. I keep my breath
                        So many grow upon my stem
                        I cannot take their sap from them. (Repeat)

Salkeld            But to right charity with spurs
cadenza           Through spite's asperity infernal –
flamenco         My verity of verse (Repeat)
melody            Is nothing else (Repeat)
                        But rattle of light shells -         } Repeat
                        light shells with no kernel        } phrase

Chorus            Venga, jaleo, jaleo
                        Sueño de una ametralledora
                        Y Franco, se va paseo. (Repeat)

Milne              Sirs and Señoras, let me end my story
cadenza            I show you earth, earth formally
flamenco         And two on guard with the junipers.
melody            Two – Gael and Jew – side by side in a trench
                        Two who came from imprisonment.

Yiddish            Gael because of Wolfe Tone
melody            Jew because of human love
[Milne]            The same for Jew as German
                        Frail fragments both of them.

Hebrew            I set them together
melody            Izzy Kupchik and Charlie Donnelly
[Milne]            And of that date with death
                        Among the junipers, I say only:
                        They kept it.

Salkeld            Since Irish boys, they strove and are
                        Knit to that alien soil, where war
                        Burns like the inception of a star
                        Those casualties we here recall.

Finale            But come and see now and hear how
(MO'R)         That flickering flame of Freedom
                       Will yet see the end of Franco.
                       Yes! It did see the end of Franco!



Genesis of a Song for Charlie Donnelly

Written by Manus O'Riordan
Published in Labour History News, Summer 1993, pp 12-13


In November 1987 I gave a lecture and record recital at the Irish Jewish Museum on the theme of Irish and Jewish volunteers in the Spanish anti-fascist war. In contrast to the catholic triumphalism and anti-Semitism appealed to in support of Franco by Eoin O'Duffy's Christian Front, the cause of the Spanish Republic was one that transcended sectarian and ethnic boundaries and united individuals from a diversity of traditions. During that lecture I cited a number of Irish poets to illustrate the point. Foremost among them was, of course the Catholic-born poet from Co Tyrone, Charlie Donnelly, who fell in the ranks of the International Brigades at the battle of Jarama on February 27, 1937.

Among the writings from which I quoted were lines from, Thinking of Artolas, by the Irish protestant poet Ewart Milne, who had himself worked tirelessly for the ambulance service of the Spanish Republic. In these lines Milne mourned the death of his friend Donnelly, and for Izzy Kupchik, a German Jewish ambulance driver, who had also been killed by the fascists in Spain… Another reading was of lines from a poem entitled, To S O'S on the death of FR Higgins, in which the name of Charlie Donnelly was linked with that of Spain's most outstanding poet of that era, Federico García Lorca, who was murdered by the fascists in August, 1936, and also the names of the English poets and International Brigaders, John Cornford, who fell at Cordoba in December, 1936, and Christopher Caudwell, who fell at Jarama in February, 1937. The Dublin Jewish poet, Leslie Daiken was the author of those particular lines in remembrance of his close friend. Indeed, it was with Daiken that Donnelly had lodged in London during 1936 as they jointly edited the Irish Front on behalf of the Republican Congress.

It was not until Joseph Donnelly launched The Life and Poems of Charlie Donnelly on his brother's anniversary in 1988 that I first read Blanaid Salkeld's powerful poem entitled Casualties in which she linked Donnelly's death with that of another International Brigader killed at Jarama, the Church of Ireland clergyman, and former Irish champion boxer, ther Reverend Robert M Hilliard. When I returned to that poem tow years later in February 1990, I found myself humming it to the air of El Quinto Regimiento, a republican song of the Spanish anti-fascist war made know world-wide shortly afterwards by Pete Seeger's recording of it.

I decided to try and merge Irish poem and Spanish air into a song for Charlie Donnelly. This approach worked for most of the poem until toward the end, its rhythm changed radically. But here again the International Brigades came to the rescue! I recalled the air of Desde Cádiz, a Spanish flamenco song which had been recorded by the New York Jewish International Brigader, Mac Parker. (For Parker's Irish connections see Saothar 13.) This provided me with the opportunity to retain all of Salkeld's lines but with the change of rhythm being accommodated as a cadenza based on that particular flamenco melody.

Having done it once, I tried it twice again. I could now also include Daiken's lines for Donnelly without much difficulty as another Desde Cádiz cadenza and five of Milne's lines in the same way. The remainder of Milne's lines however, required a further melodic departure. Since these lines referred specifically to the jewish volunteer, Izzy Kupchik, I drew on two Jewish melodies, the first being the Yiddish folksong, Oyjn Oyvn and the second being a Hebrew liturgical chant which Max Parker had also recorded while illustrating its melodic and rhythmic kinship to flamenco. And so it was that verses written by Irish catholic, protest and and jewish poets became a song, set to Spanish and jewish melodies – all fittingly inspired by the unifying spirit of internationalism which had been embodied in the defence of the Spanish Republic.

A final note on the singing of the song itself. On March 9, 1993 the death took place of Beatrice Behan (nee Salkeld), whom I had first met with her husband, Brendan, during my early childhood. The last occasion on which we met was at the Irish Labour History Museum on November 18, 1991 at the evening of reminiscence and song which marked the presentation to the museum of the memorial banner of the Connolly Column. I had made a particular point of inviting Beatrice to be present to that she might hear the poem by her grandmother, Blanaid Salkeld turned into song. It was a grand evening and a good way to say goodbye.


( Thanks to Flick for all the re-typing)

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 07:55 AM


PAUL ROBESON
By Sumishta Brahm


I have just found a song about Paul Robeson in the Spanish Civil War written by Sumishta Brahm on the UNION SONGS site.
Performance of PAUL ROBESON by Sumishta Brahm

The site also prints the full lyrics to the song which was written in 1987.

Subject: Lyr Add: PAUL ROBESON (Sumishta Brahm)
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 12:14 PM

PAUL ROBESON
By Sumishta Brahm


Paul Robeson in the middle of a war
with Love in his heart...

In the middle of a war Paul Robeson
before the Second World War in a small
town in Spain where the bullets flew and fell like rain

In the middle of a war Paul Robeson
with microphone and speakers in the air
sending his beautiful voice everywhere

Paul Robeson in the middle of a war
sing "'Ol Man River" in the middle of a war
and the guns stopped killing
yeah the guns stopped killing

Paul Robeson with a silence all around
singing about injustice
and who is to blame when we are all equal
to God we're all the same
I hope to God ...we're all the same

Paul Robeson in the middle of a war
I think of you when I feel so pulled apart
when all I'm doing is what I believe in my heart

Paul Robeson reminds to be
a human being with individuality
In the middle of a war
if that's how it has to be...

Paul Robeson in the middle of a war
with love in his heart.

Hear it Here

Subject: Lyr Add: WE ARE THE FIGHTING ANTI-FASCISTS
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 08:17 PM

WE ARE THE FIGHTING ANTI-FASCISTS


We are the fighting anti-fascists,
We're members of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade,
We are the fighting anti-fascists,
And we'll stay here, until the fascist tomb is laid.
And when we get back home once more,
We'll do, we'll do the same thing there.
And when we get back home once more,
We'll do the same thing there.


These are the words to a song sung by Milton Wolff, once the commanding officer of the Abraham Lincoln Battalion during the Spanish Civil War, as he sings them in the film The Good Fight. You can see and hear him singing the song on part VI of the film as it appears on YouTube Milton Wolff singing at 3.27/8.51 secs on THE GOOD FIGHT video

I used the first line of the song as its title:Does anyone know if that is correct, if there is any more of the song or who wrote it? I suspect the tune used is one borrowed from a song well known in the thirties: can anyone name that tune? Does anyone know anything more about the song?

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 02 Jan 11 - 07:27 PM

BELOVED COMRADE


by Lewis Allen (w)& Fred Katz (m) (Abel Meeropol)


The song Beloved Comrade has words written by Abel Meeropol under his pen name, Lewis Allen and is associated with the Spanish Civil War as a result of its having appeared on several records about the war and by virtue of its having been performed at memorial meetings of International Brigaders in memory of their dead comrades.

Here is a link to another Mudcat thread which I have used to collect information about the origin and provenance of the song. Origins: Beloved Comrade: Spanish Civil War Song?

That thread includes links to a recording of the song by Josh White and the full set of lyrics.

The current state of information uncovered in that thread is that the song is by Lewis Allen & Fred Katz and was probably written in 1944 for a radio play scripted by Langston Hughes about race relations in the US army. However, Alan Lomax is credited with having helped in the selection of songs for this BBC broadcast and it is theoretically possible that the song had been written at an earlier date specifically about the Spanish Civil War On another Mudcat thread Joe Offer kindly posted the entries from some People's Songs publications which say that the song was written for combatants of the Spanish Civil War These may be seen using the following link Mudcat thread with Peoples Songs reference HERE
Thanks Joe
Any further firm evidence would be welcome.

Subject: Lyr Add: THESE DAYS
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 30 Jan 11 - 07:43 PM


THESE DAYS

By Lothian 121

I was thinking late last night,
Have we forgot the meaning of sacrifice?
My grandparents’ generation well they didn’t think twice,
I wonder if it’d be the same these days.

Grandad had just fifteen years,
When he left me in my playroom ? without shedding a tear,
To fight Franco’s army with the other volunteers,
Could have been a thousand years ago.

I can’t imagine what he’d seen,
A catalogue of violence by the age of eighteen,
Things we’d only experience on the T.V. screen,
I don’t know if I could cope with that.

Two years later tired and sore,
He returned to a country on the brink of war,
He began to fight for something that’s worth fighting for,
Well they wouldn’t know a thing about that.

I was thinking late last night,
Have we forgot the meaning of sacrifice?
My grandparents’ generation well they didn’t think twice,
I don’t think it’d be the same these days.

Can anyone correct the words that I could not work out?

Here is a link to a YouTube video featuring These Days by a band called Lothian 121

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47WGSJglkjw

On another site, fm Radio, it says Lothian 121 are a Scottish band, based in Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders. They have recorded four albums of songs since 1999

Does anyone know more about the song or the songwriters?

---

HERE is another Mudcat thread devoted to collecting information about this song. Thank you, Mick Pearce (MCP), for the suggestions on that thread which I have incorporated into the lyrics above. The words suggested by Mick do sound like what is being sung although their meaning in the song seems obscure.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 30 Jan 11 - 08:32 PM


THE VOLUNTEER

By Stevie (?)

YouTube performance of THE VOLUNTEER by Stevie

Does anyone know his surname?

From: GeoffLawes
Date: 6 May 11 - 08:32 PM

Jim Jump writing in the International Brigades Memorial Trust's IBMT Newsletter ,Issue 29/ Spring 2011, says that it is STEVE SIMPSON
and gives this additional soundcloud link to an audio performance of the song
a http://soundcloud.com/stevieoneblokeonemandolin/the-volunteer

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 30 Jan 11 - 08:39 PM


SKETCHES OF SPAIN

By Nits

Sketches of Spain performed by Nits -

Does anyone know who the writer is in Nits?

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 30 Jan 11 - 09:01 PM


ETHEL ON THE AIRWAYS

By Alister Hulett

Alistair Hulett performs ETHEL ON THE AIRWAVES a song about Scots Anarchist Ethel McDonald.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 30 Jan 11 - 09:11 PM


LETTER FROM BILBAO

By Lowest Of The Low

Letter From Bilbao by Lowest of the Low on YouTube Letter From Bilbao by Lowest of the Low on YouTube

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 10:31 AM

Here are some performances of Jarama/ Jarama Valley with a variety of lyrics and tunes:
EWAN Mc LENNAN
PETE SEEGER & THE ALMANAC SINGERS
WOODY GUTHRIE
ARLO GUTHRIE & PETE SEEGER
DAVID ROVICS

Subject: Lyr Add: SALUD INTERNATIONAL BRIGADE!
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 11 Feb 11 - 05:38 PM


SALUD INTERNATIONAL BRIGADE!


By Jim Brown
   

Salud International Brigade!
We honour the gallant part you played,
Remembered with pride on the banks of the Clyde,
Salud International Brigade!

From Scotland and every place they came,
To fight with the working class of Spain,
And they helped defend Madrid,
When Franco made his bid,
In the bombing and the shelling and the flame.
Salud International Brigade!
We honour the gallant part you played,
Remembered with pride on the banks of the Clyde,
Salud International Brigade!

When Franco said he'd pass they answered'Never!'
Said those heroes whose names will live forever,
And how valiantly they tried to halt that fascist tide.
From Jarama Valley to the Ebro River.
Salud International Brigade!
We honour the gallant part you played,
Remembered with pride on the banks of the Clyde,
Salud International Brigade!

Passionaria, her statue stands today,
On the banks of the Clyde at Customs Quay,
In memory of the time when from shipyard and from mine,
Those volunteers they chose to make their way.
Salud International Brigade!
We honour the gallant part you played,
Remembered with pride on the banks of the Clyde,
Salud International Brigade!

Better to die fighting on your feet ,
Than live forever on your knees,
And if the fascists rise again, the way they did in Spain,
We'll know the truth there was in words like these,
Salud International Brigade!
We honour the gallant part you played,
Remembered with pride on the banks of the Clyde,
Salud International Brigade!

© Jim Brown

The words and music for this song were written by Jim Brown of Cumbernauld, Scotland who died at the end of 2010. Thank you to Joan Brown for permission to post Jim's great song here and to Geordie McIntyre for sending it to me.
Jim Brown recorded the song on his cassette tape album My Old Guitar which contains other songs written by Jim.
The song is now performed by Geordie McIntyre.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 18 Feb 11 - 10:27 AM

Good song- Geordie sang it tome on the phone sounds good and I'm glad it's been passed on

Here's a version of the poem by John Lepper set to music and guitar / Lepper fought at Jarama ad came home shortly after but no trace after spain is kown apparently.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBJZAHmnUts

Martin Simpson told me the other night he has Jamie Foyers on his new album.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 18 Feb 11 - 10:31 AM

I'm just reading a book about Jarama and Harry Pollitt in a letter mentioned marching to a concertina and singing The Internationale at a memorial near Madrid after the battle where so many IBrs died.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 20 Feb 11 - 01:10 PM

What book is that Mike - I wonder if it was really a concertina? People are often unsure what a concertina is and use it as a generic term for any squeezy free-reed instrument. I have never come across mention of a concertina in memoires of the SCW although I have seen pictures of Brigaders with accordians and possibly a melodeon in one photo of the Abraham Lincoln Battalion. The Bandoneon is a more likely possibilty if it were a Spaniard or South American playing it. But if it was a concertina that would be very interesting.

---

Link toTHE SONG LIST for Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War posted above

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 20 Feb 11 - 05:43 PM

Does anyone know anything about the song HANS BEIMLER KAMERAD as sung by Notorious Goose from Ireland.This song is in English and does not use the old German tune Ich Hatt'Einen Kameraden as Ernst Busch did when he re-wrote the song as a tribute to Hans Beimler in 1937. This is a YouTube video of the English/Irish song.

Hans Beimler Kamerad by Notorious Goose

as compared with
HANS BEIMLER by Ernst Busch

But the words in the English/Irish version seem to be a translation/rewrite of the Busch song.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Mar 11 - 12:03 PM

Jamie O'Reilly FYI for your list.
Here are the songs Michael Smith and I recorded in English on Pasiones: Songs of the Spanish Civil War, recorded at
WFMT studios in Chicago 1997. Please include us in the list of folks who recorded these stirring songs. The live Pasiones by Peter Glazer, son of Tom Glazer. We will be performing it live AGAIN this Oct in Chicago in honor of the 75th anniversary of the International Brigades
in Spain. Song of the United Front, Peat Bog Soldiers, Comrade We Love You, Quartermaster's Store, Gunner Name of Bill (new Music by Michael Smith, setting words of Theodore Cogswell). Sweet Cookhouse, Young Man from Alcala, Los Cuatro Generales, Five O'Clock in the Afternoon (Eng translation of Lorca, new music by Michael Smith), Beloved Comrade, Jarama

The Spanish Civil War Songs - Who Sings What? thread is HERE

---

From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 10 Mar 11 - 08:03 PM

Hi Jamie I have posted you and Michael Smith as performers of most of the songs you give on the Mudcat thread to which I have provided a link above.

Could you ( or anyone else) provide the words for Gunner Name of Bill which is not a song included in this Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War thread so far? I found Theodore Cogswell on Wikipedia,HERE,
where it says he was an ambulance driver in the SCW. Did he write the poem during the war or later? Any more information about the poem or the song or Theodore Cogswell would be good.

Regards, Geoff

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 17 Apr 11 - 01:12 PM

AT THE SIEGE OF MADRID
By Robb Johnson
There is a good youtube of Robb Johnson singing The Siege of madrid , one of his.
At The Siege Of Madrid ROBB JOHNSON

I've just been sent a copy by Allen Warren in Barcelona, of a facsimile page in a book of Harry Pollitt in Spain where he mentions a Christmas party in 1937 where they sang songs such as One finger one thumb keep moving and Frankie and Johhny so it wasn't all The International!

I've sent it to Richard Thorpe of the IB Memorial Trust who is coordinating a songbook. He is in La Columna a reenactment socety in UK.

I think a more comprehensive book like the Poetry book published by IBMT would be good Geoff.

I was out at Jarama in March for the memorial march near Madrid and visted the battle site where my uncle Bert Maskey was killed and my dad Sam was wounded on the first day (Feb 1937).

At the meal in Morata there were songs from the various natinalities represented and I sang Our Open Eyes.



Martin Simpson told me he is recording Jamie Foyers with Dick Gaughan.


At a dedication at the memorial to Charlie Donnelly I realised the line 'Even the olives were bleeding' from his poem found its way into Christy's Viva la Quince Brigada.


The IBMT have asked for a proposal for the CD so any ideas welcome .

MySpace Link

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 18 Apr 11 - 12:33 PM

Re The olives bleeding , when we were at Jarama in March they were harvesting some black olives . I squahed some and the juice was red and bitter. So a great image.

I found several ancient trees with shrapnel embedded in the trunks from 74 years ago The battle was Feb 1937.. We found sardine tins and bullets etc all preserved as the limestone soil is dry and the climate is better than ours!


I read the poem by John Lepper where he says 'Death stalked the olive groves
His leaden finger beckoned again and again.' Somebody set that to music it was on youtube

I found it very powerful at the spot where my uncle Bert was killed along with Clem Beckett, Christopher St.John Sprigg (aka Caudwell) (Sprigg) and so many others - and my dad Sam was wounded on Feb 12 th 1937

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 20 Apr 11 - 07:30 PM

ONCE A JOLLY FRANCO

TUNE: Waltzing Matilda

there is so far only a fragment of the lyrics to this song which was posted by GUEST: Gerry in another Mudcat thread called Australia and the Spanish Civil War which can be seen HERE


Once a jolly Franco started up a civil war
Liking himself as the top dog you see
....
Aeroplanes from Italy are raining bombs on wrecked Madrid
Gunners from the Volga side are firing merrily
And the League still declares, with the simple faith of infancy
Non-intervention's a reality.

Thanks Gerry.
Does anyone have more of the song which was culled from Amirah Inglis' book Australians in the Spanish Civil War

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 09 May 11 - 07:03 PM

PEOPLE'S FRONT

Words and Music by Edward Brangwyn

This song appears on page 54 of Canciones de las Brigadas Internacionales , the International Brigades Songbook, originally published in Barcelona in 1938.
The songbook gives no more information about the song or the writer, Edward Brangwyn, and so I have begun a new Mudcat thread to see if anyone knows more. The thread can be reached using this link:
EDWARD BRANGWYN,30's songwriter,INFO?
The new thread also includes a link to Google Books which shows the words and music for the song.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 29 May 11 - 09:06 AM

I've just been rereading a book published in Rotherham about Tommy James who was in Spain

A lion of a man ed Brian Lewis & Bill Gledhill . In Pounded Earth TJs memoir p68 he mentions waiting to go to Brunete in June 37 thousands of men stretched outon tehbgarss, uncannily quiet 'suddenly the silence was broken by the strains of Tipperary coming from the British lines followed by a medley of music hall songs. Soon all the Brigade was singing, ech man in his particular tongue concluding with The Internationale. That night before the battle thousands stood u and sang. That was after the slaughter at Jarama earlier in the year.
On p 91 after the terrible onslaught at Brunete he mentions listening to Danny Boy being sung by an Irish Comrade in the moonlightand thinking back to the earlier mass sing on night of July 5th 1937

The power of song and the resilience of young men!

Subject: Lyr Add: ALWAYS THE CAUSE
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 01 Jun 11 - 06:52 PM

ALWAYS THE CAUSE
Words and Music by Al Stewart
Always the Cause AL STEWART (YouTube video)

Bad news over the great divide
Comes in from every side
Still hope won't be denied
There was always the Cause
There was always the Cause

Oh La Pasionara sang
This day, no pasaran!
It echoed out in Catalan
There was always the Cause
There was always the Cause

Mariposa
Late nights waiting on the Via Dolorosa
Hold me closer
Not long now, oh ma bella hermosa
There was always the Cause

Setbacks come at every turn
New ways are hard to learn
Tonight I saw Guernica burn
There was always the Cause
There was always the Cause

Mariposa
Late nights waiting on the Via Dolorosa
Hold me closer
Not long now, oh ma bella hermosa
There was always the Cause

Three years gone in the heart of Spain
He brings home a quiet pain,
He'll never be that young again,
There was always the Cause,
There was always the Cause,

Thanks to Mike Anderson of the International Brigades Memorial Trust for suggesting this song.
Wikipedia information about the Album on which this song was released

Recorded November 1994 – March 1995

Subject: Lyr Add: COMMUNIST VERSION OF SUSSEX BY THE SEA
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 07 Jun 11 - 06:52 PM

COMMUNIST VERSION OF SUSSEX BY THE SEA

by Ernie Trory

Brass Band version of the Tune on YouTube HERE

Now is the time for marching, under our banners red,
Rank upon rank advancing, surely we forge ahead,
So let your voices ring, comrades, all who would be free,
And we'll sing a song as we march along,
Of peace and liberty.
For we are the men from Sussex, Sussex by the sea,
We plough and sow and reap and mow, and useful men are we,
And when you go from Sussex, wherever you may be,
You can tell them all that we stand or fall,
For peace and liberty.

Sussex, Sussex men are we,
On our march to victory,
Workingmen unite, we can win the fight,
And Sussex shall be free.

Out of the years of struggle, out of the years of toil,
Stride forth the people's heroes, sons of the Sussex soil,
The banner that they raised aloft, our heritage today,
We will bear with pride, marching side by side,
Where they have led the way.
Far o'er the seas we wander, wide through the world we roam,
Into the Spanish trenches, fighting for those at home,
Wherever there's a fight, comrades, to save democracy.
You can be sure then, you will find the men,
Of Sussex by the sea.

