Lyr Req: The Marching Song (Colum Sands)

Subject: RE: Lyr request - marching season (Sands)
From: Gareth
Date: 14 Jul 02 - 06:38 PM

Inmtresting comment on Sitting Bull, errr ? which side where the 'Wild Geese' Fighting for ? A movement for freedom, and peoples rights ?, or the Yellow Legs ?

Gareth

Subject: RE: Lyr request - marching season (Sands)
From: Stewart
Date: 13 Jul 02 - 07:13 PM

Patrick Sarsfield led the Irish troops against the English at the siege of Limerick and then fled with the "Wild Geese" (Irish soldiers of fortune) to France. He was killed in the Battle of Landen in Flanders (1693). Click HERE.
"The Wild Geese certainly made their presence felt in the world. They fought in every major conflict from the days of Louis XIV to the last world war. They founded four navies and were particularly active in the foundation of the United States, Chile, Peru, and Mexico. They were to a great extent responsible for opening up the western states of America, and were particularly active in the Boer War in South Africa. They fought on both sides in the American Civil War. They fought for the French Revolution. Four were among Washington's principal aides, just as four others were signatories of the American Declaration of Independence. Over sixty fell at the Batttle of the Little Big Horn, whilst Chief Sitting Bull wore the medal of one of the Wild Geese around his neck until he died."

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Lyr request - marching season (Sands)
From: An Pluiméir Ceolmhar
Date: 12 Jul 02 - 07:57 PM

As it happens, I passed through Huy this afternoon, which is where Patrick Sarsfield died and was buried after the Battle of Landen, nearby.

And as I asked my sister, "Whose war was it anyway, and which side were the Irish on?", I had a sneaking suspicion that they were probably on both sides, and it didn't really matter much to most people whose war it was.

Subject: RE: Lyr request - marching season (Sands)
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 12 Jul 02 - 07:50 PM

"Still looking, after all these years?"

Still timely after all these years.
thank you both for your efforts

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MARCHING SONG (Colum Sands)
From: Stewart
Date: 12 Jul 02 - 07:38 PM

THE MARCHING SONG
Colum Sands
From "Colum Sands: Between the Earth and the Sky"
Cottage Publications, Donaghadee, N. Ireland, 2000

Last night I awoke with the thought in my head
That instead of four seasons we have five instead
For somewhere inside of where summer should be
Is the season of marching for marching must be

Chorus:
And we're marching, marching, marching, marching again.

Now four of the seasons give forecasters pain,
Will it be sunshine or will it be rain,
Leinster say thunder and Connaught say blow
Munster say hailstones and Ulster say snow.

But each year the fifth season's easily forecast,
Don't look at the weather map look at the past,
Temperatures high and tolerance low,
If you've somewhere to go it's the right time to go.

Then I says to myself if marching must be,
Let's do the thing right so the whole world can see,
We'll build a big stadium centrally placed,
With a circular route where the marchers can pace.

To build such a place would throw lots off the dole,
Stones could be thrown in a meaningful role,
As builders and masons regardless of creed,
Build the big marching stadium we so badly need.

There's be seating for tourists to sit and to stare,
In our wonderful heritage they'd have a share,
And a fiver a seat isn't money in vain,
To travel three centuries down memory lane.

Riot facilities would be provided,
Dressing rooms could be hired mixed or divided,
And to really pull in massive crowds we could hope,
For annual concerts by Queen and the Pope.

Then marchers could march all the whole year around,
No longer the trouble of marching through towns,
Safe in the stadium the glorious past,
While the rest of us turn to the present at last.


Column is a delightful storyteller and singer-songwriter. I heard him in Derry last year.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Lyr request - marching season (Sands)
From: An Pluiméir Ceolmhar
Date: 12 Jul 02 - 07:08 PM

It's a great song, Philippa, and Colm is a lovely, gentle person. I met him when he did a gig here in Brussels nearly ten years ago, and bought the record.

It's all hours now, but I'll look it up tomorrow and see if the lyrics are reproduced on the sleeve.

Still looking, after all these years?

Subject: RE: Lyr request - marching season (Sands)
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 12 Jul 02 - 04:09 PM

I saw the lyrics in a Colm Sands song and picture book while I was browsing the bookshop at the Willy Clancy summer school cum festival. The book cost 27 euros and I didn't buy it. Perhaps someone else who has it, or a recording, can submit the lyrics.

The Sands family were supposed to play here in Derry last month, but there was some trouble (of the stone throwing variety) in the area, a Catholic/Protestant interface, and I heard the gig was cancelled.

Subject: RE: Lyr request - marching season (Sands)
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jul 00 - 03:12 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr request - marching season (Sands)
From: Philippa
Date: 21 May 99 - 05:40 AM

I do actually know Tommy and have met Colm. I already had a snail address which I hadn't used. It's probably not a good idea to put people's addresses (even e-mail) on the web without their permission, lest they get inundated with correspondence from strangers.

Subject: RE: Lyr request - marching season (Sands)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 20 May 99 - 07:45 PM

You could try and eMail Tommy Sands, though I'm not sure whether this address isn't simply his agent, being an .uk one: [e-mail]. I only found it recently. - Susanne

Subject: RE: Lyr request - marching season (Sands)
From: Philippa
Date: 20 May 99 - 08:41 AM

the season draws ever closer, but the lyrics are as elusive as ever

Subject: RE: Lyr request - marching season (Sands)
From: The Shambles
Date: 27 Apr 99 - 02:45 PM

Philppa.

Sorry I can't help with the song you want, I don't know it , but would be interested in seeing it as well as you.

I think your request, and the title, planted the seeds that resulted in this one, such as it is. Bumbling Englishman.

Subject: RE: Lyr request - marching season (Sands)
From: Philippa
Date: 27 Apr 99 - 12:28 PM

somebody knows this song!

Subject: RE: Lyr request - marching season (Sands)
From: Philippa
Date: 21 Apr 99 - 02:07 PM

the season approaches...and the lyrics?

Subject: Lyr request - marching season (Sands)
From: Philippa
Date: 18 Apr 99 - 06:01 PM

looking for lyrics to Colm Sands proposal to let marchers (esp. in Northern Ireland) parade around an arena or stadium