Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War

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

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 leter 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

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

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.