These words are reproduced from Between The Wars" (Recollections Of A Communist Organiser), Ernie Trory, Crabtree Press 1974. ISBN 0950350303 & 9780950350301

The book is the recollections of Ernie Trory, a communist historian and party organiser from Sussex who says in the bookthat he wrote new words for the famous Sussex song ( Wikipedia entry) especially for a Communist Party demonstration in 1938.He says, on pages 112 and 113:

The whole Party threw itself whole-heartedly into the preliminary work of producing historical banners, making flags and generally giving publicity to the forthcoming event. A thousand copies of a souvenir programme were printed and put on sale well in advance. For the first time the Brighton and Hove Herald gave us an advanced write-up, commenting on our programme as follows:

" The souvenir programme of the march sets out the part that Sussex men have played in history, and mentions such figures as Jack Cade, Deryk Carver and Tom Paine. It refers to the foundations of the Brighton Communist Party in 1926, and finishes up with the significant line, '1937: Tom Elloit, secretary of the Worthing Labour Party, is killed in action. somewhere in Spain'
" On the back of the pamphlet are set out a Communist version of 'Sussex by the Sea' and the 'International'."
The song referred to, "Sussex by the Sea"," was in its original form adopted as the marching song of the Sussex County Regiment. We kept the tune, which went with a good swing, but I rewrote the words giving them the social significance needed for our forthcoming demonstration. Later our version became very popular in the Labour Movement and in many ways better known than the original.

On the Sunday afternoon of the 7th August 1938, the demonstration lined up in front of the Brighton Labour Club in London Road, headed by the South West London Workers' Band, borrowed for the occasion.
Behind the band massed red flags were carried by gaily dressed girls. Then came the historical banners interspersed with the branch banners of the four main branches. The whistle blew and the drums thunderedout, bugles sounded and the march moved forward. After the bugles had played for some time they stopped and the marchers began to sing:

"Now is the time for marching, under our banners red,
Rank upon rank advancing, surely we forge ahead,
So let your voices ring, comrades, all who would be free,
And we'll sing a song as we march along,
Of peace and liberty.
For we are the men from Sussex, Sussex by the sea,
We plough and sow and reap and mow, and useful men are we,
And when you go from Sussex, wherever you may be,
You can tell them all that we stand or fall,
For peace and liberty.
Sussex, Sussex men are we,
On our march to victory,
Workingmen unite, we can win the fight,
And Sussex shall be free."

The marchers stepped out happily through Castle Square, singing as they went. Everyone was surprised at the strength of the Communist Party in Sussex could show, Curious sightseers craned their necks to read the inscriptions on the banners. We felt conscious of our responsibility for carrying on the traditions of those who had fought in the past.

"Out of the years of struggle, out of the years of toil,
Stride forth the people's heroes, sons of the Sussex soil,
The banner that they raised aloft, our heritage today,
We will bear with pride, marching side by side,
Where they have led the way."

At the Clock Tower the police had to hold up the traffic, while we turned into West Street> The salt sea air blew up from the sea, blowing the banners proudly. The holiday crowds stopped to watch the procession, commenting on the portraits of the Sussex men fighting in Spain.
"Far o'er the seas we wander, wide through the world we roam,
Into the Spanish trenches, fighting for those at home,
Wherever there's a fight, comrades, to save democracy.
You can be sure then, you will find the men,
Of Sussex by the sea."

Many thanks to Mike Anderson, of the International Brigades Memorial Trust who drew my attention to this song and sent me the information which I needed to compile this post.

A Mudcat thread about the original song and other variants

Does anyone have more information about this song?

Because this thread has now become so long and complex I have also posted this appeal for information on a dedicated Mudcat thread HERE

Subject: Lyr Add: THE SKELETONS OF QUINTO
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 11 Jun 11 - 09:01 AM

THE SKELETONS OF QUINTO

By Christopher Guest
THE SKELETONS OF QUINTO YouTube video sung by The Folksmen


I worked the fields my father worked
From dawn until setting sun
My calloused hands and wind-burned face
Have marked me as a man
Who has no voice, no rights, no hope
No place to call his own
And the skeletons of Quinto call me home

The silver tentacles of the moon's rays caught me
The deathly silence of the mountains chill me to the bone
And the skeletons of Quinto call me home

If I lived to be a hundred, I won't know me Papa's plight
The cruelty of the master's whip
The horrors of the night
He braved them all and stood his ground
The bravest ever known
And the skeletons of Quinto call me home

I know that somehow, in the world,
The workers must be free
The toil and sweat, and tyranny, the fascist jeu d'esprit
Will only serve to keep us down, and make the bourgeoisie
And the skeletons of Quinto call me home


This song is from Christopher Guest's folkumentary A Mighty Wind and is clearly taking the Miguel out of the Spanish Civil War song genre. Towards the end of the film's concert section, The Folksmen are required to fill in time when the next performer goes missing. The banjo player announces an encore: a song about the Spanish Civil War called The Skeletons of Quinto. The bass player then talks at length about the song but because the missing singer then turns up they never actually perform it.

This is interesting because Christopher Guest, who co-wrote, directed and acted in the film as the Folksmen's banjo player is the nephew of David Guest, a young mathematician who was killed fighting with the International Brigades after the crossing of the Ebro in 1938.
I see in the film's credits that Christopher Guest is credited with the words to The Skeletons of Quinto and the Folksmen with its performance. This companion Mudcat link,A Mighty Wind & Spanish Civil War Song , confirms that the song was relased on a soundtrack album. I see from his Wikipedia entry,HERE, that Christopher Guest plays mandolin and guitar - does he play banjo in the film?

Subject: Lyr Add: THE NEW SAINT (Lorcan Otway)
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 13 Jun 11 - 05:10 PM

YOUR NEW SAINT
by Lorcan Otway

I found this song on Mudcat over a year ago and have sent a couple of PMs asking if Lorcan Otway ( INobu) would like to post it here himself but I have not had a reply yet and so I am harvesting the relevant parts of the several other Mudcat threads in which the song appears.

YOUR NEW SAINT
Words Lorcan Otway, Tune traditional The Bantry Girl's Lament   (Oh who will plow the fields now, and who will reap the corn, since Johnny lovely Johnny now plows the fields of Spain, )


Oh tell me Father Michael, What's that I heard you say
That the church for all its past neglect, named a Gypsy saint today.
Tell me all the details, I'd really like to know
For its been more than a little time, since to our church I'd go.

Tell me what his deeds were, and how he came to die.
Was he murdered by the Gadje, while in exile forced to fly
Or hanged by James of Scotland, when Faa was sent away
Or killed by a Polish peasant mob on some lonely cold byway

Did he die with the resistance, in that cold Vichy midnight
While bringing food and weapons to carry on the fight
Or aiding Jews and exiles to escape the Nazi scourge
Or killed by a Nazi death squad bent on their racist purge

Did he die in Auschwitz death camp, when Ziguenier Nacht took place
On that day that tens of thousand Rom, were murdered for their race
Or in in the Czech Republic, thrown from a bridge to die,
Oh tell me Father Michael, was that the reason why?

I can't believe what you're telling me, about the way he died
Defending a Fascist priest, defending Franco's side.
If that's the side that God was on, forgive me if I say
It will be a cold day in Hell before with you I'll pray.

The song is available on Lorcan "Larry" Otway's CD with Sorcha Dorcha, the name of which is Nil Sasta Ach Amadain (Only Idiots are Satisfied)
$15 US, available by Emailing [e-mail]

These are the Mucat threads which refer to the song.
MUDCAT THREAD: Lyr Req: Romany songs
MUDCAT THREAD: New Otway Songbook, out in a few days...
MUDCAT THREAD: Mudcatter's CD's Part 2
Many recordings of “The Bantry Girl's Lament “ on YouTube     https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=The+Bantry+Girls%27+Lament

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 13 Jun 11 - 05:55 PM

I have received a newsletter from na-mara with information about a performance which they will give of three of their SCW related songs on July 2nd 2011,12.30-2.00 at the International Brigades Memorial Day on the South Bank at Jubilee Gardens, next to the London Eye. They will be singing a new song about Penny Fywell,the inspirational nursing volunteer who died recently . Unfortunately I can't get down for the commemoration this year but I hope we can have the lyrics posted here and a YouTube video of what I missed would be good.Apparently there is more music afterwards at the Camel and Artichoke121 Lower Marsh Street,SE1.
__________________________________________________________________
na-mara's newsletter
"International Brigade Event"


Dear friends,

Many of you will know that na-mara is a keen supporter of the International Brigade Memorial Trust (IBMT) which remembers all those who left their homes in the 1930s to fight fascism in Spain.

On a number of occasions, we have had the honour to play at the Annual Commemoration ceremony of the IBMT. We are pleased to report that we have again accepted an invitation for this year's event which will be held on Saturday 2 July 2011, at Jubilee Gardens, Belvedere Road, on London's South Bank.

At what looks to be a very musical event this year, we will be playing three songs - including a new song in honour of the nurse Penny Feiwel and all her nursing colleagues who served the International Brigade in Spain. Also taking part in the event this year will be the Strawberry Thieves choir and the cast of the musical "Goodbye Barcelona".

As we often say, it would be lovely to see some familiar faces in the crowd that always gathers for this popular and moving event.

Paul & Rob

Subject: Lyr Add: MARKET DAY AT GUERNICA
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 21 Jul 11 - 11:23 AM

MARKET DAY AT GUERNICA
by Mike Batt




My children played a skipping game
On market day in Guernica
On market day before they came
Before they came to Guernica.

I search my soul but cannot start
to find forgiveness in my heart.
My little ones no longer play
In Guernica on market day.

My father wore his linen suit
On market day in Guernica
He always sold the finest fruit
Before they came to Guernica

Now there's no way to let him know
How much I loved and miss him so
I watched as he was blown away
In Guernica on market day.

Away
Away
All blown away

My children played a skipping game
On market day in Guernica
On market day before they came
Before they came to Guernica.

I search my soul but cannot start
To find forgiveness in my heart.
My little ones no longer play in Guernica
On market day.

This song was broadcast on by Mike Harding on the BBC 2 Folk Programme this Wednesday and can be heard for another six days on the BBC i player. It was released on an EP called 9 Million Bicycles. It is the last song in the programme (at about 53.00 minutes into the programme) which also includes Christy Moore singing Viva La Quince Brigada.
LInk To BBC 2 Available for the next week 21/08/2015 Posted by Geoff Lawes

Katie Melua - Market day in Guernica HEAR IT HERE

Subject: Lyr Add: MINERS AGAINST FASCISM
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 22 Sep 11 - 06:35 PM

MINERS AGAINST FASCISM
by Tracey Curtis

RECORDING ON MY SPACE

The world is our country
And unity is strength
That's what they told us
Since their first banner
Supporter solidarity
For women and for men
Not just for miners
But for all workers
Both young and older
Shoulder to shoulder
We'll march together
They'll try so hard to break us
But we're strong

W.E.A. and N.C.L.
See education classes
And education for working classes
Anarchist, Socialist
Group meetings at the White House
Supporting conscientious objectors
Of the great war
Both young and older
Shoulder to shoulder
We'll march together
They'll try so hard to break us
But we're strong

Anthracite and General Strike
Of '25 and 6
Camping at Caswell Cotterell
To support the bus strike
Libraries and cinemas
Welfare halls and theatres
The pick and shovel set are
By-workers for workers
Both young and older
Shoulder to shoulder
We'll march together
They'll try so hard to break us
But we're strong.

Amman Valley miners
Go to Spain to fight Franco
A picture postcard
Says share the rhubarb
Hunger marches, Vietnam
Right-to-work and Greenham
National and International causes
Fought by Welshmen
Both young and older
Shoulder to shoulder
We'll march together
They'll try so hard to break us
But we're strong

The World is our country
And unity is strength
That's what they told us
Since their first banner
Support for nurses, teachers
Rail and steelworkers
Fighting aparteid, fascism worldwide
And to the workers of tomorrow
We can say "We Tried"

Thanks to Mike Anderson, treasurer of the International Brigades Memorial Trust for emailing me to tell me about this song. It only has a passing reference to the SCW in verse four but I reproduce the lyrics in full for the sake of completeness.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST,Trevor Sheridan
Date: 18 Nov 11 - 08:15 AM

Great song by the late John Watt called "Owt for Nowt" on his "Heroes" CD and also on "Lights on the River" CD by my mate Jim Bainbridge

---

Link toTHE SONG LIST for Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War posted above

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 18 Nov 11 - 05:29 PM

Thank You, Trevor Sheridan , I mistakenly thought that I had already posted the words for John Watt's Owt For Nowt above. Geordie McIntyre gave me the words in the Summer, when I was very busy, and I clearly forgot to put them up. Thanks for the reminder and I will type the words out as soon as I can.Thanks for your information that Jim Bainbridge has also recorded the song.

Subject: Lyr Add: OWT FOR NOWT
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 18 Nov 11 - 06:10 PM

OWT FOR NOWT
by John Watt


When you're lounging on the beaches of España's sunny shore,
And the hawkers group like leeches ' helados, por favour?',
Remember Franco's icy reign as you ride on RENFE's rails,
Think on the terror and the pain that lurked in Spanish goals.

CHORUS
España, you bled from Bilboa to Seville,
While the ghosts of your dead,
Oh they walk the beaches still,
So while you're busy getting laid and you're raising merry hell,
Think of what the price was paid for your dirt cheap San Miguel

A holiday for Adolph's plane's, with Spain the practice course,
While Uncle Joe he pullled the reins when he backed a losing horse,
As Albion left Madrid to bleed as she watched the game being played,
The backbone of España's need International Brigade.

Costa Brava , costa plenty, more than you will ever know.
And that card from San Vincente , where all the tourists go,
No-one gives you owt for nowt, when you think that you've got friends,
That España soon found out, each one pursues his ends.

España tu sangresta a Bilbao a Sevilla,
Mientras tanto, los fantasmas andan por la playa,
Cuando tu éstas borracho, a la noche el hotel,
Que un precio muy grande, por el San Miguel.

Hear John Watt sing the song here
Heroes, a Neon/Watt production issued by The Tradition Bearers, LTCD3001, 2000, downloadable at www.go2neon.com

Many thanks to Tich who, as Guest TC, posted on the Mudcat thread Lyr Add: Owt for Nowt by John Watt to give me corrections to the lyrics which I had incorrectly or incompletely transcribed from the John Watt Heroes recording. The lyrics should now be accurate since Tich was given the words by John Watt himself.

The following post is copied from a post by Tich on the Mudcat thread dedicated to this song Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Owt for Nowt by John Watt From: GUEST,Guest TF - PM Date: 20 Nov 11 - 02:37 PM

Hi Geoff. In 1994 John was doing some work for the WEA on the Spanish Civil War. Here are John's notes on the song. 'In 1936, 38 people from the mining villages of Fife joined the 5000 Britons who fought for the International Brigade in Spain. Willie Gallagher, Communist MP for West Fife acted as special correspondent for The Daily Worker in Spain. The last surviving member of this party, Hugh Sloan from Buckhaven died on 20th Dec 1994'. The song was written in that year. John had a great story (presumably told to him by Hugh) about Hugh Sloan meeting Ernest Hemmingway who was sitting on the tail of a truck Hugh was supposed to be guarding. The conversation went something like, Hugh; "Get off that truck you". Hemmingway, puffing on a cigar, "What if I don't pal?" Hugh; "Then I'll fuckin' shoot ye". Hemmingway got off the truck. Tich

Thanks Tich

Subject: Lyr Add: VIVA LOS BRIGADISTAS
From: mikesamwild
Date: 26 Nov 11 - 05:23 AM

VIVA LOS BRIGADISTAS
by Geordie McIntyre


Geordie McIntyre and Alison McMorland, who were fellow presenters at the Whitby Folk Week concert in August sent me the song Viva Los Brigadistas written by Geordie and put to the adapted trad. tune Band O'Shearers

We will not forget their names
We will not forget their pains
Those who did their bit for Spain   Viva Los Brigadistas

Men and women side by side
They defied the fascist tide
Many suffered , many died          Viva Los Brigadistas

It was not for glory that they came
United by a worthy aim
To challenge Franco's deadly games   Viva Los Brigadistas

Injustice has not gone away
Cruel wars and greed hold sway
The struggles live on to this day   Viva Los Brigadistas......!

Repeat verse 1

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the start of the Spanish Civil War
G. McIntyre 2.10.2011

Here is a selection of YouTube videos of Band O'Shearers to give an idea of the tune to which Geordie has fitted his words BAND O'SHEARERS He sent me the music for his adaptation but of course you can't yet put that up on Mudcat - Geoff I have found that Geordie and Alison McMoreland have a YouTube video of their performance of Geordie's song here Viva Los Brigadistas, Geordie and Alison on YouTube There are several other Spanish Civil War song videos at the end of the link.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 26 Nov 11 - 05:36 AM

THEY SHALL NOT PASS
by Grace Petrie


Nice to see the Katie Mellua singing of Mike Batt's Guernica (he of the Wombles!)

Grace Petrie is on Youtube singing the song she sang at the concert for the 75t Anniversary and AGM of IBMT in Islington in October 2001
They Shall Not Pass.. (With comments added by a viewer condemning Communist murderers and praising Franco )


They Shall Not pass by Grace Petrie.I'll do a transcription if I can't get the words printed out.

Thanks Mike,

Here on YouTube -Geoff

International Brigade 75th Anniversary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY4Ic_Er66I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDgp4Ovva9w&index=2&list=RDrqfomuTNJsY

LYRICS:

You're not my brother, nor my countryman
Not my sister or my friend
But you're my comrade, be so 'til the last
They shall not pass; they shall not pass
Now blood is running through the streets of Spain
And London gripped in fear
Oh, smell of gunfire, sound of breaking* glass
You shall not pass; you shall not pass

Why fight the good fight, fight the good fight? Why not let them burn?
I dread the day when the suffering of my fellow is none of my concern, so

Stand up today that we might save tomorrow
Oh I know there's a way that we might save tomorrow
Yes its late in the day but we might save tomorrow, if we try
I shall not turn against my brother
For his creed or for his colour
Nor the one he takes his lover
Or his class
You that beckon me that way, you shall not pass

And you who speak of ideology, who speak of people like they're pawns
Whose motives lie 'neath frosted glass
You shall not pass; you shall not pass
In the name now of humanity,
Not left nor right, not black nor white
Tear the fascist flag now from its mast
It shall not pass; it shall not pass

Why fight the good fight, fight the good fight? Why not let them burn?
I dread the day when the suffering of my fellow is none of my concern, so

Stand up today that we might save tomorrow
Oh I know there's a way that we might save tomorrow
Yes its late in the day but we might save tomorrow, you and I
We shall not turn against each other
For our creed or for our colour
Nor the ones we take our lover
Or our class
You that beckon me that way, you shall not pass

Stand up and speak, it's not a call to arms
Get on your feet, it's not a call to arms
Get on the street, it's not a call to arms
It's a call to helping hands

Why fight the good fight, fight the good fight? Why not let them burn?
I dread the day when the suffering of my fellow is none of my concern, so

Stand up today, that we might save tomorrow
Oh I know there's a way that we might save tomorrow
Yes its late in the day, but we might save tomorrow, if we try
I shall not turn against my brother
For his creed or for his colour
Nor the one he takes his lover
Or his class
You that beckon me that way, you shall not pass

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 04:14 AM

I was listening to Abba's 'Fernando' on the car radio and it could easily be about Spain. The Rio Grande mention indicates US/Mexico border though.

Subject: Lyr Add: ENGLISH PENNY
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 06:47 PM

ENGLISH PENNY

Words & Music: Paul McNamara / Roberto Garcia. © copyright 2011.
Reproduction only permitted with prior consent of the copyright holders.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MJW9wP8FRg

Sister, you have asked to hear my story,
And in this calm, it seems a world away,
When heroes fought for principle not glory,
And the sound of battle thundered every day.

[Chorus] They knew that, as the day of battle it drew nearer,
And the sun's bright rays o'ercame the dark of night,
With the armoury of her station gleaming clearer,
'English Penny' she stood ready for the fight.

In '37, I arrived at Albacete,
From there to work with nurses, doctors, brave and good,
At Tarancon, Jarama and Brunete,
In the days when Spain was red – with Spanish blood.

Chorus

Unlike this room so peaceful and so calming,
It's the dreadful sounds of battle still I hear,
The chaos of the transports to the front line,
And the bombing raids when children cried in fear.

Chorus

Unlike the chill nights of an English autumn,
I can still feel the cruel Murcian sun,
When working day and night with army surgeons,
To heal the damage wrought by shell and gun.

Chorus

And unlike the softness of this bed I lie in,
It's the endless toil of nursing I recall,
Dividing up the living from the dying,
In makeshift wards in burnt out barn and hall.

Chorus

And quite unlike our sober conversation,
It's the strutting demagogues that I abhor,
That play upon the basest of emotions,
And march young men and women off to war.

Chorus

This new song by Na Mara is reproduced with kind permission of the copyright holders, Paul McNamara / Roberto Garcia. I had heard that Na Mara had written a new Spanish Civil War related song and asked Rob Garcia for the words. Rob says in his covering email :
We have plans in the New Year to record an EP of our Spanish Civil War related songs - 'English Penny' will be one of these. We played this at the IBMT Gala Event in London in October and it went down very well.

The song takes the form of an imagined conversation between Penny Feiwel and a young nurse who is nursing her in her old age. It compares and contrasts the tranquillity of where she is now, with the chaos, noise and terror of war. It is based heavily on Penny's own words as recorded in Max Arthur's 2009 book The Real Band of Brothers Google Books Link

Subject: Lyr Add: GOODBYE BARCELONA (Karl Lewkowicz)
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 07:25 AM

GOODBYE BARCELONA
Words & Music: Karl Lewkowicz

Goodbye Barcelona and goodbye Spain,
We came when you called us, we'll come again,
We gave all we had,
Should we go when there's so much to do?.

Goodbye Barcelona, the skies are grey,
The storm is approaching, with no delay,
Hold on through the dark
We'll be waiting to see much you come through.

Will you remember, why we came today,
Not to find the glory, no revenge or pay,
Just for a moment there seemed to be a way,
We could stand up and fight, but now we must say;

Goodbye Barcelona the world was blind,
Goodbye to the friends that we leave behind,
They'll stay here forever
Be sure you remember their names

So when your children ask you why we came,
Say these open eyes could see no other way,
Say how we tried, to keep alive the flame,
How we wanted to stay, but just had to say,
Goodbye, Barcelona goodbye


Thanks to Karl Lewkowicz for responding to my request for the lyrics to this song which is the title song from the musical Goodbye Barcelona for which he wrote the songs and music.
Link to sound clip of the song
Other information about the song and the musical is accessible on that site.
The musical is still playing in London until 23rd December 2011 at the Arcola Theatre.

Subject: Lyr Add: GENERAL LISTER'S LAST COMMAND
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 06:31 PM


GENERAL LISTER'S LAST COMMAND


By Manus O'Riordan


I met Enrique Líster
And I took him by the hand
"Adelante, Comandante!
To the front, your last command."

Though one commander, Alexander,
- Captain Bill - tried to deny:
Bob, Mick and Peter hugged their leader,
General Líster's last goodbye.

At General Líster's last command
Those brigadistas said goodbye - ( Repeat )

Though one commander, Alexander,
- Captain Bill – tried to deny:
Bob, Mick and Peter hugged their leader,
General Líster's last goodbye.


(air: The Wearing of the Green: The Wearing of the Green sung by The Wolfe Tones on YouTube

This song was written by Manus O'Riordan and appears on this website. http://irelandscw.com/ibvol-DoyleLister.htm
There is more information about the song to be found on the site.
Thanks to Ciaran Crossley who runs the Ireland and the Spanish Civil War website.

Subject: Lyr Add: TOM WINTRINGHAM
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 07:15 PM


TOM WINTRINGHAM


By Paul Frith


Can anyone complete the parts of the lyrics which I cannot catch in this song as performed by Paul Frith and the Considerate Lovers
CHORUS
address
He struck up the band,
Marched on the land,
Tom Wintringham,
D--- his debt began.???

He was the last to bleed, believe ???
When they took his strength from him,
He could not quite believe,
All the things they took from him.

CHORUS

Would I do the same?
Would I go to war in Spain?
Put aside all my grief ,
For something that I believe.

CHORUS

CHORUS

Because this perma-thread is now so long it is a bit unweildy for collecting new information so I have also started another Mudcat thread called TOM WINTRINGHAM, Spanish Civil War Song which can be reached using this link Here

The following sites give information about Tom Wintringham who was commander of the British Battalion of the XVth International Brigade at the Battle of Jarama during the Spanish Civil War.(the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the battle is in three weeks time).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Wintringham


http://www.myspace.com/tomwintringham   ( although this site is a bit cavalier with the facts in saying that He founded the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War .

If Anyone discovers somewhere where this song can still be heard on-line then please let us know. 23/02/2016 - Still not found an easy link to hear the song but it can be heard for free if you sign up for Spotify herehttps://play.spotify.com/track/4vZ6ERulO3uLFPaR2LmLOd?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open

---

Here is a post on another Mudcat thread which help clarify some of the Lyrics to this song Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Wintringham (Spanish Civil War Song) From: GUEST,Paul Frith - PM Date: 24 Jul 22 - 05:06 AM

So 10 years too late, but I just came across this!

D--- his debt began.??? = All of his deadly gang

He was the last to bleed, believe ??? = bleed

Also the original lyric was "When all Franco's fascists reigned", but I think I prefer "old Franco's"!

---

Tom Wintringham · Paul Frith & The Considerate Lovers on YouTube    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvS8mRoGI3o

Subject: Lyr Add: FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 24 Jan 12 - 01:13 PM


FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS   


By Metallica

Make his fight on the hills in the early day
Constant chill deep inside
Shouting gun on they run through the endless gray
On they fight for their right, yes, but who's to say?

For a hill, men would kill, why? They do not know
Stiffened wounds test their pride
Men of five, still alive through the raging glow
Gone insane from the pain and they surely know

For whom the bell tolls
Time marches on
For whom the bell tolls

Take a look to the sky just before you die
It is the last time he will
Blackened roar, massive roar fills the crumbling sky
Shattered goal fills his soul with a ruthless cry

Stranger now are his eyes to this mystery
He hears the silence so loud
Crack of dawn, all is gone except the will to be
Now they see what will be blinded eyes to see

For whom the bell tolls
Time marches on
For whom the bell tolls

METALLICA YouTube video of For Whom the Bell Tolls


Video with singalong lyrics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_Whom_the_Bell_Tolls_(Metallica_song)

Subject: Lyr Add: RED MOON
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 24 Jan 12 - 05:22 PM


RED MOON


Lyrics by Norman Bethune, Music by Robert Rival


And the same pallid moon tonight,
Which rides so quietly, clear and high,
The mirror of our pale and troubled gaze
Raised to a* cool Canadian sky.

Above the shattered Spanish troops**
Last night rose low and wild and red,
Reflecting back from her illumined shield
The blood bespattered faces of the dead.

To that pale disc we raise our clenched fists,
And to those nameless dead our vows renew,
"Comrades, who fought for freedom and the future world,
Who died for us, we will remember you."

Below are the words Bethune wrote in his poem in 1936
*the
**mountain tops



Recording of the song RED MOON on Robert Rivals website (scroll down a bit from the top of the first page)



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Bethune

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 07:53 PM


CIVIL WAR YEAH! By 12E AS History & Leonard Cohen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgfcOiwSkB4

---

Link toTHE SONG LIST for Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War posted above

Subject: Lyr Add: ONE LAST KISS IN THE RAIN
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 01 Feb 12 - 10:51 AM

ONE LAST KISS IN THE RAIN


By Greg Quiery



One Last Kiss In The Rain by Greg Quiery on YouTube

This new song is reported in the January 2012 edition of The IBMT Newsletter.

One hundred and sixty soldados,
Set out on that roadway to Spain,
Which of those brave young soldados,
Will ever come this way again?

In ones and twos at Lime Street Station,
Unnoticed they got on the train,
One last wave from a sweetheart,
One last kiss in the rain.

One hundred and sixty soldados,
Set out on that roadway to Spain,
Which of those brave young soldados,
Will ever come this way again?

In London they gave them five shillings,
In Paris a new set of clothes,
In the South they waited in cafes,
For the signal to go.

Under dark they left for the mountains,
For days they tramped through the snow,
‘Til they caught the first glimpse of Espagne,
Far down in the valley below.

They enlisted near big Barcelona,
Prepared the men best as they could,
Marshalled them into battalions,
Some trained with mock weapons of wood.

They’d never been drilled up as soldiers,
Never before fired a round,
When the fascist came at them,
Every man jack stood his ground ?

One hundred and sixty soldados,
Set out on that roadway to Spain,
Which of those brave young soldados,
Would ever cross Lime Street again?

Women and men from all nations,
Each one of them volunteers,
Dockers, street traders and nurses,
Firemen, engineers.

Painters and glaziers and brickies,
Laid down the tools of their trades,
To fight for the freedom of others,
In the International Brigades.

Though fascist guns pounded like thunder,
With the Spanish they fought side by side,
Those volunteers never went under,
Though many were wounded and died.

Hit by a shell at Jarama,
Tom Silcock, he died from the blow,
Al Mc Cabe he fell in Aragon,
Frank Proctor at the Ebro.

One hundred and sixty soldados,
Set out on that roadway to Spain,
Which of those brave young soldados,
Will ever come this way again?

When at last those brave young soldiers,
Made it back home on the train,
They brought news of their bold comrades,
Who’d never cross Lime Street again.

Buried in far-off Espagne,
They joined the bold company,
Of those who gave up their own lives,
That others might one day be free.

One hundred and sixty soldados,
Set out on that roadway to Spain,
Which of those brave young soldados,
Will ever cross Lime Street again?

One hundred and sixty soldados,
Set out on that roadway to Spain,
Which of those brave young soldados,
Will ever come this way again?

Ones and twos at Lime Street Station,
Unnoticed they got on the train,
One last wave from a sweetheart,
One last kiss in the rain.

( I think I got the words down correctly from the video but let me know if I didn't and I will correct them.)

The song is a tribute to the men from Liverpool who volunteered to fight for the Spanish Republic. More information about these men can be found Here

Subject: Lyr Add: SILVER DURO
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 01 Feb 12 - 07:54 PM

SILVER DURO

By Na- Mara


Performances of Silver Duro by Na-Mara can be seen Here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvLLurWc24o
And Here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBBVuxdRq2g

On the quayside at Santurce, our tears they mixed with rain
We held tight until parted, and swore that we’d soon meet again,
With a wink and a kiss, as the wind it did blow,
You pressed in my hand, as I turned to go,
A silver duro

And all through that long journey, the Habana did roll and heave
To England we were heading, but for our mothers did grieve
Down below decks, we were pitched to and fro
But my fingers held tight to that treasure bestowed
My silver duro

For eight long years then we travelled, moving from town to town
We enjoyed the kindness of strangers and feared not the xenophobe’s frown
But my thoughts turned to Spain when my spirits ran low,
When staring at rain through a dusty window
Or my silver duro

When at last peace had returned, I started to count the days
But with the cruel revenges of Franco, you implored me to stay away
From a boy to a man, as the years they turned slow
Until all I had left was a faded photo
And that silver duro

When at last we were united, the tears of joy did pour
A dream made real in that moment, a grown man a son once more
Around you then, my arms I did throw
I opened my fist and to you I did show
Our silver duro

And now we are together, we never once more shall part
No writer, painter or poet can capture the love in my heart,
But we’ll never forget that pain long ago
When the rain it did fall and the tears they did flow,
Or that silver duro

© na-mara: Words and Music P.Mcnamara / R.Garcia

Thanks to Rob Garcia for giving me permission to post the lyrics to Silver Duro.He also gave me permission to post the following information about this new song.
'The Silver Duro' is another of na-mara's original songs about the Spanish Civil War and the evacuation of the children from Bilbao in May 1937, following the bombing of Guernica. The ‘Silver Duro’ is a sequel to their first song ‘Only for Three months’, and tells of the reunification of some of the children with their parents at the end of the Second World War - ten years after they had been evacuated from Bilbao'.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LAST LINCOLN VETERAN
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 02 Feb 12 - 05:11 PM

LAST LINCOLN VETERAN, THE


By David Rovics


David Rovics singing The Last Lincoln Veteranon YouTube

David Rovics performing The Last Lincoln Veteran on YouTube

They were old when I was young
Now they're all but passed away
Now it's just a second hand
Memory of the day
When from all around the world
They sailed off to Spain
Where they fought against the fascists
Where so many men were slain
Who will recall the days
When we all stood side by side
Now that the last Lincoln Veteran died

Beside Martin Luther King
Or in a Veterans Parade
You could see the men who made the journey
To join the Fifteenth Brigade
When men of many nations
Of most every creed and hue
Catholics and Protestants
Atheists and Jews
Joined together in the trenches
To turn back the fascist tide
Now that the last Lincoln Veteran died

The working class of many countries
Joined in a desperate bid
With what weapons they could find
They fought to save Madrid
From Brussels and Berlin
Galway and London town
Who will recall the Brigadistas
Who tried to take the fascists down
When there beside the people
Even the figs and olives cried
Now that the last Lincoln Veteran died

The Republic had the people
But the fascists had the tanks
Il Duce and Der Fuhrer
Deserve only some of Franco's thanks
'Cause the fuel to move the armor
Came from the USA
And the men that they gunned down
Were from New York and Frisco Bay
Uncle Sam said he was neutral
Who will remember how he lied
Now that the last Lincoln Veteran died

Some say people get conservative
The older that they age
They say that being radical
Is just a youthful stage
But the finest communist I've known
Lived to 95
And he spent his whole life fighting
For democracy to thrive
To forget these fallen heroes
Is something I cannot abide
Now that the last Lincoln Veteran died

Subject: Lyr Add: FOR EDDIE
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 02 Feb 12 - 05:54 PM

FOR EDDIE


By Skip Haynes & Eugene von Heitlinger

Aliotta, Haynes and Jeremiah singing For Eddie on YouTube
,This is a song about Eddie Balchowsky, the pianist who lost his hand in the Spanish Civil War.

He'd been dealt a bad hand,
Nearly fifty years old.
Cleanin' glasses,
At night in a bar.
Only one good hand,
For to play him his tunes,
On a piano,
Tired out and marred.

And the stone angel hung,
On the wall up above.
Looked out blind,
All the nights long,
But when the one-armed man played,
To an empty saloon,
She looked down and smiled,
As he played her his songs.

Duke, the white Shepherd,
Who guarded the room,
Never leavin'
The back of the bar.
Would climb up on the stage,
And curl up around his feet,
As to guard him,
And his music from harm.

And the stone angel hung,
On the wall up above.
Looked out blind,
All the nights long,
But when the one-armed man played,
To an empty saloon,
She looked down and smiled,
As he played her his songs.

I heard him one night,
When he thought to be alone.
And I lied,
And I did him a wrong.
I can't give back the pleasure,
His music gave to me,
I can only,
Give him this song.

He played better with one hand,
Than most men with two.
Yet made posters,
For all of the stars,
And I wish to my heart,
He could play for you.
So you'd know,
Just how happy you are.

And the stone angel hung,
On the wall up above.
And me and the big white dog,
All stopped,
Once to listen,
To the one-armed man play,
To their smiles,
In an empty saloon.

Issued on Songs(1994) & Lake Shore Drive(1995)
There is another Mudcat thread about this song thread.cfm?threadid=29521

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FIGHT FOR SPAIN
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 06:07 PM

FIGHT FOR SPAIN, THE


By Billy Stewart

HEAR IT HERE

The fight for Spain has just begun my boys
The fight for Spain has just begun
They're marching to war fae all the country oer
And the fight for Spain has just begun

1. They are marching from the factories from farmlands and the mines
They're marching fae the shipyards on the Clyde
To Madrid and Barcelona to right the wrongs of Spain
And to fight with her people side by side

2. From the city streets of Glasgow, Aberdeen and fae Dundee
From the villages of Blantyre and Newmains
They will fight to hold to their beliefs with comrades by their sides
And some will lie upon the fields of Spain

3. They left their homes and families and marched away to war
A choice was made by every man and boy
Politicians did not call on them while they stayed safe at home
And each one of them was quite prepared to die

4. From the valley of Jarama to the mountains high and cold
To battle scarred Belchites ruined walls
The Scottish Brigaders fought bravely for their cause
Salute Camerada was their call

Words and Music Billy Stewart ( Garriongill Music )

Men went to fight in the Spanish Civil War from every walk of life and from cities and villages alike. Miners, factory workers, ship builders, agricultural workers all left homes and families to join the fight against fascism. Many never returned Liner notes from the CD.
This song is recorded on the CD From Blantyre to Barcelona. Further details of this CD can be found here thread.cfm?threadid=143174

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 06:12 PM

WHITE FLAG


By Heather Young

HEAR THE SONG HERE
This song is recorded on the CD From Blantyre to Barcelona. Further details of this CD can be found here thread.cfm?threadid=143174
From the sleeve note) This song has been written from the woman's point of view and describes how she feels watching those she loves going off to war. It tells the story of her lovers 'surrender' to his conscience and leaving to fight against Franco and fascism.

I will try to obtain the words and post them here as soon as I can.

Subject: Lyr Add: VIVA ESPANYA; FIGHTING AGAINST FASCISM
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 06:22 PM

VIVA ESPANYA; FIGHTING AGAINST FASCISM

By Graham Fudge ( aka Graham Carter)

LISTEN HERE
All across the Spanish plains, the guns are ringing out,
Ole! Viva España!
In the streets of Madrid, people scream and shout,
Ole! Viva España!

And we've been fighting against Fascism for liberty,
Ole! Viva España!
Waging bloody war for Democracy.
Ole! Viva España!

Adolf Hitler dropped his bombs down on Guernica,
Ole! Viva España!
And the Nationalists have taken Malaga,
Ole! Viva España!

And we've been fighting against Facism for Liberty,
Ole! Viva España!
Waging Bloody war for Democracy,
Ole! Viva España!

There's a Nationalist advance in Catelonia,
Ole! Viva España!
And they say Negrin has fled to Gerona now,
Ole! Viva España!

And we've been fighting against Facism for Liberty,
Ole! Viva España!
Waging bloody war for Democracy,
Ole! Viva España!

The Civil war is lost and the Republic's through,
Ole! Viva España!
Franco was proclaimed Generalísimo,
Ole! Viva España!

And we've been fighting against Fascism for liberty,
Ole! Viva España!
Waring Bloody war for Democracy,
Ole! Viva España!

This song was based on an arrangement of the traditional sea-shanty "Santy Anno". You can find out a bit more about me, Graham, on www.reverbnation.com/growlingrahamcarter

This song is recorded on the CD From Blantyre to Barcelona . Further details of this CD can be found here thread.cfm?threadid=143174

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 06:26 PM

MOTHER'S WISH, A


By Claire McGhee

HEAR IT HERE
>
This song is recorded on the CD From Blantyre to Barcelona. Further details of this CD can be found here   thread.cfm?threadid=143174
I will try to obtain the words and post them here as soon as I can.

Subject: Lyr Add: FROM BELLSHILL TO BARCELONA (Chris Rogers
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 06:30 PM

FROM BELLSHILL TO BARCELONA

By Chris Rogers

From Bellshill to Barcelona, she rode on the wings of her dreams
From Coatbridge to Catalunya, she followed her faith as it seemed
And all those, who travelled with her, had done so with never a pause
All wide-eyed and full of fervour, determined to fight for the cause
Miners, mechanics and medical men, poets, professors and all
From Bellshill to Barcelona, they rallied to answer the call

A young girl with wild ideas, who knew that her reasons were right
Had left home with her companions, to follow a path to the light
A long road of many dangers, through Scotland and England and France
Held no fears, or premonitions, for those who would now take their chance
To join las Brigadas, en bien amistad, and follow the three-pointed star
From Bellshill to Barcelona, they knew why they'd travelled so far

But to Bellshill, from Barcelona, she came back in sadness and pain
Her dreams full of hell and horror and friends she would not see again
Jarama and Guadalajara were wounds that could never be borne
And when bombs fell upon Guernica, it felt like her soul had been torn
Monuments stand, to the fallen and brave, in London and Paris and Rome
But to Bellshill, from Barcelona, l'anagalida came home

From Bellshill to Barcelona is dedicated to Ethel McDonald, one of the first women to join the international support in Spain, who transmitted regular English-language reports on the war on Barcelona’s widely heard Anarchist radio station. In the crackdown following the events of May 1937 she assisted the escape of anarchists wanted by the Communist secret police and smuggled into prison letters and food for fellow anarchists. Through her activities in helping anarchists escape Spain, she became renowned in the British press as the “ Scots Scarlet Pimpernel”. Liner notes from the CD

This song is recorded on the CD From Blantyre to Barcelona.
Further details of this CD can be found here   thread.cfm?threadid=143174
HEAR THE SONG HERE The original recording is available to download from http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=795261 - there are also 3 CDs of original material, as well as a new album (Sunday Clothes) available. Please contact [e-mail] for details - thanks.

Link to YouTube page giving links to TV programme about Ethel McDonald

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethel_MacDonald

Subject: Lyr Add: BLOOD AND RAIN (John Young)
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 06:33 PM

BLOOD AND RAIN


By John Young


Welcome all..... to blood and rain
Welcome all..... who seek no gain
Welcome all..... like John Maclean
Welcome all..... who fight for Spain

Come miner, come farmer, men of trade
Come join the Inter-nation-al Brigade
Fight for your comrades, fight for Spain
Fight for the freedom, of all men
Aye, where were you when the fascists came
As Franco marched, twas Britain's shame
When Madrid fell, five hundred lay slain
Where were you in the blood and rain

My name is Thomas Brannan, Blantyre born and bred
A working man and socialist, though some may call me red
I fought for King and country, but they did not follow me
But I'll fight for their conscience, and Spanish liberty
Across the Pyrenees, with my comrades I came
I dug in at Madrid, but what a price we paid
And as the shells rained down, was it all in vain
The rivers ran red, with the blood of Spain

On Jarama field, we held our ground
Shell on shell, our hell we found
Three hundred marched that day to pa-ra-dise
Today I would make the final sacrifice
When my comrade fell, I ran to his aid
But the snipers bullet, I could not evade
As I lay there dying in the blood and rain
I breathed no more for home and Spain

Tell them Cathie, I stood the test
Forgive me Cathie, for here I rest
When the bugle resounds to the call of the cannon
Forget me not, my name is Thomas Brannan
Farewell to the people, alas I am free
Farewell to my loved ones, forever I wae thee
Farewell to my comrades, in the blood and the rain
Viva la Republic, Viva la Spain (repeat line)

Written in remembrance of Thomas Brannan of Blantyre who was killed by a sniper at the Battle of Jarama trying to save the life of a wounded comrade. The song recalls the bloody reality of war and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the fight against fascism in Spain. Cathy his daughter still resides in Blantyre and was present at the unveiling of the memorial at the Blantyre Miners Welfare. Liner notes from the CD

This song is recorded on the CD From Blantyre to Barcelona. Further details of this CD can be found here   thread.cfm?threadid=143174

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes - PM
Date: 19 July 12
Part of this song can be heard at the beginning of this YouTube video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsE43DPDTiU
And all of it HEAR HERE

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 06:36 PM

THE GHOSTS OF SPAIN


By Gordon Neil

(From the sleeve notes) The Ghosts of Spain was written for George Douglas a close friend of my father. As well as fighting in Spain, George was also the only person to be captain of Wishaw Golf Club twice, in 1945 and 1957. One of his many contributions to the club was when he returned from Spain he said "There's going to be a war so buy as much drink for the club as you can". Wishaw Golf Club took him at his word and purchased a barrel of whisky which was duly installed in their cellar. Consequently they were the only licensed premises in the area to have an abundance of drink during the 2nd World War.All thanks to George. - Gordon Neil.
This song is recorded on the CD From Blantyre to Barcelona . Further details of this CD can be found here   thread.cfm?threadid=143174
I will try to obtain the words and post them here as soon as I can.
HEAR HERE

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 06:57 PM

FIGHTING AGAINST FRANCO


By John Malcolm

This song is recorded on the CD From Blantyre to Barcelona . Further details of this CD can be found here   thread.cfm?threadid=143174
I will try to obtain the words and post them here as soon as I can.

Part of this song can be heard at the end of this Youtube Video (11minutes in )http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsE43DPDTiU
And all of it HEAR HERE

Subject: Lyr Add: FOUNTAIN OF TEARS
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 07:04 PM

FOUNTAIN OF TEARS

By Robert Armour

Goodbye Joe, I heard your name on the radio; another broken heart goes down.
Don't they know? Folks like us we just come and go, brothers, sisters, lovers, friends and foes.
And when it all comes down; to a traitors kiss, on the edge of town.
When it all comes down to this.....
Before I go, will I sing you a song or a poem of love, of peace and freedom, hope and harmony?
Or will the rains, hammer on these dusty plains, and wash away this town's forgotten shame?
And when it all comes down; to a traitors kiss, on the edge of town.
When it all comes down to this.....
Will it rain, will it rain, will it rain on you?
Will it rain, will it rain, will it rain on me?
Will it rain, will it rain, will it rain on us?

Fountain of Tears' tells the story of Federico García Lorca, the Spanish Poet, who was shot during the Spanish Civil War by anti-communist death squads. Lorca believed he was immune from the reality of the war, but as in all civil wars, there is no room for complacence, and bitterness and vengeance lead people to act in ways that no~one could ever imagine. Lorca was allegedly identified for execution by a 'friend's' kiss at the place known by locals as the 'Fountain of Tears. Liner notes from the CD.
This song is recorded on the CD From Blantyre to Barcelona . Further details of this CD can be found here   thread.cfm?threadid=143174
and HEAR THE SONG HERE
Here is a link to a 9 minute radio programme on the BBC i Player Witness- The death of poet Federico Garcia Lorca It features Ian Gibson who wrote the major book on Lorca's death. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0092pv9/Witness_The_death_of_poet_Federico_Garcia_Lorca/

Subject: Lyr Add: JARAMA VALLEY
From: GUEST,Billy Stewart
Date: 14 Feb 12 - 12:48 PM

JARAMA VALLEY

Chorus There's a valley in Spain called Jarama
That's a place that we all know so well
For tis there that we wasted our manhood
And most of our old age as well

1.        From this valley they tell us we're leaving

But don't hasten to bid us adieu

For e'en though we make our departure

We'll be back in an hour or two

2.        We are proud of our British Battalion

And the marathon record it's made

Please do us this one little favour

And take this last word to Brigade


3.        You will never be happy with strangers

They would not understand you as we

So remember the Jarama Valley

And the old men who wait patiently

Original Words By : Alex McDade
Tune : Red River Valley
HEAR IT HERE

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FIGHT FOR SPAIN
From: GUEST,Billy Stewart
Date: 14 Feb 12 - 12:52 PM

THE FIGHT FOR SPAIN
                                    G D7                                     G    D7 G
Chorus The fight for Spain has just begun my boys
                                          D7                                    G
The fight for Spain has just begun
                                     C                               G
They're marching to war fae all the country oer
                                             D7                                  G
And the fight for Spain has just begun
             G                                                                   C                         G
1.        They are marching from the factories from farmlands and the mines
                                                                                           D7
They're marching fae the shipyards on the Clyde
                        G                                     C                            G
To Madrid and Barcelona to right the wrongs of Spain
                                                                D7                   G
And to fight with her people side by side

2.        From the city streets of Glasgow, Aberdeen and fae Dundee
From the villages of Blantyre and Newmains
They will fight to hold to their beliefs with comrades by their sides
And some will lie upon the fields of Spain

3.        They left their homes and families and marched away to war
A choice was made by every man and boy
Politicians did not call on them while they stayed safe at home
And each one of them was quite prepared to die

4.        From the valley of Jarama to the mountains high and cold
To battle scarred Belchites ruined walls
The Scottish Brigaders fought bravely for their cause
Salute Camerada was their call

Words and Music Billy Stewart ( Garriongill Music )
HEAR HERE

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 02 Mar 12 - 05:20 PM

Here is a link to the current, Spring 2012 edition of the Newsletter of the International Brigades Memorial Trust which carries a review of the CD From Blantyre to Barcelona featuring the following songs in English.

THE FIGHT FOR SPAIN
WHITE FLAG
VIVA ESPANA; FIGHTING AGAINST FASCISM
A MOTHER'S WISH
FROM BELLSHILL TO BARCELONA
BLOOD AND RAIN
THE GHOSTS OF SPAIN
FIGHTING AGAINST FRANCO
FOUNTAIN OF TEARS
JARAMA VALLEY
Listen to all tracks with this linkFrom Blantyre to Barcelona -Listen Here
Scroll down to Page 11 for Item "Scots Give Voice To The Anti-fascist Volunteers" http://www.albavolunteer.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IBMT-1-12LoRes.pdf

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 24 Apr 12 - 07:46 AM

Geoff
Sorry I've been out of action. Have you got the Utah Philips song that Roy Bailey sang at our Spanish Civil War memorial in Sheffield?

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 30 Apr 12 - 06:50 AM

OTTO ESTENSEN: BRIGADISTA & MANDOLINISTA

Here is a link to another Mudcat thread which is being used to collect information about Otto Estensen, mandolin player and volunteer in the XVth International Brigade. thread.cfm?threadid=146230
Geoff,
10/08/12

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 20 May 12 - 10:14 AM

In the latest edition of the Newsletter of the International Brigades Memorial Trust there is an article on page 4 about a variant of Jarama Valley which was written and sung by prisoners in the Palencia prison. The lyrics were recalled and given to the Newsletter by David Loman who at 93 is one of the last surviving members of the British Batallion of the International Brigades.

' These are the words that David and the other prisoners used to sing, as recalled by him...

There's a valley in Spain called Palencia
'Tis a place that we all know too well
It was there that we gave of our manhood
And spent months of misery and hell.

Surrounded one day by Italians
Who with guns bought by Chamberlin's gold
Blown to hell by artillery and avion
That's how our brave comrades were sold. '

The Newsletter of the International Brigades Memorial Trust there is news of a new record on which Billy Bragg has recorded Jarama Valley. The Newsletter asks whether this is the first time that the British Batallion's memorial version has been recorded (as opposed to the frequently recorded Lincoln Batallion memorial version and the original ' soldiers' complaint' version written in 1937 by Alec McDade and recently recorded by Billy Stewart in Scotland.
It seems very unlikely that there is not an earlier recording of this common version of the song but I do not recall one. Did Arthur Johnstone who is listed above as singing it, also record it? And one of the many political choirs which perform the song has surely recorded it? Does anyone know for certain of a recording?

There is also news of a new Billy Bragg recording on which Maxine Peake has recorded the farewell address of La Passionaria to the International Brigades.The Cd can be ordered for £5 plus £1.90 p&p ( cheques payable to IBMT) from: IBMT 6 Stonells Road , London SW11 6HQ or you can pay by credit card or Paypal by ordering on the merchandise page on the IBMT website : http://www.international-brigades.org.uk/

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 30 May 12 - 09:00 AM

Geoff, the Utah song was Eddie's Song thanks. I sent you a recording via email of Bones of 36 by Chris Tymkow

---

Link toTHE SONG LIST for Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War posted above

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 07:58 AM

In the recwent book about A.L. 'Bert' Lloyd by Dave Arthur, pub Pluto Press (June 2012) there is quite a bit about Lloyd's work on Lorca translations and also on p78 the 1939 first performance of Benjamin Britten's Ballad of Heroes (Opus 14)it was composed to honour the men of the IB and British battalion . Randall Swingler and WH Auden set the music to words.
On p 103 is a mention that Bill Alexander remembered hearing the recorder and spoons as an unlikely accompaniment to Hold the Fort while marching to the cookhouse for meals. (Bert didn't think the recorder was a 'folk' instrument!)

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 07:15 PM

Thanks for that Mike. There is more in the current thread about Ballad for Heroes here thread.cfm?threadid=128093#ballad

I think it was you, Mike, who initiated the discussion of Miles Tomalin and his recorder a couple of years ago and more information about him can be found here

thread.cfm?threadid=128093#miles
I wonder whether his recorder with its inscriptions of the battles in which he fought is still in existence - it would be interesting to know.

GeoffLawes

Subject: Lyr Add: START!
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 07:49 PM

START!


By Paul Weller


It's not important for you to know my name -
Nor I to know yours
If we communicate for two minutes only
It will be enough
For knowing that someone in this world
Feels as desperate as me -
And what you give is what you get.

It doesn't matter if we never meet again,
What we have said will always remain.
If we get through for two minutes only,
It will be a start!
For knowing that someone in this life,
Loves with a passion called hate
And what you give is what you get.

If I never ever see you -
If I never ever see you -
If I never ever see you - again.

And what you give is what you get!



Songfacts™ suggests this song is about the Spanish Civil War although it is not self-evident from the lyrics "Paul Weller got the idea for this song from reading George Orwell's book Homage To Catatonia, which is set in the Spanish Civil War. According to 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, Weller said, "There is a lot of talk of an egalitarian society where all people are equal but this was it, actually in existence,which, for me, is something that is very hard to imagine."

Further information about this song can be found at the Songfacts™ site here:
"http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=5675

and this site: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/j/jam/start_20068899.html


START! performed on Youtube by Jam

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 17 Jun 12 - 05:08 AM

There's a new album coming out on 1st August from Greentrax recordings: No Pasaran (They shall not pass) - Scots in the Spanish Civil War. See http://www.greentrax.com/music/artists/reviews/no-pasaran/
Track/Artist list as follows:
17 tracks : Jamie Foyers (Dick Gaughan) * Jarama Valley / Bandiera Rosa (The Laggan) * Owt For Nowt (John Watt) * Salud International Brigade (Jim Brown) * Another Valley (Geordie McIntyre) * Viva La 15th Brigada / Viva Nicaragua (Carlos Arredondo) * La Passionara - A Musical Epitaph (Eddie McGuire) * Viva Los Brigadista (Geordie McIntyre) * Hasta La Vista - Poem (Iain Anderson) * Hasta Luego (Frank Rae) * The Peatbog Soldiers (The McCalmans) * Graves In Spain (Eileen Penman) * These Hands (The Wakes) * Picasso Paints Guernica (Robin Laing) * iNo Pasaran! (Gallo Rojo) * If You Want To Write (Christine Kydd) * Come Comrades, Who Will Fight For Spain (A N Other)

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 22 Jun 12 - 10:17 AM

Thanks for that Tattie and to Mike Wild who also sent me the details in an email. Sorry but I was away from the computer at the Beverley Festival and then struck down by a bug so have only just picked up your leads. All of the songsoriginating in English on this forthcoming Cd are listed in the above thread except for
Graves In Spain (Eileen Penman)
Picasso Paints Guernica (Robin Laing)
and Come Comrades, Who Will Fight For Spain

I have emailed Robin Laing and Ian McCalman asking for the words to the last two songs but I do not have an address for Eileen Penman - can anyone help?

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BONES OF '36
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 22 Jun 12 - 10:54 AM

THE BONES OF '36

By Chris Tymkow

They find them out on Andalucian farms,
Some still have the ropes around their arms,
Jumping from his tractor, the farmer slips and kicks,
The bones of '36.

They find them in the hills above Madrid,
Where the fascist shovels tried to keep them hid,
Mountain walkers see'em as they dig in with their picks,
The bones of '36.

They find them out by ditches walls and sheds,
Dumped in the ground with bullets in their heads,
Then covered up with mud and dirt and bureaucratic tricks,
The bones of '36.

They find them and they'll give them back their names,
Those who rose to fight when Franco's army came,
Factory workers, farmhands, life's ordinary micks
The bones of '36.

They find them and they seem to hear them say,
'This fight continues round the world today,
Wherever truth lies buried, among the stones and sticks,
Like the bones of '36.'

So if you see the people on the street,
Uniting to bring tyrants to defeat,
Then grab your boots and join them, and together we can fix,
The bones of '36.
The bones of '36.

Thank you to Mike Wild who sent me an MP3 of this song.

Subject: Lyr Add: PICASSO PAINTS GUERNICA
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 22 Jun 12 - 12:38 PM

PICASSO PAINTS GUERNICA

By Robin Laing


They call me Pablo the painter
This land is not my home
But I love my art
So I choose to live
Where the value of art is known


I stand before this canvas
That fills the entire room
And there's a story
I must tell
Of an April afternoon


Far away in the distance
A small speck appears
And like an angry insect
The swelling sound
Of danger death and fear


I close my eyes to remember
Fond images of Spain
Now a tortured
Country tossed
On an endless sea of pain


I see the bulls and the picadors
Blood upon the sand
And my dark-eyed
Senorita with
A candle in her hand


Black bombs come raining
From a silk cerulean sky
And in the smoke, the ash and the flame
The people fall
Scream and choke and cry

   
Guernica calling to the world
Guernica calling to the world
Guernica calling to the world


A newspaper horse is dying
It falls down to the floor
I'll tell this story
In black and white
For sometimes less is more


And I will paint these voices
I hear them in my head
They tell me terror
Stalks the land
And innocence is dead


And all the vibrant colours
As spring returns to Spain
Were blacked out in an instant
And nothing there
Will ever be the same


Guernica calling to the world
Guernica calling to the world
Guernica calling to the world

Listen To Picasso Paints Guernica by Robin Laing on YouTube
Many thanks to Robin Laing for letting us have his lyrics and also the following information which he wrote for the sleeve notes of the Cd coming out on 1st August 2012 from Greentrax recordings: No Pasaran (They shall not pass) - Scots in the Spanish Civil War. http://www.greentrax.com/music/artists/reviews/no-pasaran/


As a student in the 1970's I had a poster of Guernica on my wall but I had no idea that the original painting was about the size of a goal mouth. Much more recently, watching Simon Schama's short BBC film about Picasso and reading Patrick O' Brian's biography of the artist, I came to realise the importance of the painting. Picasso, living in Paris in the spring of 1937, painted it in almost immediate response to an atrocity, in which German aircraft carpet bombed the town of Guernica as a favour to Franco and as a way of testing out Blitzkrieg tactics.

Subject: Lyr Add: GRAVES IN SPAIN
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 28 Jun 12 - 08:37 AM

GRAVES IN SPAIN

By Mary Brooksbank ( words) and Eileen Penman ( tune)
Listen to Graves In Spain by Eileen Penman HERE on YouTube

Tread softly, senoritas, o'er their lonely graves,
Spaniards mute your voices for our dead;
Stars shine steadfast, eternal vigil keep,
Light soft the soil around each valiant head.
No mercenaries they, the world's beloved,
Christ's images by fear and greed betrayed;
No raucous cheers, no tinsel show, no glory,
No blaring bands, no banners o'er them waved.
A future age shall write their selfless story,
Pioneers of progress, the path you paved
The world's marching feet shall tread again
When history's final battle humanity has saved;
Rest ye, the world's best and bravest,
In your lonely graves in Spain

Tread softly, senoritas, o'er their lonely graves,
Spaniards mute your voices for our dead;
Stars shine steadfast, eternal vigil keep,
Light soft the soil around each valiant head.


The words for this song, as they appear above, were written by Mary Brooksbank in the 1930's and the tune was added by by Eileen Penman
The song, performed by Eileen Penman appears on the Cd coming out on 1st August 2012 from Greentrax recordings: No Pasaran (They shall not pass) - Scots in the Spanish Civil War. See http://www.greentrax.com/music/artists/reviews/no-pasaran/

Mary Brooksbank wrote a number of well known songs including The Dundee Lassie which appears above in this thread because it includes a verse referring to the Spanish Civil War thread.cfm?ThreadID=128093#dundee

Here are links to information about Mary Brooksbank: http://www.alternative-perth.co.uk/marybrooksbank.htm

http://www.grahamstevenson.me.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70:mary-brooksbank&catid=2:b&Itemid=98

Here are a number of recordings of Mary Brooksbank talking to Hamish Henderson
http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/58761/8;jsessionid=79C13B0076EC4D321C440497A0ADC558

Subject: Lyr Add: THE GHOSTS OF CABLE STREET
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 01 Jul 12 - 11:05 AM

THE GHOSTS OF CABLE STREET


By The Men They Couldn't Hang


England, 1936.
The grip of the Sabbath day
In London town the only sound
Is a whisper in an alleyway
Men put on their gloves and boots
Have a smoke before they go
From the west there is a warning of
A wind about to blow

Like Caesar marching to the East
Marches Mosley with his men
Dressed in their clothes of deepest black
Like a gathering hurricane
This is the British Union
With its flag of black and red
A flag that casts a shadow in
Berlin and in Madrid

So listen to the sound of marching feet
And the voices of the ghosts of Cable Street
Fists and stones and batons and the gun
With courage we shall beat those blackshirts down

So mile by mile they come on down
To a place called Cable Street
And other men are waiting there
Preparations are complete
Mosley comes so close
They now can see his outstretched arm
A hand raised up that way
Never took the future in its palm

Listen to the sound of marching feet
And the voices of the ghosts of Cable Street
Fists and stones and batons and the gun
With courage we shall beat those blackshirts down

The battle broke as the fists and the batons fell
Through the barricades came the sound of the wounded yells
Jack Spot burst through with a chair leg made of lead
Brought down a crashing blow on Mosley's head

And so we learn from history generations have to fight
And those who crave for mastery
Must be faced down on sight
And if that means by words, by fists, by stones or by the gun

Remember those who stood up for
Their daughters and their sons

Listen to the sound of marching feet
And the voices of the ghosts of Cable Street
Fists and stones and batons and the gun
With courage we shall beat those blackshirts down

Listen to the sound of marching feet
And the voices of the ghosts of Cable Street
Fists and stones and batons and the gun
With courage we shall beat those blackshirts down

Thanks to Jim Jump for pointing out that this song refers to the Spanish civil War in the final line of verse two.
   
VIDEOS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzKv5gjOzTA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OunChfGaf3M

FURTHER INFORMATION
WIKIPEDIA on THE MEN THEY COULDN'T HANG

WIKIPEDIA on THE BATTLE OF CABLE STREET

Subject: Lyr Add: THE SPANISH PEOPLE
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 12 Jul 12 - 09:39 AM

THE SPANISH PEOPLE
words - Anon, music - Samuel Pokrass

The Spanish people defend their right
For freedom and progress and truth they fight,
Now shall we delay while our comrades die
To strengthen our peace and our liberty?

Against the Hitlers, the Mussolinis!
Against the fascist enemy!
For peace and progress, for truth and freedom,
For people's true democracy!

Against the Hitlers, the Mussolinis!
Against the fascist enemy!
For peace and progress, for truth and freedom,
For people's true democracy!



Thank you to Clare Roberts for sending this song to me.
In her email she wrote
This song was taught to us by our mother, Hilda Richardson, who was 16 when the Spanish Civil War started and who was active with her mother, Beatrice Davis, in collecting for the republican cause on the streets of London, throughout the war.

As we travelled to our camping holidays during childhood we would sing it, along with a list of other songs, and thus learnt it off by heart.

The Richardson clan sung it last in public at the unveiling of the mosaic in Portobello Road.

http://www.kcc.ac.uk/news/art-and-design/echoes-spanish-civil-war    
               

Clare and her sister Zoe can be seen singing the chorus of the song in a film on YouTube made by Marshall Mateer of the recent walk across the Pyrenees to commemorate the brigaders who climbed the Pyrenees to cross into Spain. ( 9.05 minutes into the film)
http://www.youtube.com/user/IBMTnews?feature=guide

The song uses the tune of a Russian song from the period of the Russian Civil War called White Army, Black Baron which can be heard in this YouTube video
Here v=jRfYh_0mEdM">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRfYh_0mEdM

There is a Wikipedia entry for the song here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Army,_Black_Baron


As Wikipedia says, the Russian song was adopted by the Chapaev Battalion of the XIII International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War and that version of the song appeared in the International Brigades Songbook, Canciones de las Brigadas Internacionales which you can see entitled Tschapajew - Sturmbatallion if you scroll up to page 34 from this link http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=QONMZ1p4ZJYC&pg=PA135&dq=canciones+de+las+brigadas+internacionales+34&hl=en&sa=X&ei=kBD-T-TXF
Here the tune is called Roter Armeemarsch an alternative name for the tune of White Army, Black Baron and the new words in German were written by the German poet Walter Fuchs, who later died on the Teruel front.

The song was also sung in this translated form by the British Battalion of the 15th Brigade

Many long years into history have passed,
Since red revolt was victorious ,
Then Lenin called and to victory led on,
" Forward Chapaev, the path is set".

CHORUS
And*we will Franco, his ranks demolish,
The great Miaja leads us on,
And on our rifles depends our freedom,
No pasaran, No pasaran.

Hitler and Franco your future is black,
Workers' battalions are driving you back,
Sons of the masses forever we'll be ,
Forward red soldiers to victory.

* On page 63 of his 1981 biographical book No Other Way about his grandfather Jack Russia ( John Roberts), Richard Felsted quotes the first line of the chorus slightly differently,
'Now we will Franco's ranks demolish, '
My words are from a tape I heard of brigaders singing the song.

The American volunteers also used the song as a marching song and the chorus is quoted in Alvah Bessie's 1957 novel The Un-Americans in this passage on page 229:

He recalled the song they used to sing when they were marching:
"And we will Franco ... his ranks demolish . . . the great Miaja
leads us on ... and on our rtfles . . . depends our freedom ... no
pasaran, no pasaran!"

This tune was also used for a Soviet era song called "The Red Army Is The Strongest" which can be heard in a Youtube video HERE

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 31 Jul 12 - 07:59 PM

LITTLE YELLOW ROSES


By Trevor Peacock



I have just received a reply to the letter which I wrote to Trevor Peacock enquiring about the origin of the song Little Yellow Roses I reproduce the letter below, in full.

Dear Geoff,
Re-"Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War"
What a wonderful subject! I hope your searching will lead to a book, or part of a book. I don't think I can help much, but here goes…
Around 56 years ago I was involved writing scripts, and then some songs for BBC TV. The pop world was in its infancy, and I wrote for, amongst others, Joe Brown, The Vernon Girls, Jess Conrad, and Adam Faith. I seem to remember writing Little Yellow Roses for a B side for Adam in about 1962. I wrote the tune and the lyrics, and John Barry did that particular arrangement, as I worked with him a lot. I hadn't heard the song for half a century until your letter arrived. I don't remember writing it for the Spanish Civil War specifically – it was a song for ALL freedom fighters really. So I'm afraid Fay Hield has made the wrong assumption. I'm now wondering if it's registered with PRS, so I'd better check. I hope this clarifies the situation.

Yours, Trevor Peacock

There was a PS written on the back of the envelope which said Yes, fully documented with P.R.S."Little Yellow Roses"

Thank you for giving us the provenance of your song Trevor and thanks to all the Mudcatters who contributed to the chase.
I have now relocated all the posts about this song so that they can be reached using a link in the TOPIC LIST

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST,Fay
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 05:08 AM

Nice to hear from Trevor Peacock, and to have a definitive on this. Just to clarify, I never said I believed this to date from the Spanish Civil War, the language is far to contemporary, but it was suggested to me that that is the period in which it was set. This appears to be too specific from the intention of the author, though not contradicting his intentions. It does draw nice new questions about the development of meaning and inherited or associated meanings, a subject of particular relevance for traditional music, the realm of which this pop song has now entered.

Glad the PRS is sorted too, that could have been embarrassing!

All the best,
Fay

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 09 Aug 12 - 08:49 AM

Turned out nicely, TP should be proud and pleased with the rendition Fay

If we explored the provenance of ballads and 'songs of the people' I'm sure we'd find many creative and inspired individual compositions rather than the 'unsung annals of the poor'. Although I know a lot of poor musicians!!

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 10 Aug 12 - 06:09 AM

Yes Mike. A good song is a good song and Fay's performance is wonderful.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: Owen Woodson
Date: 12 Aug 12 - 11:21 AM

New CD of Scots songs about the Spanish civil war

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 12 Aug 12 - 03:59 PM

Thank you for posting that link Owen. In the Songlist, at the top of this thread, we have links to all the songs written in English on the record except for Come Comrades, Who Will Fight For Spain which Ian McCalman said he will send.

Does anyone know if the poem on the record , Hasta La Vista is the same as the poem Hasta La Vista Madrid written by Bob Cooney,who was commissar in the British Battalion? It is posted on Dick Gaughan's Song Archive http://www.dickgaughan.co.uk/songs/texts/hastalav.html?

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST,David Francis
Date: 29 Aug 12 - 08:28 PM

It is the Bob Cooney poem.

---

Link toTHE SONG LIST for Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War posted above

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 10:11 AM

Thank you GUEST, David Francis I now have a copy of the CD and as you say the poem is the one written by Bob Cooney. The advance publicity which I saw gave the title as Hasta La Vista but the CD correctly names it Hasta La Vista- Madrid! , Bob Cooney's title.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 09 Sep 12 - 06:46 AM

Hi Geoff, I have at last found the cassette I made of Bob Cooney at my parent's house in the 80s. I'm trying to get my cassettes digitised.In the meantime I'll send you a cassette copy.

After a tip from my son who saw them in Sheffield I just found a link to a Youtube clip of indie band The Book Club, their album Death in the Afternoon (July 2011), has a first track that is broadly about the struggle in Spain and named after the Hemingway story.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 09 Sep 12 - 06:49 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f95I7fnrNz8

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST,David Francis
Date: 21 Sep 12 - 06:27 PM

Eileen made the tune for this version of the song herself.

---

Link toTHE SONG LIST for Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War posted above

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST,David Francis
Date: 21 Sep 12 - 06:33 PM

Apologies, I thought my previous post would appear next to the one with the info about 'Graves in Spain'.    Eileen Penman made the tune for Graves in Spain, is what I should have said.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 07:43 AM

Following the launch of Greentrax CD, Scots in the Spanish Civil War there will be a concert at Celtic Connexions in Glasgow Jauary 2013

Some would sayit is a nationalistic slant on the International Brigades but there are songs in Spanish etc

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 25 Nov 12 - 06:35 PM

More details here:

Scots in Spanish Civil War Concert

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jun 13 - 06:43 PM

\here is a blue click link of the Youtube video for The Book club - Death in the Afternoon which mike Wild gA The Book club - Death in the Afternoon

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST,Malcolm Rushworth.
Date: 22 Jul 13 - 04:14 PM

My Father, Jack Rushworth, born Oldham 1910 was a very good friend of Clem. Becket and raced with him at the area dirt track arenas, probably about 1925 or so. My dad was not so successfull, and had an underpowered bike. Some years later my Fathers family moved to Hull, and he worked with his Brother in Law at Fred Cook Transport (Hull) Ltd. In the early 1930's Clem arrived at our House in Hull, and asked my father to join him with his Wall of Death which he was going to set-up at Hull Fair a major fair, but as he was not a member of The Showman's Guild he couldn't get perm ission to erect his "wall" anywhere near the fair itself and eventually the project which he had seen when living in Sweden didn't create the income that was needed I have assumed. In about 1936 Clem called again (ususally in a GP racing Bugatti) and asked m y father to accompany him to Spain to be responsible for the ambulance fleet that The Unions and workers had made possible. Dad had, by them family responsibilities and declined. My father was forever upset about the death in Spain of Clem. but as with other things in his life he was very closed lipped in all the years I knew him - he died in 1977. I hope this is of interest, however I have no photos to offer. The family scrapbook went a long time ago. Malcolm Rushworth now 74 years.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 29 Oct 13 - 09:53 AM

THE RAT (NAMED FRANCO)

words by Harry Berlow, folk tune " The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night"

A big thank you to Joe Offer for finding this song in Vol 1 Number 10 of the People's Songs Bulletin and for posting it on another Mudcat thread Lyr Req: The Rat (Named Franco) HERE
If anyone can add more information about the song that would be good. It would be interesting to know if it has been recorded and if anyone remembers it being performed.

Geoff

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 29 Oct 13 - 10:32 AM

Here is a blue click link to a Youtube video of the song The Fox Went Out On a chilly night whose tune is the folk tune used for The Rat(Named Franco)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe13YHhU_9E

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: mikesamwild
Date: 27 Jul 14 - 12:54 PM

Pleased to report that the song I wrote to celebrate the IBrs being awarded Spanish Citizenship in 2009; Our Open Eyes Could See No Other Way has been translated into Catalan as Obrint els Ulls and sung today at a memorial in Aragon to remember the Battle of The Ebro. More news later.I hear that it may get into Castillian and Asturian and Basque and even Chilean Spanish . I did an unaccompanied 'selfie' recording in the attic by video on iPhone , sent it to YouTube and from there to friends via Facebook and bingo!
It could be an interesting aural/oral process.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 29 Jul 14 - 06:58 PM

Well done Mike .

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 06:31 AM

Na Maraa folk duo based in St Albans present songs with S C War theme.

One of them had close connections to those times, hence he came to be living in England .

I've attended a gig of theirs and was moved and educated, but then I had read Geurnica

Na Mara, check them out

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 06:37 AM

Rob Garcia and Paul Macnamara rarara

are

na-mara, search/seake and thou shalt fynde

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 19 May 15 - 11:27 AM

CLEM BECKETT
By Roy Blackman

I have just found the words to another song about speedway rider and SCW volunteer Clem Beckett. It was written and performed by Roy Blackman of Rotherham, UK. The lyrics can be seen with with this link http://royblackman.moonfruit.com/#/roys-lyrics/4586851326

or HERE

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST,Eduardo Freire Canosa
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 04:25 PM

Webpage Title: 11 Songs of the Spanish Civil War

7 songs from the Republican side.

4 songs from the Nationalist side.

Click here

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 27 Jul 15 - 07:15 AM

NO PASARAN
By Gerry Kearns A song about the eight volunteers from Oldham who went to fight for the Republic in the SCW.

Thank you to Ann Berriman (Willa) who told me about this song which she heard the Oldham Tinkers perform at the recent Saddleworth Festival. John Howarth of the Oldham Tinkers has just rung me in response to my email requesting information about the song. He told me that they have not yet recorded the song which they performed for the first time at Saddleworth. He said that when they record it they will post the lyrics on the Oldham Tinkers' website
HERE

---

TEN OLDHAM MEN (No Pasaran)   - The Oldham Tinkers       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL8vA9fNEqg

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 27 Jul 15 - 02:20 PM

I realise that "No Pasaran" was a sort of slogan (trans "They shall not pass") - but it is also the title track/name of the CD referred to above, as well as the name of the song performed by Gallo Rojo on the CD. Maybe a recipe for some confusion?

---

Link toTHE SONG LIST for Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War posted above

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 01 Aug 15 - 09:37 AM

On Youtube I have just found Mike Wild singing his song "Our Open Eyes Could see No Other Way".

                        Mike Wild sings Our Open Eyes could See No Other Way on YouTube

For more information about Mike's song go to the SONGLIST at the top of the thread and click on its title.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 06 Aug 15 - 09:48 PM

Oh The Lincoln Boys Fought at Jarama (THE YOUNG MAN FROM ALCALA )

Below is a link to a YouTube video The Good Fight (VII of XII)   
HERE
The video opens with a song beginning "OH THE LINCOLN BOYS FOUGHT AT JARAMA", which I am using as its title because I don't know the song's given title. Does anyone recognise the song and if so can you tell us about it? I have written the lyrics here below from what I can make out in the video but I have encased some words in brackets because I am unsure about what is being sung. I am unsure how to write down the words for the chorus.In verse 2 I think I can hear the "and" in line 2 but think it would probably not have been sung originally??? Also in verse 2 the final word "bombs"in line 3 does not fit the rhyming pattern ( perhaps "tanks" would be a better fit but I am not sure the Republic had tanks engaged at Brunette?) Any corrections would be gratefully rceived as would any information about its origins and the name of the performer on the video.


1.Oh the Lincoln boys fought at Jarama,
They made the Fascisti cry "Mamma",
They were holding the line,
For months at a time,
And for football they played (?with a bomber?)

CHORUS Yippy, yi, yaddy, yi, yay,
               Yippy, yi, yaddy, yi, yay.

2.It was there on the plains of Brunette,
Midst a hail of steel (and)confetti,
With our planes and our ( ? bombs?),
We would smash Franco's ranks,
Got sick on Italian spaghetti.

CHORUS   

3.Oh the Lincoln Battalion, "By Cracky!"
A bunch of great bastards, but wacky,
They held down the line for months at a time,
'gainst Franco, Il Duce's lackey,

CHORUS

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 06 Aug 15 - 10:39 PM

The first verse of "Lincoln Boys" is reprinted in Cecil D Eby, Comrades and Commisars: The Lincoln Battalion in the Spanish Civil War, on page 111. No title is given. The verse is given as,

Oh, the Lincoln boys fought at Jarama
They made the Fascisti cry "Mama."
They held down the line
For months at a time
And for sport they would play with a bomb-a.

There's an asterisk on "bomb-a", which suggests there's a footnote somewhere in the book, but I don't have the book, I'm just looking at the one page on Google books.

The book may have some other songs of interest. On page 112 there are four verses of a Red River Valley parody starting "There's a valley in Spain called Jarama".

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 06 Aug 15 - 10:48 PM

There's another video of this song at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvCJzflGv7M where it's called Young Man from Alcala, and performed by The Almanac Singers. It has two additional verses, and the commenters posted their best take on the lyrics.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 06 Aug 15 - 10:57 PM

But now I see you already had Young Man From Alcala back in 2010. Anyway, the lyrics to all five verses are available at http://media.smithsonianfolkways.org/liner_notes/folkways/FW05436.pdf

---

Link toTHE SONG LIST for Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War posted above

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 07 Aug 15 - 03:53 PM

Thank you GUEST,Gerry ,
Below I have posted the link you gave to the " Young man From Alcala" in the form that Mudcat calls a "blue clicky" . Now the video can now be accessed directly by clicking on the following " blue clicky".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvCJzflGv7M
The tune sung in the Good Fight video did make me think of The Young Man From Alcala, but I did not remember the lyrics of that song well enough to make the proper connection . Yes The Good Fight song is clearly The Young Man From Alcala in a shortened form. Well done!
I have now, below, cut and pasted the comments made on The Young Man From Alcala   YouTube video about that song's lyrics

        
haralaboskesa
Against Franco's heel, Dutche's lackey

A Spaniard who hailed from Alcala
When angered would shout 'mucha mala!
' He'd toss a grenade at a Moorish Brigade And blew all the facists to Allah

haralaboskesa
Oh the Lincoln boys fought at Jarama
They made the fascisti cry 'Mama!'
They were holding the line for months at a time
And for football they would play with bomma
Yippy ..
.
A codger from ol' Albacete Took ...... ?
When asked how he felt he just hitched up his belt
And said I can't tell just as yetta
Yippy

Cracken1979

Oh the Lincoln Battalion by crackey
A bunch of brave bozos though whacky
They held down the line for months at a time
'Gainst Franco xxx and his lackey.
Yippy ....

't Was there on the plains of Brunete
Midst a hail of steel confetti
With our planes and our bombs we would xxx Franco's ranks
And pick out Italian spagetta

Cracken1979
...against Franco Il Duces's lackey



Here is a "blue clicky " link to your other useful led to the Smithsonian Folkways site

< a href="http://media.smithsonianfolkways.org/liner_notes/folkways/FW05436.pdf">http://media.smithsonianfolkways.org/liner_notes/folkways/FW05436.pdf
LINK TO LINER Notes for Songs OF THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR VOL1 FROM SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE
http://media.smithsonianfolkways.org/liner_notes/folkways/FW05436.pdf

Below are the Lyrics which the site gives for the song,

THE YOUNG MAN FROM ALCALA

A Spaniard who hails from Alcala,
When angered would shout mucha mala,
I tossed a grenade at a Moorish Brigade.
And blew all those fascists to Allah,
Yippee ai attee ai ay.


O the Lincoln Battalion by cracky.
. A bunch of brave bozos though wacky,
They held down the line for months at a time.
'Gainst Franco, II Duce's lackey,
Yippee ai attee ai ay.

'Twas there on the plains of Brunete,
Midst a hail of steel and confetti,
With our planes and our bombs
We would smash Franco's ranks.
Got sick on Italian spaghetti,
Yippee ai attee ai ay.
.

O the Lincoln boys fought at Jarama,
They made the fascisti cry mama,
They were holding the line for months at a time,
And for sport they. would play wilh a bomba,
Yippee ai attee ai ay.


A codger from old Albacete,
Took on 16 goats for a betta,
When asked how he felt, he just hitched up his belt,
And said, I can't tell just as yetta,"
Yippee ai attee ai ay.

This seems to answer some of my puzzles-but I still think "tanks" is a more likely rhyme for "ranks" than "bombs" in verse three.

Thanks for all your help.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 16 Aug 15 - 08:30 PM

WHEN THE CALL COMES
I have just found a Youtube video of a song about the Spanish Civil War called "When The Call Comes" performed by George Archibald and Ian McCalman which is recorded on the Greentrax CD "Scots In The Spanish Civil War".
More on this CD Here
You can hear it with this link:

When The Call Comes by George Archibald & Ian McCalman
If anyone knows more information about the origins of this song or can give the complete lyrics then please post below

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 21 Sep 15 - 08:11 PM


THE INTERNATIONALE

I have, so far, resisted the urge to post this song because it is not, strictly-speaking, about the Spanish Civil War. However, it was certainly a song much sung in that war and therefore in the interest of making this thread comprehensive I am now adding it. I shall preface its inclusion by retelling two stories which I noticed when re-reading Frank Ryan's account of the British, American. Canadian and Irish volunteers in Spain 1936-1938, "The Book of The XV Brigade".* In a section about Jarama called " The Great Rally" he describes how he used the singing of the song to boost morale amongst the dispirited Brigaders.


"Whatever popular writers may say, neither your Briton nor your Irishman is an exuberant type. Demonstrativeness is not his dominating trait. The crowd behind us was marching silently. The thoughts in their minds could not be inspiring ones. I remembered a trick of the old days when we were holding banned demonstrations. I jerked my head back: "Sing up, ye sons o' guns!"

        Quaveringly at first, then more lustily, then in one resounding chant the song rose from the ranks. Bent backs straightened; tired legs thumped sturdily; what had been a routed rabble marched to battle again as proudly as they had done three days before. And the valley resounded to their singing:

                                "Then comrades, come rally,
                                And the last fight let us face;
                                The Internationale
                                Unites the human race."

        On we marched, back up the road, nearer and nearer to the front. Stragglers still in retreat down the slopes stopped in amazement, changed direction and ran to join us; men lying exhausted on the roadside jumped up, cheered and joined the ranks. I looked back. Beneath the forest of upraised fists, what a strange band! Unshaven, unkempt; bloodstained, grimy. But, full of fight again, and marching on the road back.

        Beside the road stood our Brigade Commander, General Gall. We had quitted; he had stood his ground. Was it that, or fear of his reprimands, that made us give three cheers for him? Briefly, tersely, he spoke to us. We had one and a half hours of daylight in which to re-capture our lost positions. "That gap on our right?" A Spanish Battalion was coming up with us to occupy it.

        Again the "International" arose. It was being sung in French too. Our column had swelled in size during the halt; a group of Franco-Belge had joined us. We passed the Spanish Battalion. They caught the infection; they were singing too as they deployed to the right."( P 60)

This story is also told in 'THE BALLAD OF FRANK RYAN' by ANDY IRVINE for which there is a posting 4 places below this, with a link to Andy Irvin's performance of the song.

       Frank Ryan's other story is also from the battle of Jarama and it gives an interesting indication that the Internationale must have been a song that was very frequently sung by the volunteers in the International Brigades

        "At the time of my leaving B.H.Q., there were no signs of any disturbance at the outpost. It was not until after I had started out that I heard the strains of the "International" coming from the direction of the outpost trench. As I got nearer, I was surprised to see numbers of Fascists coming over the land between us and them, singing the "International", and holding up their fists in the anti-Fascist salute. Our boys were holding up their fists in welcome to the men who were coming over. I had not the least doubt but that here was a mass desertion from the Fascist lines. "Yank" Levy seemed to be the first to realise the trick that had been played, but by this time, there were swarms of Fascists in the trench.( P 54)

* Both stories are from The Book of the XV Brigade: Records of British, American, Canadian and Irish volunteers in the XV International Brigade in Spain 1936-1938
Originally published by the Commissariat of War, XV Brigade, Madrid, 1938
1975 facsimile edition published by Frank Graham, Newcastle upon Tyne

Frank Ryan's extracts were taken from the 2003 edition (eds Alan Warren & Nigel Pell, Warren & Pell Publishing, Abersychan), chapter entitled 'With the British Battalion: From narratives of members of the Battalion Staff' (p47).        




THE INTERNATIONALE

Words by Eugene Pottier (Paris 1871)
Music by Pierre Degeyter (1888)


Arise ye workers from your slumbers
Arise ye prisoners of want
For reason in revolt now thunders
And at last ends the age of cant.
Away with all your superstitions
Servile masses arise, arise
We'll change henceforth the old tradition
And spurn the dust to win the prize.

So comrades, come rally
And the last fight let us face
The Internationale unites the human race.
So comrades, come rally
And the last fight let us face
The Internationale unites the human race.

No more deluded by reaction
On tyrants only we'll make war
The soldiers too will take strike action
They'll break ranks and fight no more
And if those cannibals keep trying
To sacrifice us to their pride
They soon shall hear the bullets flying
We'll shoot the generals on our own side.

No saviour from on high delivers
No faith have we in prince or peer
Our own right hand the chains must shiver
Chains of hatred, greed and fear
E'er the thieves will out with their booty
And give to all a happier lot.
Each at the forge must do their duty
And we'll strike while the iron is hot.

The Internationale has various forms and a long history which can be seen on Wikipedia using this link.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Internationale

It has also featured in a previousMudcat thread


thread.cfm?threadid=31940%23top

Below are some links to different versions performed on YouTube
Alister Hulett Singing The Internationale Here
Internationale - American (cleaned version from 1933!)
Billy Bragg - Internationale
Internationale (Original English Version)

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 18 Nov 15 - 10:33 AM

I posted a link on another Mudcat thread telling people interested in SCW songs, about a page of listings on Abe Books UK for a facsimile edition of Canciones de las Brigadas Internacionales. It now occurs to me that there might be many readers of this thread who would be interested and so here is the link
< a href="http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?isbn=9788484723431&sts=t&tn=Canciones+de+las+Brigadas+Internacionales%2C%22">Book on Abe Books
It is the book compiled by Ernst Busch during the war for the benefit of the International Brigades volunteers. It has songs in a number of languages. Better link to Abe Books listing http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?isbn=9788484723431&sts=t&tn=Canciones+de+las+Brigadas+Internacionales%2C%22%22%3

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 03 Jan 16 - 05:45 AM

E bay have sent me another link to the sale of an interesting book of songs collected in the SCW. I post it here in case anyone would like to buy it.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Coleccion-de-canciones-de-Lucha-Spanish-Edition-/251570580607?

From the given ISBN, I can see that it is a book which I already have = a 1980 facsimile edition of Canciones De Lucha a collection of songs made by the composer Carlos Palacio for the Republican Government. Its publication in 1939, was overtaken by the fascist victory and it is therefore rare . This facsimile edition is cheap at US $5.79 with shipping at $6.99 . I paid 45 Euros for my copy from Abe Books.
It consists of about 70 songs ,in Spanish, from various Republican groups and has black and white drawings on most pages.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 11 Feb 16 - 10:27 AM

NO PASARAN
By The Minority
Thanks to Gary Hammond for forwarding this link to a song called No Pasaran performed on Youtube by the Minority.


No Pasaran. The Minority

I do not know any more of the song details but I shall try to find out.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 21 Feb 16 - 03:06 PM

THE BALLAD OF FRANK RYAN
by ANDY IRVINE
Thanks to Marshall Mateer for telling me about this song and for sending me the link to get it on Youtube. Click HERE

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 04 Mar 16 - 05:49 PM

In Our Hearts Were Songs of Hope


I recently rediscovered a great radio programme called "In Our Hearts Were Songs of Hope." It was written by the late Roy Palmer and broadcast on Radio 4 on 13/07/1988 The programme was presented by Jim Lloyd and consists of taped interviews in which Roy Palmer asked old International Brigade volunteers about the songs they sang in Spain. Most of the songs are then performed by the brigaders or others.
I then discovered HERE , that a copy of the programme is held in the Imperial War museum. I enquired from the IWM about how to buy a copy, since it cannot be accessed on line, but they told me that they did not have the right to sell recordings of the programme and I would need to ask at the BBC. I enquired at the BBC Shop
http://www.bbcshop.com/audio/icat/audio   ( scroll to bottom of page for "CONTACT US")but they replied saying
" Unfortunately this product is not currently available through BBC Shop and we are not aware of any plans to release this title in the near future. As we are the retail outlet only, we do not have any input into the decision making process for new BBC titles or licensed products. "

Perhaps if enough customers enquired about availabilty then the BBC might reissue this interesting programme? The programme is informative and worth hearing.Most of the men interviewed by Roy Palmer are now dead so we won't get as close to this subject again.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 15 Mar 16 - 06:39 AM





Holding Out Against The Night
by EWAN McLENNAN



Last night I went to see Ewan Mclennan perform at Beverley and he sang a new song of his own about the SCW called "Holding Out Against The Night " . It is a good song but he has not recorded it yet. Ewan said he will video it and will put it up on You Tube in July but will send me the words to post here before that. Until then you'll just have to get along to one of his gigs to actually hear the song
http://www.ewanmclennan.co.uk/gigs

---

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes -
Date: 21Mar 16 -
Ewan has sent me the words for "Holding Out Against The Night " but asked me not to post them here until he has recorded the song which will be on 17th July, later this year.

---

Link toTHE SONG LIST for Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War posted above

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 18 Jul 16 - 04:35 AM

You can now listen to it Holding Out Against The Light
by Ewan McLennan
on the Folk Radio site:
http://www.folkradio.co.uk/2016/07/ewan-mclennan-session-holding-night/

The train rolled out in the morning
Hard jagged peaks pressed the sky
And my thoughts flickered back to you, love
Far from the land passing by

Remember the flowers on the hill, love
Blues and yellows lit the scene
I picked one and pressed it in my pocket
Until I'm home I'll keep it close to me

A match is struck, a lamp throws its light
Holding out against the night

We were stationed first in Barcelona
Before we departed for the front
Through the streets the senioritas wandered
And songs of freedom rang out with the guns

There were voices there from all over
Marseilles, Dublin and Cologne
Down in the drill-yards and the cafes
There was talk of a new world being born

A match is struck, a lamp throws its light
Holding out against the night

The call came to leave one Sunday morning
We laced our leather boots for Aragon
John O' Flynn from county Tipperary
Sang us all an Irish marching song

We sang to the hope of the morning
We sang to the trembling skies at night
There, we called each other comrade
And 'no pasaran' was the cry

A match is struck, a lamp throws its light
Holding out against the night

Some things are just too harsh to speak of
The stones lay withered in the flames
The cold-ash colour of the tunics
Marked where the red clay bared the names

How the sun beat down without mercy
How the wind-scattered sands stung the eyes
Quiet fell at night upon the foothills
As life left the embers of the fires

A match is struck, a lamp throws its light
Holding out against the night

We all rose for La Passionara
As she addressed us from the quay
She said, 'is it not better to die fighting'
'Than live forever on our knees?'

We sang to the hope of the morning
We sang to trembling skies at night
There, we called each other comrade
And 'no pasaran' was the cry

A match is struck, a lamp throws its light
Holding out against the night

A match is struck, a lamp throws its light
Holding out against the night

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 03 Oct 16 - 03:51 AM

Holding Out Against The Night YOUTUBE

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 07:21 PM

THE LANCASHIRE LADS

By JOHN KIRKPATRICK

Here is a link to a performance of the song on YouTube

YOUTUBE "Lancashire Lads - Song of the Spanish Civil War"

The video tells us that it was

"Sung at the re-unveiling of a plaque in the John Harvard Library to honour Southwark residents who joined the International Brigades to defend freedom. They are singing this in the play "Dare Devil Rides to Jarama " at the Bussie Building, Peckham ".

Does anyone know anything more about this song such as who it is performing and who wrote it and when? "Dare Devil Rides to Jarama " is a play about International Brigade volunteer and speedway rider Clem Beckett which is currently on tour in England . https://www.list.co.uk/event/644344-dare-devil-rides-to-jarama/ The Lancashire Lads, with non Spanish Civil War lyrics, is an older song with numerous threads devoted to it here on Mudcat. I guess that someone has put a new set of words to the older tune for the play?

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 26 Nov 16 - 06:06 PM

I have just returned from an excellent night watching "Daredevil Rides to Jarama" and the performance program tells us that the new words to "The Lancashire Lads" were written by John Kirkpatrick, who is also the musical director of this production. I shall try to take down all the words of the song from the YouTube video and I shall post them in this thread when I find the time and when it is not so late.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 27 Nov 16 - 05:59 PM

Here is what I can get from the YouTube video but I think some of the words may not be quite right and I would appreciate any corrections that you can offer. In verse two I am not sure it is "Bert Blasket" and I am not sure of the meaning of the second line in verse two , so something may be wrong there. I would appreciate confirmation or correction of the names in verse three because "Maurice Levine" is the only name I recognise.

The Lancashire lads
By John Kirkpatrick

CHORUSThe Lancashire lads are going abroad, a victory for to gain
To hoist the flag of freedom high,across the coast of Spain.


Sam Wild was there, amongst them all, Bert Blasket signed up too,
And the blues and browns of Bensons came, To join that swelling crew.
CHORUS

Arnold Jeans and Maurice Levine, Ralph Hunter and Rob Ward
And lads from Oldham, Suffolk too, all joined to come on board.
CHORUS

Nurses, doctors, they came too, to help to ease the pain,
To tend the wounds of those who fell, so they could fight again.
CHORUS

So southwards down to Dover and across to France they sailed,
From Paris down to the Pyrenees, they knew they could not fail.
CHORUS

On to Barcelona, Albacete was their goal.
To join the British Battalion and fight with heart and soul.
CHORUS

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 30 Nov 16 - 06:52 AM

I managed to get into contact with Neil Gore who wrote the play "Dare Devil Rides to Jarama" which features the John Kirkpatrick version of The Lancashire Lads, and he has very kindly sent me the correct lyrics for the song. I reproduce the full song lyrics below , which include verses not included in the YouTube video.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Geoff,
Here's the lyrics in full for Lancashire Lads:


THE LANCASHIRE LADS
Traditional Song – new words written for Dare Devil by John Kirkpatrick

1. It was September '36
The Party men did say
There's a call for volunteers for Spain
We're bound to march away

CHORUS: For the Lancashire Lads are going abroad
                                  A victory for to gain
                                  To hoist the flag of freedom high
                           Across the coast of Spain

2. 'Twas on a Monday morning
The orders they came round
For gallant lads of Lancashire
To fight on Spanish ground

       3. To the Free Trade Hall in Manchester
             More came there every day
             They came because their open eyes
             Could see no other way

4. Sam Wild was there amongst them all
    Bert Maskey signed up too
    And Booths and Browns and Bensons came
    To join that swelling crew

5. There was Arnold Jeans and Maurice Levine
    Ralph Cantor and Rob Ward
    And lads from Oldham, Salford too
    All chose to come on board

[6. Walter Greenhalgh he was there
    All ready to take his turn
    And Smiths, Swindells, and Sprostons
    Who were never to return]
(This verse didn't make the final cut)

7. Nurses, doctors, they came too
    To help to ease the pain
    And tend the wounds of those who fell
    So they could fight again

8. So Southward down to Dover
    And across to France they'd sail
    To Paris and on to the Pyrenees
    They knew they could not fail

9. And on through Barcelona
    Albacete was their goal
    To join the British Battalion there
      And fight with heart and soul
----------------------------------------------------------------
Many thanks to Neil for this. His play "Dare Devil Rides to Jarama" has continuing performances in December and in the Spring of 2017 and is well worth a visit.LINk to Interview with Neil Gore about the play

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 16 Jan 17 - 06:32 AM

I have started a separate Mudcat thread called " 3 New Guthrie songs of Spanish Civil War " which has a link to a report that Will Kauffman has found 3 previously "unheard" songs written by Woodie Guthrie about the Spanish Civil War.


LINK to Mudcat thread " 3 New Guthrie songs of Spanish Civil War "

If anyone knows anything more about these songs will you please post the information on this thread as well?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26/03/2017

Will Kauffman kindly replied to an email about these songs and says "The titles I’ve got that are explicitly targeted at Franco or that reference him in passing are:

Break with Franco
Spanish Rebel
Stop Franco
Curses for Franco Talking Lost Love Blues
Enda Franco’s Line
Screwball Cannonball

Thanks Will.

Does anyone have any more information/lrics/links about these songs?

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 08 Mar 17 - 03:28 AM

ADELANTE (THE BALLAD OF CLEM BECKETT)



By Joe Solo


On Facebook, Joe Solo recently posted a link to the words and a recording of his new song about Lancashire International Brigade volunteer and speedway rider Clem Becket.
https://www.facebook.com/joesolomusic/posts/10211916440327989
Inspired by the play 'Dare Devil Rides to Jarama', Townsend Productions masterpiece about the life and death of Clem Beckett and his friend Christopher Caudwell (Spriggy) fighting fascism on Suicide Hill February 12th 1937. Beckett was a famous speedway rider and Caudwell a poet, and they fought to the death holding up an enemy advance so that their comrades could escape to safety in the valley behind.

Hey Spriggy, I'm glad that it's you here
It's better to die with a friend
You were there from the start back on Kings Street
And here you are now at the end
Fate mixed our lives up together
And set us down on the same side
A speedway star fighting for words here
And a poet on a dare devil ride

Chorus:
Adelante- forward forever
Adelante- you must stand your ground
Adelante- forward forever
Forward forever and never back down

Hey Spriggy. the fascists are coming
But I'm damned if they're taking Madrid
'Adelante', I know that means 'forward'
It's been my motto since I was a kid
We must make our stand in this valley
In the olives, the scrub and the ash
And I swear by the oil on these fingers
No Pasaran- they shall not pass!
Chorus

Hey Spriggy, you're dead at my side now
And there's no-one to reload this gun
But I'll fire it until my last bullet
Cos there's no way in hell that I'll run
I guess what it all boils down to
Is the one lasting thing you can give
That's your life in the fight for our freedom
To die so that others might live

Chorus
credits
from Not On Our Watch, released January 1, 2018
Joe Solo
license
all rights reserved
https://joesolomusic.bandcamp.com/track/adelante-the-ballad-of-clem-beckett

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 25 Jun 17 - 01:50 AM

I have just received news of a new song written about the sinking of the ship Ciudad de Barcelona in 1937. I have no detailed information to pass on about the song itself but there is a 20 second sound clip available using this link. https://chuffed.org/project/solidarity-park   The link will take you to a site where it is possible to download the whole song in exchange for a donation towards the establishment of a new memorial devoted to the brigadistas who were drowned when the ship was sunk off the coast of Catalonia while bringing over 300 volunteer fighters to defend the Spanish Republic against fascism in 1937. the site displays photographs of the proposed memorial which is based upon reports of the brigadistas singing The Internationale as the boat sank.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 28 Jun 17 - 10:19 AM

In the latest newsletter of the International Brigade Memorial Trust came news of two new songs dedicated to British international brigaders John Longstaff and Bob Cooney. These songs appear on the new album by The Young'uns, entitled 'Strangers', which is to be released on 29 September.

The song 'Cable Street' is about John Longstaff, a Tees-sider who took part in the anti-fascist Battle of Cable Street in London in 1936 before going to Spain. 'Bob Cooney's Miracle' tells a story about Aberdeen International Brigader Bob Cooney's time in Spain.

The album can be pre-ordered here:http://smarturl.it/ox0wmn And is reviewed here. https://louderthanwar.com/the-younguns-band-on-the-wall-manchester-live-review/

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST,Ada the Cadre
Date: 02 Aug 17 - 11:26 AM

Does anyone know ALL the words to Old Potato Jones, a 1937 music-hall song by Leslie Sarony & performed here by the Two Leslies? I have them all except the penultimate line of the last chorus. "The spuds have all got off............... He's a grand old man of the sea. David Potato Jones was a Cape Horner, became a captain and was involved in running the blockade of the Basque ports during the SCW.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAyRpOblaok

---

Link toTHE SONG LIST for Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War posted above

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 14 Aug 17 - 05:42 AM

nother performance of Old Potato Jones but It's not much to do with the Spanish Civil War even though Potato Jones was ???
https://archive.org/details/TheTwoLeslies71Songs/The+Two+Leslies+-+Old+Potato+Jones+1937.mp3

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 25 Oct 17 - 08:18 AM

BOB COONEY'S MIRACLE

Here is al ink to The Young'ns singing Bob Cooney's Miracle on Radio Leeds
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05k0fbb

I do't know any details about the song but will try to find out about it.

------------------------------------------------------------------
From: GeoffLawes -
Date: 18/02/2018 AM

BOB COONEY'S MIRACLE

By SEAN COONEY

Well you've all heard how ten thousand blokes

Were fed by Christ with the fish and loaves

Well, on the banks of the Ebro in '38

A miracle happened on my plate!

We'd damn no scran for two whole days

57 lads, all hot and hazed

When come the commissar with the grub, what grief!

A loaf of bread and a tin of beef

Well all us lads were filled with strife

'Till up comes Cooney with his tiny knife

And before the lamb could wolf the sun

Every man had a corned-beef bun!

Now, Jesus may have got more done

But He had five loaves, not just one

And Jesus' men weren't clemmed like we;

They'd not fought fascists in a hot country

So we break and share with all us men

We can share the earth and start again

Sharpen your knives, Bob Cooney said

Bring out your beef and bring out your bread

We can share the earth!

We can start again!

Amen, amen, amen, amen



LISTEN

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 09 Dec 17 - 08:02 PM

For Those Who Came After: Songs of Resistance from the Spanish Civil War

Thanks to Gary Hammond of The Hut People for bringing this new recording to my attention and for providing the link to information about it. Only a few of the songs are in English but it is well worth reading about. The proceeds of its sale benefit the programs of The Abraham Lincoln Battalion Association .

Link Here

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 25 Feb 19 - 08:03 PM



            

The Ballad of Johnny Longstaff (Young’uns Cd & Show)

This post is a collection of information about the Cd and stage show called The Ballad of Johnny Longstaff which was created and performed by The Young’uns, (Sean Cooney, David Eagle, &Michael Hughes ) The following link will take you to a Youtube video made for the group’s 2019 tour. It provides a good overview of the whole project.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDAcZnu-9do
Below that link is a section called THE TRACK LIST , a list of all the Johnny Longstaff songs This includes a link to a YouTube video performance of each song by The Young’uns   . Below THE TRACK LIST    will be found THE LYRICS    which shows the lyrics for each song.   

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TRACK LIST

                           
1 Any Bread?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7awjjTuvPXo&list=OLAK5uy_kWvN9y38-4tZLDUbvIXIXHf7DF4czFpQs&index=1
2 Carrying the Coffin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZLCrCi8n5s&list=OLAK5uy_kWvN9y38-4tZLDUbvIXIXHf7DF4czFpQs&index=2
3 Hostel Strike
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o2djqABt8w&list=OLAK5uy_kWvN9y38-4tZLDUbvIXIXHf7DF4czFpQs&index=4
4 Cable Street
; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o2djqABt8w&list=OLAK5uy_kWvN9y38-4tZLDUbvIXIXHf7DF4czFpQs&index=4
5 Robson's Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaaSNXznnWc&index=5&list=OLAK5uy_kWvN9y38-4tZLDUbvIXIXHf7DF4czFpQs
6 Ta-ra to Tooting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTZPfWX-ArI&list=OLAK5uy_kWvN9y38-4tZLDUbvIXIXHf7DF4czFpQs&index=6
7 Noddy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvKzmQTcHig&list=OLAK5uy_kWvN9y38-4tZLDUbvIXIXHf7DF4czFpQs&index=7
8 The Great Tomorrow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VemZ3D_zkBA&index=8&list=OLAK5uy_kWvN9y38-4tZLDUbvIXIXHf7DF4czFpQs
9 Ay Carmela
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFbr_p9qQYY&list=OLAK5uy_kWvN9y38-4tZLDUbvIXIXHf7DF4czFpQs&index=9
10 Paella    
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ya4-daNzC3g&list=OLAK5uy_kWvN9y38-4tZLDUbvIXIXHf7DF4czFpQs&index=10
11 No Hay Pan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_3iGQ9eZrI&index=11&list=OLAK5uy_kWvN9y38-4tZLDUbvIXIXHf7DF4czFpQs
12 Trench Tales
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTQS5zlTeqQ&index=12&list=OLAK5uy_kWvN9y38-4tZLDUbvIXIXHf7DF4czFpQs
13 Lewis Clive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRziLXRhL0A&index=13&list=OLAK5uy_kWvN9y38-4tZLDUbvIXIXHf7DF4czFpQs

14 Bob Cooney's Miracle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFPWqceZRjQ&index=14&list=OLAK5uy_kWvN9y38-4tZLDUbvIXIXHf7DF4czFpQs
15 Over the Ebro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68KuqcJvShM&list=OLAK5uy_kWvN9y38-4tZLDUbvIXIXHf7DF4czFpQs&index=15
16 David Guest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kfNlFT0DTs&index=16&list=OLAK5uy_kWvN9y38-4tZLDUbvIXIXHf7DF4czFpQs
17 The Valley of Jarama
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI6pe6AkFus&index=17&list=OLAK5uy_kWvN9y38-4tZLDUbvIXIXHf7DF4czFpQs

? Hereteu Records
      
Released on: 2019-01-07
Lyricist: Sean Cooney
      
Composer: David Eagle
      
Composer: Michael Hughes
      
Composer: Sean Cooney
      

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THE LYRICS

Reproduced in italics beneath some of the songs is information provided bySean Cooney which describes how the song was composed.

---

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ANY BREAD

by Sean Cooney

Me name is John Longstaff in Stockton I was born

On a cold October morning my eyes first saw the dawn

Me grandad was a sailor he wore the jacket blue

And when I found his old sea chest I thought I’d be one too

Now when I was 10 the slump began and I did not know why

My belly should be empty and my lips should be dry

There were jam jars for cups and there were newspapers for plates

And all us kids a-waiting outside the factory gates

And it’s….



‘Mister! Mister! Mister!’ we said

‘Mister! Mister! Mister!’ we bled

‘Mister! Mister!’ we sang like the dead

‘Mister! Oh Mister! Can you spare any bread?’



One day we stole some duck eggs from a shop on Norton road

And we ran back to Willie’s house to cook our little load

But Willie’s Mam she were so poor she never had a pan

So we threw them in the kettle and soon it boiled and sang

But two rozzers traced us and they searched the whole house through

They found the pantry empty and all our stomachs too

Says Willie’s Mam ‘will you have some tea the kettle’s on the job’

Those rozzers smiled and shook their heads and they gave her two bob



‘Mister! Mister! Mister!’ we said

‘Mister! Mister! Mister!’ we bled

‘Mister! Mister!’ we sang like the dead
‘Mister! Oh Mister! Can you spare any bread?’



When I left school at 14 I found meself a job

12 hours a day in the rolling mill I toiled for my 8 bob

With the furnace men, the roller and the heaver over man

And the scars from those sharp edge springs I’ve still got on my hands

But one day misfortune took the heel from off me clog

And down upon the black hot steel I fell like a dog

There were burns on me back and hands I couldn’t carry on

And when I left the hospital I found my job had gone



‘Mister! Mister! Mister!’ we said

‘Mister! Mister! Mister!’ we bled

‘Mister! Mister!’ we sang like the dead

‘Mister! Oh Mister! Can you spare any bread?’



Out of work in ’34 and too young for the dole

Buried under ashes like a lump of idle coal

There were men marching to London so in with them I slung
But when I said I was 15 they said I was too young

So secretly I stalked them at a slower rate

Through Darlington, Northallerton, Thirsk and Harrogate

And when we reached the town of Leeds they found out me plan

And they said that I could march with them for now I was a man



This was the first song I wrote about Johnny in November 2015. I wrote it at home in Sheffield. The first two verses and chorus are inspired by passages in Johnny’s unpublished memoirs Any Bread Mister? This is how the book begins

‘Any bread left mister, any bread left?’

Came these words from children, who were waiting at the factory gates for the few employed men who had finished work for the day, and were walking out of the factories in Stockton On Tees. Sometimes the workers gave us some food; they had deliberately saved this food from their lunch boxes to give to us hungry youngsters. The look on their faces was one of sympathy; even we young children understood the look and the expression these men had on their faces. -< Any Bread Mister? <

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CARRYING THE COFFIN

by Sean Cooney

We’re carrying the coffin all the way to London town

Carrying the coffin all the way to London town

Carrying the coffin all the way to London town

And we will work once more!



In our coffin is a man who went to war

He came back a hero, boys - beaten, broke and sore

He pawned all his medals, lads, because he was so poor

And he can’t work no more!



We’re carrying the coffin all the way to London town

Carrying the coffin all the way to London town

Carrying the coffin all the way to London town

And we will work once more!



From the Clyde and the Tyne and the Tees we have come

From the Mersey and the Severn and the Yare and Taff and Don

Our rivers may be weeping, lads, but we are marching on

And we will work once more!



We’re carrying the coffin all the way to London town

Carrying the coffin all the way to London town

Carrying the coffin all the way to London town

And we will work once more!



‘A land fit for coffins,’ is what they should have said

Cos if we can’t have work enough we might as well be dead

But while we’ve still got breath in us we’ll sing instead

We will work once more!



We’re carrying the coffin all the way to London town

Carrying the coffin all the way to London town

Carrying the coffin all the way to London town

And we will work once more!



And we’ll carry our coffins all along Whitehall

And when we are fit to drop then into them we’ll fall

And Mr MacDonald he can bury us all

If we can’t work no more!



We’re carrying the coffin all the way to London town

Carrying the coffin all the way to London town

Carrying the coffin all the way to London town

And we will work once more!



The ground is gaping and me legs they feel like lead

The gravestones are grinning and the mourners are well fed

So bring out your jobs or bring out your dead

We will work once more!

We will work once more!

We will work once more!



Written in November 2015. Johnny explained in his oral testimonies that the hunger marchers with whom he walked to London composed songs as they walked along. Many were put to the tune of the popular marching song John Brown’s Body so it felt right to do the same.

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HOSTEL STRIKE

by Sean Cooney

Well the cook was a crook and the manager a miser

Both were shirkers both were skirters both were bad workers and skivers

And the butties were disgusting and the soup was getting thinner

And all we got for breakfast each was half a soggy kipper

And the sheets weren’t changed and the smell was something funny

When we worked overtime the buggers took half of our money

I was a proud young working lad but treated like a convict

Feeling bold 15 years old I wasn’t going to stand it

We were waiting for a better day

Now in the north we were poor but we were poor together

But when you see the lights of London then you know you should have better

So when queueing for our bait boxes one cold and rainy morning

I said ‘stuff your bloody butties for they always taste appalling!’

The cook ran amuck and he flung himself towards me

He was cursing he was swearing, every dirty name he called me

Though I didn’t know what striking was and I was no abetter

I said ‘I’ll not go to work today till things round here are better!’



We were waiting for a better day, boys, waiting for a better day



So all us lads filed out the door and though the ground was sodden

For three long nights we all slept rough up out on Wandsworth Common

Till our pockets all were empty and they thought that we would give in

But we held our nerve and our reserve and fought for our living

Now on Trinity Road there was a little café

Where the busmen went for their tea and toast and coffee

And when they’d heard our story with us they were really taken

They yelled ‘give all these lads tea and toast and give ‘em egg and bacon!’   



We were waiting for a better day, boys, waiting for a better day



They asked us lots of questions and they heard each of our stories

They got all our facts and figures straight and laid the case before me

Then the police came arrested me - the trouble it was starting

But the lads ran to the café and the busmen came a marching

And the busmen spoke with splendid oratory

While the manager and cook each told a different story

It was plain as rain they were a pair of rotten scammers

They were sacked outright without a fight and now they’re in the slammer



We were waiting for a better day, boys waiting for a better day



As the manager was hauled away he snarled and pointed at me

He said ‘There’s the bloody Bolshevik, there’s the rotten commie!’

Now I’d never heard of either word so I just stood there smirking

Gave a sigh and went inside just glad that I was working

And to thank those busmen us lads were all contriving

We bought them each a tie all bright and red and shining

Now I did not know politics a leader I was not it

But now I knew what union meant and I never forgot it



We were waiting for a better day, boys, waiting for better day

Waiting for a better day at the YMCA



I wrote this whilst we were on tour with The Transports production in January 2018. I never used to be able to write whilst on tour. Most of my earlier songs were written at home with the guitar and the time and space to concentrate. More recently I’ve preferred writing on the road and this was put together and went through a week of rewrites and edits on the Transports tour bus and in a series of dressing rooms all over England. Johnny spoke at length of the stand he made against the manager and cook who took over at the Tooting YMCA whilst he was there in 1934. In this recording we don’t feature this narrative but the song follows the story accurately. However, I have embellished the tale by saying the crooks both ended up in prison! This is one of the most powerful lines in Johnny’s memoirs


It was far easier to be hungry in Stockton than it was to be hungry in London because we were all sharing the same poverty - Any Bread Mister?

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CABLE STREET

by Sean Cooney

On the 4th October 1936 I was only a lad of 16

But I stood beside men who were 3 score and 10 and every age in between

We were dockers and teachers, busmen, engineers and those with no jobs to do

We were women and children equal, in union

Atheists, Christians and Jews

And we had so much to lose



For with Hitler in Germany, Franco in Spain we knew what fascism meant

So when Mosley came trouncing, denouncing the Jews to the East End of London we went

For I’d met refugees who had fled o’er the seas - Germans, Italians and Jews

And I knew their despair for what they’d seen there and I couldn’t let them be abused

We had so much to lose



Now 3,000 fascists their uniforms black had set off to march on that day

And 6,000 policemen intended to greet them by making clear the way

But we were there ready our nerves they were steady - 100,000 in mass

And we planted our feet along Cable Street and we sang ‘they shall not pass!’

We sang ‘they shall not pass!’



Then all us young lads were sent to the side streets to stop the police breaking through

And with swift hands we made strong barricades out of anything we could use

And they came to charge us but they couldn’t barge us with fists, batons and hooves

With as good as we got we withstood the lot for we would not be moved

We would not be moved



And yes there was violence and yes there was blood and I saw things a lad shouldn’t see

But I’ll not regret the day I stood and London stood with me



And when the news spread the day had been won and Mosley was limping away

There were shouts, there were cheers, there were songs, there were tears and I hear them all to this day

And we all swore then we’d stand up again for as long as our legs could

And that when we were gone our daughters and sons would stand where we stood



Was the first time I’d heard two tiny words said by every woman and man

Now I say them still and I always will

‘No Pasaran!’



This was written during our first tour of Australia in March 2016. I remember vividly going through drafts of it in the passenger seat as we drove the dusty roads of Victoria to play at Port Fairy Folk Festival. We recorded it on Strangers in 2017 knowing as we did so that one day it would be part of a suite of songs about Johnny’s life. Inspiration also came from the memories and reminiscences of many other people who were there.

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ROBSON’S SONG

by Sean Cooney

In a doss in Charing Cross behind a big steel door

I met a man who had the dourest face I ever saw

He was grey as the grave, he was stern and he was grim


His name was Robbie Robson and I said this to him



I said ‘my name is Longstaff and I want to go to Spain’

‘Well are you sure?’ he answered me so I told him again


‘Well how old are you really lad? You look like 12 to me’

‘I’m nearly 20 sir,’ I lied, cos I was 17



‘Now there are things that you must know, lad, if you mean to go

To fight down in a foreign land against a fearsome foe

For the enemy is brutal, lad, and when you’re on the run

You’ll be lucky if you shoot him, lad, cos you won’t have a gun!



And you’ll be no good wounded, lad, by those dirty thugs

For when you go to hospital there won’t be any drugs

And when you come home blinded, lad, without an arm or leg

There’ll be nothing we can give you, lad, you’ll have to go and beg



And the clothes that you’ll be wearing, lad, they come in sizes 2

Too big or too small – but too small’s too big for you!

And when your arse is bleeding, lad, through scratching with the lice

Then you’ll remember me, lad, and think on my advice



And the food that’ll you’ll be eating, lad, it won’t be very grand

The beef is really of donkey and the coffee’s really sand

And when you’re gipping in a bucket, lad, and wishing for your Mum

You’ll remember me, lad, and wish you’d never come



You’ll be burned red like a lobster, lad, beneath the blazing sun

In the Pyrenees you’re sure to freeze with ice upon your bum

Digging trenches with your finger nails, lad, in the frozen ground

You’ll remember me, lad, and wish you’d turned around



So now you’ve heard my story, lad, it is the truth I’ve said

You’ll be either maimed or blinded, lad, or more than likely dead

So now you’re looking at me, lad, tell me your answer plain

I said ‘my name is Longstaff and I want to go to Spain’



Robson’s Song was written on one day in October 2017 when we were waiting to play the North Wall Arts centre in Oxford. Up until that day I’d never heard the expression ‘gipping’ (vomiting) until Andy Bell our sound engineer and producer said it. It seemed to fit perfectly for the song - thanks Andy. Johnny spoke at length about how attempts were made to persuade him not to go to Spain. Other veterans shared similar stories and experiences of ‘the dour faced’ Robson

They put me through a right third degree; at the end I said to him: ‘Don’t you want me to go?’ Syd Booth.

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TA-RA TO TOOTING

by Sean Cooney

We gather for the picture my five mates and me

Like dapper little devils, we are young and free

And I sit in the centre - the captain of the crew

My coat is an old’un but my shirt is almost new

And I sing ta-ra to Tooting and the lads I leave behind

For the train waits in the station and it’s time for me to ride

But I’ll take this tiny picture so wherever I may be

There’ll be Jim and Jack and Ernie, Norman, Les and me.



And as we left the city and the grey land turned to green

I thought about those young lads and the things we’d done and seen

When we fought for the right to ramble the countryside all through

When the fences were all old’uns but the land was almost new

And I’ll sing ta-ra to Tooting and the lads I left behind

When we came to Newhaven there was one thing on my mind

But I’ll take this tiny picture so wherever I may be

There’ll be Jim and Jack and Ernie, Norman, Les and me



As night fell on the Channel and the wind sang on the sea

I thought about those young lads and the times they sang with me

When our tongues told of freedom and every note rang true

And though our tunes were all old’uns our words were almost new

So I’ll sing ta-ra to Tooting and the lads I left behind

As morning broke on Dieppe and the sun began to shine

I’ll take this tiny picture so wherever I may be

There’ll be Jim and Jack and Ernie, Norman, Les and me.



When the picture’s almost faded, when the memory’s almost gone

Will I sit then and wonder how we ever were so young?

Will there be young lads somewhere whose hearts are just as true?

When our old world has faded will theirs be almost new?

Then I’ll cry ta-ra to Tooting and the lads I left behind

80 years before me or 80 years behind

And when all that’s left’s a picture whenever that may be

There’ll be Jim and Jack and Ernie, Norman, Les and me.



Jim, Jack, Ernie, Norman, Les, me


I got the idea for this song whilst on a ferry to Prince Edward Island in Canada in July 2017. I scribbled some verses down but only went back to them in November 2017 when we were back in Canada staying at a friend’s house in Calgary. There’s a little bit of Billy Connolly’s I Wish I Was in Glasgow somewhere in the tune.
Johnny’s five mates were Jim Perry, Jack Brown, Les Hawesby Norman Horwood, and Ernest Harrison. The picture was taken on the day that Johnny left for Spain in September 1937. He didn’t have time to get it developed of course so he wouldn’t have carried it with him across the Channel as the song suggests but it was sent out to him in Spain and he did cherish it.

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NODDY

by Sean Cooney

When our young hero Johnny went for a bath in Paris

He saw a woman in the noddy that made him stop and stare

Well his eyes jumped out their sockets, his heart raced like a rocket

And there was something in his pocket that he didn’t know was there!



Noddy comes from this little story from Johnny’s memoirs about how he and the small group he was with were sent to the public baths to sober up before their medical in Paris.



Away we all went to the baths where I dived into one of the showers and stood shivering as the cold water turned me purple. A woman was singing, she was in the next shower cubicle and only a small partition separated us. I looked over the top, to find out that she was completely nude. It was the first time I had seen a woman 'in the noddy.' If I was drunk, the sight of that naked woman quickly sobered me up. I thought I was in the women's part of the public baths and did not know the French men and women used the same section. At least they did where I was! I quickly dressed and went back to have another medical. I wonder if those French comrades were having a bit of fun with us! - Any Bread Mister?

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THE GREAT TOMORROW

by Sean Cooney

There’s a song sang up in the mountains and there’s a song upon the sea

There’s a song sang in unison and a song in harmony

There’s a song sang in every timbre and in 47 tongues

Thirty thousand voices are all singing our song

And the more of us who learn to sing it then the sooner there will be

Peace beneath the branches of the lime and olive tree



From mine and mill and field and shipyard, from behind the company door

From the playing fields of Eton to the warrens of the poor

From Helsinki to Buenos Aires our reasons are the same

From Melbourne to Vancouver now we have come to Spain

For if you sing a song of freedom then it does not matter where

If your song is freedom then you sing it everywhere.



There are some of our number who have known the pains of war

There are some of our number who have never fought before

But there are none of our number would think it were in vain

To leave their warm blood spilled upon the dry hot soil of Spain

And if I end up on that roll of honour I’ll be in good company

If there’s peace beneath the branches of the lime and olive tree



One day there will be no fascist and no anti-fascist men

One day there’ll be no ‘us’ and one day there’ll be no ‘them’

For equality is for everyone no matter what we’ve done

The sins of our fathers will not ever harm our sons

For there will come a great tomorrow for everyone to see

Peace beneath the branches of the lime and olive tree



But if all our dreams are sold and bartered and if all our names are lost

And if everything we’ve fought for crumbles into dust

They will never take from me the love I felt that day

I went because my open eyes could see no other way

And if I live to be one hundred make this my legacy

Peace beneath the branches of the lime and olive tree


Yes if I live to be one hundred make this my legacy

Peace beneath the branches of the lime and olive tree



Written in Calgary in Western Canada in November 2017 it’s a song about a song. The Internationale was possibly the most popular left wing anthem of the 20th century. This famous song features heavily in the testimonies of many of the volunteers and many of the British described the incredible emotion of singing it at the moment they crossed over the border after climbing through the mountains.

Here were we, all young men from really all the nations of Europe joining this one song in their own language which seemed to express a yearning for the unity of mankind. I find it extremely difficult to explain how exhilarating this was. I don’t think I’ve ever felt the same feeling at any other time in my life. - John Dunbar
Our reworking references the famous words of Cecil Day Lewis

It was not fraud or foolishness glory, revenge, or pay
We came because our open eyes could see no other way
The Volunteer, Cecil Day Lewis

It also owes much to these words of Bob Cooney

And if we live to be a hundred
We'll have this to be glad about
We went to Spain!
Because of that great yesterday
We are part of the greater tomorrow
-Hasta La Vista - Madrid! - Bob Cooney

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AY CARMELA

by Sean Cooney

We are the lost sons of Albion

The men of the British Battalion

There is no gold path to glory Ay Carmela! Ay Carmela!

That is someone else’s story Ay Carmela! Ay Carmela!



Through the hills to Spain we furrow

To find a country cloaked in sorrow

Bodies in the wells were lying Ay Carmela! Ay Carmela!

Blood upon the church walls drying Ay Carmela! Ay Carmela!



Izquierada and derecho

Izquierada and derecho

Imedia vuleta Ay Carmela! Ay Carmela!

Izquierada and derecho Ay Carmela! Ay Carmela!



The first of us fell at Jarama

The earth was warm our blood was warmer

Thomas Carter came a- storming Ay Carmela! Ay Carmela!

Ne’er to see another morning Ay Carmela! Ay Carmela!



At Mosquito Ridge the earth was burning

Our tongues on fire our stomachs churning

‘Aviones!’ the Capitan calling Ay Carmela! Ay Carmela!

The bombs of Brunete falling Ay Carmela! Ay Carmela!


At Teruel the earth was frozen

We dug until our graves would open

Our clothes were old our guns were older Ay Carmela! Ay Carmela!

Our bodies cold our blood was colder Ay Carmela! Ay Carmela!



We are the lost sons of Albion

The men of the British Battalion

There is no gold path to glory Ay Carmela! Ay Carmela!

That is someone else’s story Ay Carmela! Ay Carmela!



Ay Carmela was one of the most famous songs of the Spanish Civil War and like the Internationale it was hard to get away from it when writing the piece. It seemed fitting to use this well-known tune in the way Republican soldiers did by putting original words to it. I’ve borrowed a very emotive line from Laurie Lee for the opening verse


No Gold path of glory, this, for youth to go to war, but a grey path of intense disquiet
-Laurie Lee - A Moment of War

Thomas Carter was a Hartlepool volunteer who died at the Battle of Jarama in February 1937. Sadly, we know little about him. Wherever we perform the show we try and include the names of volunteers who were local to that area at this point.


Though the songs were intended to weave in and out of Johnny’s oral testimony as part of the live show, each one was written in the hope that it could stand up on its own and be performed as an individual piece outside of the context of the show.   In order for Ay Carmela to do this it probably needs a few more verses.

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PAELLA

by Sean Cooney

When Johnny saw Paella he was a sickly fella

He said, ‘I’ll eat that never!’ His eyes were all agog

So Johnny ate an orange and then another orange

Spent two days eating orange and three days on the bog!



When I was a youngster we were eating out somewhere and I refused to eat what was put in front of me I can remember my dad having a look of sorrow on his face when he said “Son if you are hungry enough you will eat anything.” He meant it. -< Duncan Longstaff

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NO HAY PAN (There is no bread)

by Sean Cooney

There’s a rumble on the street

No Hay Pan

The sound of hungry feet

No Hay Pan
Morning breaks once more

Like a ship upon a shore

A boot upon a jaw

No Hay Pan



Now when I was a lad

No Hay Pan

The times they were bad

No Hay Pan

But we did all we could

Break any rule we would

Too hungry to be good

No Hay Pan



We crept into a church

No Hay Pan

And there upon a perch

No Hay Pan

We saw two candles then

We whispered ‘Lord Amen’

And we ate both of them

No Hay Pan




The silence of the town

No Hay Pan

Broken by the sound

No Hay Pan

A lonely mother’s call

Night begins to fall

The longest night of all
                                 
No Hay Pan



This song started on a flight to Canada in July 2017 and took a long time to finish. The story Johnny relates in the live show about being served cat meat was going to be its own song but I struggled with how to go about it and so we decided in the end that we’d let Johnny tell the story in his own words (though we edited out the bit where he said it tasted like chicken!) The second verse came from this email from Duncan


I went to see my Aunt, she told me of a story my Dad told her many years ago.
Dad said that he and his mates were banned from every church in Stockton, the reason for this, and as they were suffering from real hunger they stole candles from churches to eat. - Duncan Longstaff


The first verse owes something to this brilliant line in one of my favourite books of recent years

Morning broke like a frying pan - The Tusk that did the Damage Tania James

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TRENCH TALES

by Sean Cooney

We are three singing soldiers and now here we are again

We survived the Great War boys and now we’ve come to Spain

So crunch on your carbunchies lads and drink that canteen dry

Comrade one,

‘Salud!’

Your time has come, make those tonsils fly!



Wally Tapsell was a London lad as honest as they come

And when they picked the Commissars they said he could be one

So he bought a pair of thigh high boots long and laced and lean

And each night he left them by the door for someone else to clean

Now one night as I was standing guard along comes Barney Shields

I think he was the drunkest man that I have ever seen

Then Barney whips his johnson out, he swivels and he shoots

In no time at all he’s missed the wall and filled up Wally’s boots



Ah ya da da da da da da da da da da da da



Now here’s a little ditty for our four legged furry friends

Let’s hear it for the mules, me boys, they’re with us till the end

And here’s to the brave muleteers boys - the lads who make them go

But there’s one mule to break the rule his name you all should know

Well I reckon he’s a turncoat and now so do all the men

Cos when we’re near the enemy he tries to run to them

Well I sez to Bob, ‘that mule’s a spy what shall we call him?’

‘Well he trots towards the fascists so we’ll call him Chamberlain!’



Ah ya da da da da da da da da da da da da



Our cook is Hooky Walker and one day he sez to John

‘Young Longstaff do you like a drop, are you a drinking man?’

When Johnny said he hardly supped well Hooky smiles with glee

‘Then you can fetch the vino, boy, for all the company!’

So Johnny sets off into town with empty jars in store

He filled each one up to the brim till he was feeling sore

So he tried a little drop himself, he sucked it thirstily

And we found him three hours later, boys, sleep beneath a tree



Ah ya da da da da da da da da da da da da



So now you’ve heard our stories lads and now our song is done

Aviones are all swooping boys it’s time that we were gone

Wherever heads are drooping low and men lie in despair

In times of war when hearts are sore - we’ll be singing there



Trench Tales was written in February 2018 mainly in the van going to and from primary schools in Cambridgeshire whilst we were working on a project called the Sounds of Identity. In 2014 we recorded a trilogy of ‘trench tales’ for a WW1 compilation album called Songs for the Voiceless and it seemed fitting to bring back our ‘three singing soldiers’ and send them to Spain. ‘Carbunchies’ were chickpeas (they were crunchy because no British cook realised they had to be soaked overnight). ‘Salud’ is a popular Spanish greeting. The story of Wally Tapsell’s boots has been retold many times in the testimonies of British veterans. Tapsell died at Calaceite in March 1938. The story of Chamberlain’s mule was remembered by Bob Cooney. John Leith ‘Hooky’ Walker from Fife was the popular quartermaster of the British Battalion. He survived the war. ‘Aviones’ were aeroplanes.

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LEWIS CLIVE

by Sean Cooney

When Lewis Clive took his first swim he kicked his little legs so thin

And though he hardly had the room he swam around his mother’s womb

The midwife waited for a grip like a fielder at first slip

And the bunting it was all unfurled when Lewis dived into the world

But there was one thing held him down - umbilical cord a-twining round

He saw the pliers on the shelf and went and cut the cord himself



For Lewis Clive! Lewis Clive!

Couldn’t wait to be alive

Lewis Clive



When Lewis Clive became a man his back was straight, his arms were strong

And he became an Oxford blue and then in 1932

Beneath a Californian sun the umpire fired the starting gun

And the rings were blazing bright and bold when Lewis won Olympic Gold

And though he missed the boat back home Lewis Clive didn’t moan

It’s a long way from Americay but Lewis Clive swam all the way



Oh Lewis Clive! Lewis Clive!

Aint it great to be alive

Lewis Clive



Then one day in ’38 the big retreat no time to wait

The bridge across the river gone ‘swim lads,’ says big Clive ‘come on’

And like a swan leads her rank he steered us to the other bank

But Thomas struggled with the tide and flailed his drowning arms out wide

But Big Clive pulled him safe from harm and swam with him beneath one arm

And when the job was finally done he swam back and fetched his gun



Oh Lewis Clive! Lewis Clive!

Swore to keep us all alive

Lewis Clive



And how we loved his shining smile and the arms that swam for mile and mile

But Lewis Clive shall swim no more but maybe on a distant shore

St Peter’s standing at the gate, he says ‘Big Clive you’ll have to wait’

‘No bother’ smiles Clive with a grin ‘I’ll go and have meself a swim’

So he dives down to the seas of hell where all them fascists scream and yell

And when God sees just what he’s done he says ‘Moses, mate, you best be gone’

‘There’d be no need to part the sea if Lewis Clive had swam for me.’



Oh Lewis Clive! Lewis Clive!

How I wish he was alive

Lewis Clive



Lewis Clive was written at home in the summer of 2017. The dashing, athletic Lewis Clive (1910-1938) - Etonian, Oxford Blue, Olympic rowing champion, Labour Councillor - was adored by British volunteers. He was also the inspiration for the character Oliver in Mary Wesley’s The Camomile Lawn. The song mixes fact with fiction, of course, and owes something to the great mythical folk heroes the Big Hewer, John Henry and Kilroy. It also has a whiff of the music hall song My Brother Sylveste who ‘drank up all the water in the sea and walked all the way to Italy.’ Brazell Thomas was the Welsh volunteer whom Clive rescued from the fast flowing waters of the Ebro.

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DAVID GUEST

by Sean Cooney

When David Guest first wore a vest and sat on his nanny’s knee

He said ‘Nanny dear, it’s awful queer to live in luxury

Some boys have all the toys and other boys have none

It seems to be unfair to me - something must be done’



David Guest was charming and his voice rang like a bell

But when he lost his temper he really lost it well



David Guest was quickly blessed with his father’s tongue

And he would gob to every mob who did pass along

At nine years old and feeling bold he preached unto a throng

Of nursemaids who looked all amazed that something must be done



David Guest was charming and his voice rang like a bell

But when he lost his temper he really lost it well



Now David Guest was quickly best in every lesson read

Made Cambridge dons suck their thumbs and tug their beards with dread

He crossed the sea to Germany in 1931

He saw the Jews were being abused and something must be done



David Guest was charming and his voice rang like a bell

But when he lost his temper he really lost it well



So David Guest puffed out his chest and he did rant and rail

And for this deed and at great speed they sent him off to jail

When he returned how his tongue burned like something had begun

The pain he'd seen just made him keen that something must be done



David Guest was charming and his voice rang like a bell

But when he lost his temper he really lost it well

David Guest could hardly rest - it caused his mother pain

And though she begged David said ‘I must go to Spain.’

As the Ebro flows David knows the reason why we’ve come

‘When the world’s on fire you mustn’t tire - something must be done'



David Guest was charming and his voice rang like a bell

But when he lost his temper he really lost it well



David Guest shot through the chest by a sniper’s gun

And the earth was thin we laid him in on Hill 481

And those who heard his final words made sure to pass them on

‘Leave me still, get up the hill – something must be done’


David Guest was one of the last songs to be completed in March 2018. Dave wrote the tune after we abandoned an earlier version which had a much bluesier feel. The life of David Guest – Mathematician, Philosopher, Composer, Idealist, Communist - is captured beautifully in David Guest – A Scientist Fights for Freedom 1911-1938 which was compiled shortly after his death by his mother Carmel Haden Guest. In one anecdote we hear how the infant David met J. M. Barrie who asked him if he wanted to grow up. ‘Not if I end up looking like you,’ he replied! He wasn’t known to have a fiery temper in Spain but this quote from the adolescent Guest really captured my imagination..If you lose your temper lose it properly!

The names of David Guest and Lewis Clive along with Wally Tapsell from London, Harry Dobson from Wales and Morris Miller from Hull were etched onto a concrete monument in the mountains of the Serra de Pandols in 1938. Incredibly this memorial escaped the desecration and destruction of Republican monuments and graves that followed Franco’s victory in 1939. It was re discovered by a group of walkers in 2000 and is the subject of a beautiful David Leach film Voices from a Mountain

---

---

---

BOB COONEY’S MIRACLE

by Sean Cooney

Well you’ve all heard how 5000 oafs

Were fed by Christ with the fish and loaves

But on the banks of the Ebro in ’38

A miracle happened on my plate



We’d had no scran for two whole days

Fifty seven lads all hot and hazed

When come the Commissar with the grub – what grief!

A loaf of bread and a tin of beef!



Now all us lads were filled with strife

Till up comes Cooney with his tiny knife

And before the land could wolf the sun

Every man had a corned beef bun



Well Jesus may have got more done

But he had five loaves not just one

And Jesus’ men weren’t clemmed like we

They’d not fought fascists in a hot country



So if he can share with all us men

We can share the earth and start again

‘Sharpen your knives’ Bob Cooney said

‘Bring out your beef and bring out your bread!’



We can share the earth, we can start again

Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen!




Bob Cooney’s Miracle was written in Sheffield in November 2015 and recorded on our Strangers album in 2017. My namesake Bob Cooney (1908-1984) came from Aberdeen and was one of the leading figures in the British Communist Party in the 1930s – so much so that many attempts were made to prevent him going to Spain where he might well have been killed.   He went on to serve in WW2 and spent the rest of his working life in Birmingham where he is fondly remembered as a singer, songwriter and raconteur on the Birmingham folk scene. The story of his ‘miracle’ is taken from his memoirs Proud Journey. The tune is borrowed from the Bonny Bay of Biscay – O. ‘Clemmed’ is a wonderful slang word for hungry.

---

---

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OVER THE EBRO

by Sean Cooney

I’ll always remember crossing the river

Crossing the river long before the sun

We were dressed up like scarecrows, but scarecrows have more clothes

I carried a blanket and a rusty old gun

When we reached the north shore was then my sweat did pour

For I knew that death may be waiting there

His silence was goading, his hush was foreboding

As we left the pontoons he did not appear



Through dry fields and vineyards how quickly we traversed

Quickly we traversed with hardly a sound

The sun came up scorching - a searing hot morning

And our alpargatas tramped on the dry ground

Some thought they were dreaming, some were not believing

For four hours we marched without any fray

But I knew past this lulling a storm would be coming

A storm would be coming to blow us away



Soon it all started we dropped and we darted

Into the vineyards some cover to seek

And Sexton was lucky a bullet so plucky

Passed through his broad face and sailed out his cheek

But onwards we hurried and forwards we scurried

The Sierra Cabols our shoes cut to shreds

But our luck was fairer when we took Corbera

And made our first camp on a dry river bed



The sun came up shining and we came up climbing

Into the mountains then came the cries

“Avion! Avion! And down came the bombs

And they blew up the dams and cut all our supplies

And soon there was sniping and soon there was griping

And two lads fell by me with hardly a sound

As their blankets hugged them two graves I dug them

In the thin soil when the sun had gone down



We’d no food for three days, no water for two days

With my empty bottle I crawled through the vines

Til a morsel I found there - some grapes on the ground there

And all the lads swore they were better than wine

By the town of Gandesa we met our oppressor

A hill loomed before us all stark in the sun

And like kids in a story we all hoped for glory

And the name of that pimple was Hill 481



Over the Ebro was the final song to be completed in March 2018 barely a week before we premiered the show! It was touch and go whether we could arrange and learn yet another new song but we just about managed it. Cyril Sexton was a London volunteer who, like Johnny himself, was lucky to survive the war after being shot through the cheek. We were delighted when his son Clive came to see the show at Cecil Sharp House in April 2018 and nodded enthusiastically all the way through. The song closely follows Johnny’s account of the build up to the Battle for Hill 481 in Any Bread Mister?

---

---

---

THE VALLEY OF JARAMA

There’s a valley in Spain called Jarama
It’s a place that we all know so well
It is there that we gave of our manhood
And most of our brave comrades fell

We are proud of the British Battalion
And the stand for Madrid that they made
For they fought like true sons of the soil
As part of the 15th Brigade

With the rest of the International Column
In the stand for the freedom of Spain
We swore in that Valley of Jarama
That fascism never will reign

There’s a valley in Spain called Jarama
It’s a place that we all know so well
It is there that we gave of our manhood
And most of our brave comrades fell

Now we’ve left that dark valley of sorrow
And its memory we ne’er shall forget
So before we continue this reunion
Let us stand to our glorious dead

The Valley of Jarama is the famous anthem of the International volunteers who went to Spain and now of the people who work tirelessly to keep their legacy alive. The original version was written by Alex McDade from Glasgow who died at the battle of Brunete in 1937 and was sung to the tune of the Red River Valley. The version Johnny leads us in is fittingly known as the reunion version. Though I’ve heard it hundreds of times, listening to Johnny’s voice tremble with emotion in the closing stages still moves me to tears.

---

---

---

Many thanks to Sean Cooney for generously helping in the collection of the information in this post
Young'ns website:
http://www.theyounguns.co.uk/

CD Reviews

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/feb/04/johnny-longstaff-a-forgotten-hero-the-spanish-civil-war-fighter-the-younguns-folk https://louderthanwar.com/younguns-ballad-johnny-longstaff-album-review/
,
http://rootmusic.org.uk/events/the-younguns-present-the-ballad-of-johnny-longstaff/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Young%27uns
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/c/longstaff-lives-memorably-again

Johnny Longstaff Voice Recordings held by The Imperial War Museum

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80009089

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST,Jack Warshaw
Date: 08 Oct 19 - 06:36 AM

Songs of the Lincoln Brigade (Folkways/Library of Congress) is, as far as I know the first and most lasting collection, coming directly out of the struggle at the time it happened.

https://www.amazon.com/Songs-Lincoln-Brigade-Various-Artists/dp/B0000008XM

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: Stringsinger
Date: 10 Oct 19 - 01:40 PM

Al Grierson wrote "A Candle for Duruti". He should be remembered as an important lyricist.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 11 Oct 19 - 04:34 AM

Thanks Stringsinger - Found it on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cckrPW_OwUI
and these lyrics are from a site which suggests it is also sung by David Rovics


Any More information on this song anyone?

A CANDLE FOR DURRUTI

By Al Grierson

Well the headline on the paper said the good guys won the war
And the red star won't be shinin' over Moscow anymore
My heart fell like a sparrow in the depth of my despair
When I saw La Pasionaria with a flower in her hair

In a postcard by Picasso, so defiant and serene
With the mercy of a mother and as grand as any queen
She had gathered all her children under many different drums
In the power of her promise when the revolution comes

In the darkness and disorder, in the fire of our fears
She had bound our broken bodies in the rainbow of her tears
In the hour of our triumph, with a promise to prevail
And another for the future in the hour that we failed

And so my friend and comrade, as you go across the sea
I ask no shining souvenirs, but only send to me
The finest rum of Cuba from the finest sugar cane
And a postcard by Picasso when you reach the coast of Spain

And remember 'til tomorrow as we leave our banners furled
That it only took six days to make, and ten to shake the world
Light a candle for Durruti and we'll honor all the brave

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 11 Oct 19 - 04:45 PM

A little information about A Candle for Durruti here
https://www.antiwarsongs.org/canzone.php?lang=en&id=4516

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 13 Oct 19 - 05:48 PM

I spent today's wet afternoon with singer songwriter Joe Solo and also some friends and relations of Hull's International Brigade volunteers. We were recording a new song by Joe which will become an addition to his already released album of songs about the Spanish Civil War "No Pasaran". Details of the new special edition CD can be seen on Joe Solo's website, where you can also listen to all the songs.
https://joesolomusic.bandcamp.com/album/no-pasaran-special-edition

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GUEST,JoeG
Date: 13 Oct 19 - 06:16 PM

Beat me to it Geoff - I was going to mention Joe's new song. Hope you had a great afternoon despite the weather!

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 10 May 20 - 06:20 PM

can anyone post the lyrics and any information about Old Brigades' Song written and sung by Rory McLeod on his album 'Kicking the Sawdust'. There is another Mudcat thread called "Rory McLeod Song Title " which carries a little information but the lyrics have not surfaced yet
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=167730#top

---

Link toTHE SONG LIST for Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War posted above

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 08 Aug 20 - 07:47 PM


OLD BRIGADES' SONG
by Rory McLeod

Well, I'm glad I fought fascism
I only wish we'd won
???I'll never asked to reward them?????
Now for anything I've done

I can't take up my guns
And fight them anymore
But I ain't gonna love them
That's for certain and for sure

Well, bless all the kids
I love to see 'em grow
May they live a thousand years
And troubles never know

Well, I can't take up my guns
And fight them anymore
But I'm not gonna love them
There's for certain and for sure

Well bless all the kids
I love to see 'em grow
May they live a thousand years
And troubles never know

Thanks to cnd for posting these lyrics on the other Mudcat thread about this song,mentioned above, and also to Phillip for his correction
” I think the 3rd and 4th lines are
" I never asked a reward
Not for anything I’ve done. “

Hear a short part of Rory singing the song here https://rorymcleod.bandcamp.com/track/old-brigades-song

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 13 Jan 21 - 10:43 AM

HARRY WAS A BOLSHIE
or ‘The Ballad of Harry Pollitt’

By Elin Williams

I have just received a very interesting article in the International Brigades Memorial Trust eNewsletter 13 January 2021 in which Jim Jump writes about the song ‘Harry Was a Bolshie’ aka ‘The Ballad of Harry Pollitt’. Jim points out that it was a song sung by the British Battalion during the Spanish Civil War and goes on to describe its history and how it was written by Elin Williams, a Welsh communist. There are several Mudcat threads which discuss the song and it can be found in the DIGITRAD. Here is a link to Jim Jump’s article on the IBMT site.
http://international-brigades.org.uk/content/harry%E2%80%99s-song-sung-spain

Here is a link to Joe Glazer singing a short version of the song on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ_l4UnbDGs

Many recordings (some complete) of The Ballad of Harry Pollitt on YouTube     https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=The+Ballad+of+Harry+Pollitt


Harry was a Bolshie and one of Lenin’s lads

Was foully murdered by counter-revolutionary cads

Counter-revolutionary cads, counter-revolutionary cads

Was foully murdered by counter-revolutionary cads

He landed up in heaven trembling at the knees

‘May I speak to God I am Mr Pollitt please

Mr Pollitt please, Mr Pollitt please,

May I speak to God I am Mr Pollitt please’


‘Who are you’ said God ‘if you’re humble and contrite

And a friend of Lady Astor, then OK, you’ll be alright

Then OK you’ll be alright, then OK, you’ll be alright

And a friend of Lady Astor, then OK, you’ll be alright’

They dressed him in a nightie, put a harp into his hand

And he played ‘The Internationale’ in the hallelujah band

In the hallelujah band, in the hallelujah band

He played ‘The Internationale’ in the hallelujah band

They put him in the choir, the hymns he did not like

So he organised the angels and he fetched them out on strike

Fetched them out on strike, fetched them out on strike

He organised the angels and he fetched them out on strike

One day as God was walking around the heavenly state

Who should he see but Harry chalking slogans on the gate

Slogans on the gate, slogans on the gate

Who should he see but Harry chalking slogans on the gate

They put him up for trial before the Holy Ghost

Charged with disaffection amongst the heavenly host

Amongst the heavenly host, amongst the heavenly host

Charged with disaffection amongst the heavenly host

The verdict it was guilty, said Harry ‘That is swell’

And he tucked his nightie ’round his knees and he floated down to Hell

Floated down to Hell, floated down to Hell

He tucked his nightie ’round his knees and he floated down to Hell

A few more years have ended, now Harry’s doing swell

He’s just been made the people’s commissar for Soviet Hell

Commissar for Soviet Hell, commissar for Soviet Hell

He’s just been made the people’s commissar for Soviet Hell

Now the moral of this story is easy for to tell,

If you want to be a Bolshevik, you’ll have to got to Hell,

You’ll have to go to Hell, yes, you’ll have to go to Hell,

If you want to be a Bolshevik, you’ll have to go to Hell!

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 13 Jan 21 - 07:40 PM



In the article by Jim Jump given in the previous post, Jim mentions ‘Song of the Anti-Tanks’, written by Jack Black from Dover. Does anyone have any more information about this song or a link to a site where we might hear a performance of the song ?

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Link toTHE SONG LIST for Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War posted above

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 14 Jan 21 - 11:43 AM



Jim Jump, Chair of the IBMT, has emailed to tell me some more about this song which he entitles ‘Song of the Anti-Tanks’ Jim’s lyrics are more extensive than those given above by clicking on 'We Came To Sunny Spain'in the SONGLIST :

We’ve come to sunny Spain
To make the people smile again
And to chase the fascist bastards
O’er the hill and o’er the plain

CHORUS
Oleree… Olero… Oleree oree ore oree ha ha ha ha
Oleree… Olero… Oleree oree ore oree ha ha ha ha

And since we’ve been on the trail
We have made the fascists wail
And call upon the priest
For ‘Santa Agua’ in the pail

Mussolini had some tanks
And Franco thought them swell
But we took our anti-tank guns
And we blew them all to hell

Jim also says “ I got the words of the ‘Song of the Anti-Tanks’ (see below) from Kev Buyers, an IBMT member in Aberdeen, who said they were written by Jack Black. “ Jim says he is trying to get more information about the song . I will post it here if anything new emerges.

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 25 Aug 21 - 04:23 AM

There is a short piece about Otto Estensen on this facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1082563345098032/permalink/4587101511310847/?comment_id=4632672886753709&reply_comment_id=463379
And another Mudcat thread Otto Estensen: Brigadista & Mandolinista
/mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=146230&fbclid=IwAR2EVRuoY9yPSGSZe6r4P968Wxomi9ZE6ncYubblsmzozMYLRPCOUbuRT3g#reply

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 03 Sep 21 - 05:36 AM


FREE DOWNLOAD : Mike Wild (Feat. Dani Caracola & Xavier Batllés) - Open eyes could see no other way / Obrint els ulls no es veia altre camí   https://brigadaintergeneracional.bandcamp.com/track/open-eyes-could-see-no-other-way-obrint-els-ulls-no-es-veia-altre-cam?fbc

This recording is by Mudcat's   (mikesamwild), Mike Wild,  who is the son of Sam Wild, the last commander of the British Battalion of the International Brigade,   https://spartacus-educational.com/SPwildS.htm

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 02 Nov 21 - 04:40 AM

Some British Musical Responses to the Spanish Civil War
I stumbled across this Guardian article today. You have to pay to read it but some of you might like to know about it.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17526272.2021.1950964?needAccess=true

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 03 Nov 21 - 09:06 AM

Here is a link to a post about Jarama Valley on Facebook by Mike Wild. He says "This is an early reference to the song now known as The Jarama Valley. It seems to have originally been known as The Old Jarama Valley. "
https://www.facebook.com/mike.wild.319/posts/1787536914790139
LINK TO a group of posts above about Jarama

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 29 Apr 22 - 05:39 PM

GUERNICA(Tribute to Picasso)
Guernica (Tribute to Picasso)"Mad World" as performed by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules)     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFCXdO9HQBw

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 30 Apr 22 - 07:27 PM

IN GUERNIKA

In Guernica -Joan Baez :words     https://www.cancioneros.com/lyrics/song/1835537/in-guernica-joan-baez
Joan Baez    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZrUXaGCiEc

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 28 Sep 22 - 12:35 PM

https://studsterkel.wfmt.com/programs/eddie-balchowsky-talks-studs-terkel?fbclid=IwAR3euamgALkuOoXJJQq9J1VzFkIPfrjYOZkPI0qbhonH4

Above is a link shared from Alan Warren which will take you to an interview conducted by Studs Terkel with US International Brigader Eddie Balchowsky who served with The British Battalion in Spain. . Eddie lost a hand while fighting in Spain but he re-learned how to play the piano with only one hand as you can hear in the interview when he sings and plays Los Quatros Generales, The Peat Bog Soldiers and The Valley of Jarama. ( and a snatch of Home on the Range)
Here also is EDDIE'S SONG    by Utah Phillips    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoWA6tNu4Q0
Eddie Balchowsky from Wikipedia    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Balchowsky

Link to earlier posting of   EDDIE'S SONG    by Utah Phillips

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 11 Nov 22 - 09:20 AM

Canciones De Las Brigadas Internationales has been reprinted in a facsimile edition and is avalable from Amazon es. for 14,00 € Songs are in many languages including English https://www.amazon.es/Canciones-Las-Brigadas-Inter-Facs%C3%ADmiles/dp/8484723437
Also available on E Bay https://www.ebay.es/itm/154701592798
Or as an e-Book here for £2.40   https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Canciones_de_las_Brigadas_Internacionale.html?id=QONMZ1p4ZJYC&redir_esc=y

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 23 Nov 22 - 11:06 AM

THE ROAD TO BARCELONA

25 August 1936 Felicia Browne was killed in action during the Spanish Civil War, on the Aragón front near Tardienta, while part of a band of raiders attempting to dynamite a Nationalist munitions train. She was the first British volunteer to die in the Spanish Civil War.

The Road To Barcelona Words and music by Patrick Dexter Vocal by Eilís Dexter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0ki_HNVqKk
Felicia Browne from Wikipedia    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felicia_Browne
Felicia Browne from Spartacus Educational     https://spartacus-educational.com/WbrowneF.htm

(N.B.)Her name was Felicia not Felicity as sung in the YouTube recording.

Oh the sweet sound of the guitar
Play on comrade, play on!
Let the music flow like this cheap wine in my cup
while I sit here in my reverie
Every strum draws my mind back
to that journey we took together
We packed the car and set
off on the boat to France
Passion and ideas were our potion

We sipped fine wine,
You and I As Eagles soared way up high
The snow capped mountains in our rearview mirror.
In café’s, through cobbled streets
We shared our passions and our dreams
Oh how I miss that sweet aroma
On the Road to Barcelona

Seized upon our chance
Became volunteers at last
war for us, hell to those who doubt our gender
My dearest friend Felicity
you always had one up on me
Debating the world’s changes that were stirring
“Anything is possible” you kept declaring
You were going to change the world miss Browne
Through vineyards and sweet smelling flower fields
As we drove through sunshine with the rooftop down

We sipped fine wine,
You and I
As Eagles soared way up high
The snow capped mountains in our rearview mirror.
In café’s, through cobbled streets
We shared our passions and our dreams
Oh how I miss that sweet aroma
Of the Road to Barcelona

Now I am old
I drink bad wine here all alone
My thoughts a drift in this muddy river
But what good is sweet reverie
When you are gone, all is left is this memory
I long to be back again
the times we had there my dear friend
But with the wind in our hair our ideals took over
You died for your beliefs, a martyr for your dreams
all I can do now is sit here and remember

Sipping wine, as Eagles fly
high above the snow capped mountains
The Basque sunrise in our rearview mirror.
In café’s on cobbled streets
sharing our passions and our dreams
Oh how I miss that sweet aroma
On the Road to Barcelona

And I miss you dear Felicity
and the time we had
On the Road to Barcelona

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 23 Feb 23 - 10:05 AM

TARO
26 July 1937. Photographer Gerda Taro was killed during the Republican army retreat at the Battle of Brunete, in The Spanish Civil War.
Gerda Taro from Wikipedia     https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerda_Taro
Taro - alt-J on YouTube     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx2dROUwHak
Taro - alt-J from Songfacts     https://www.songfacts.com/facts/alt-j/taro

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 25 Feb 23 - 12:06 PM

SONG FOR CHARLIE DONNELLY
27 February 1937 Charles Patrick Donnelly, Irish poet, republican and left wing political activist, was killed at Jarama fighting on the republican side during the Spanish Civil War.
Charles Donnelly from Wikipedia     https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles Donnelly (poet)
” Song for Charlie Donnelly”- recording by Manus O’Riordan, from The Irish Traditional Music Archive     https://www.itma.ie/digital-library/sound/unidentified_manus_oriordan

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 02 Mar 23 - 06:39 PM

                    In Our Time Archive: The Spanish Civil War    https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00548wn
This BBC Radio 4 programme will be of great interest to many of you. It is hosted by Melvyn Bragg with Paul Preston, Principe de Asturias Professor of Contemporary Spanish History at the London School of Economics; Helen Graham, Professor of Spanish History at Royal Holloway, University of London; Dr Mary Vincent, Senior Lecturer in the Department of History at Sheffield University. It was broadcast a long time ago in Apr 2003 but you won’t get a better group of experts to explain the SCW . It’s well worth its 45 minutes.Enjoy.

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Link toTHE SONG LIST for Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War posted above

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 19 Jun 23 - 10:37 AM


THE EBRE 1938   
by Berni Armstrong    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhbVFdFYZro

(Am) He choked back the dust rising from the trench
(Dm) Mixed with blood, a particular stench
(G) Mortars fell all along the line
He (Am) gripped his ancient Russian carbine
As if it could ward off that fate he feared
His other (Dm) hand touched his three day beard
(G) After the shells there would be an air raid
Thought: (F) "What I wouldn't give for a (E) new razor (Am) blade"

It's (F) shocking what you get (C) used to
When you're (G) fighting in a (Am) war
As(F)tounding what you (C) miss when
In the (G) midst of the cannons' roar
You'd (F) think you'd wish for (C) machine guns
An anti-(G)tank gun or a gren(Am)ade
But (G) what I miss most in this (F) conflict
Is a (G) brand new razor (Am) blade

(Am) It's two months now I've been here at the front
So (Dm) many new things I've had to confront
(G) Almost every day you have a close call
You (Am) watch in horror as your comrades fall
You know any minute that it could be you
You (Dm) hope you take with you a Fascist or two
You (G) suffer privations but you swear a tirade
When (F) trying to shave with a (E) rusty old (Am) blade

CHORUS

BRIDGE
(Bb) Under the cover of (Am) darkness
Their (Bb) trenches they re(Am)pair
With (Bb) bare hands they work re(Am)gardless
(G) Dust choking the air
(Bb) Hoping these shallow (Am) dugouts
Their (Bb) lives tomorrow will (Am) save
But (Bb) knowing as they drop (Am) off to sleep They (G) might have just dug their (Am) graves

(Am) In these cold nights there's less chance you'll be shot
(Dm) But by midday it is blazing hot
You (G) slip into a dream when there's a lull in the fight
Till some (Am) Nazi airman has you in his bombsight
With barely a warning it all starts once more
You're (Dm) in the midst of the hell that's war
Then you (G) aim to kill as you know you must
Your (F) only comfort? (E) that your cause is (Am) just!

CHORUS

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 15 Apr 24 - 07:01 PM

SONG OF THE UNITED FRONT    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATb7CXX-Kc0
Einheitsfrontlied Article from Wikipedia    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einheitsfrontlied
Many recordings of The Song of the United Front ln English on YouTube    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=song+of+the+united+front+english

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 15 Nov 24 - 07:13 PM

Three songs in English about La Pasionaria
LA PASIONARIA  - McDermott's 2 Hours & The Levellers       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRPhiTyishk
LA PASIONARIA (for Dolores Ibarruri)  - by Bob A. Feldman       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIOtQ0FbqK0
LA PASIONARIA: A Musical Epitaph   - The Whistlebinkies ( from Bandcamp)      https://thewhistlebinkies.bandcamp.com/track/la-pasionaria-a-musical-epitaph

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 19 Nov 24 - 06:56 AM

Link toTHE SONG LIST for Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War posted above

Subject: RE: Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 19 Nov 24 - 08:51 AM

NO PASARAN   -   Joe Solo       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62MeOwrWhMM