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: 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
(Am) It's two months now I've been here at the front
CHORUS
BRIDGE
(Am) In these cold nights there's less chance you'll be shot
CHORUS |
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. |
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: 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: 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.
We sipped fine wine,
Seized upon our chance
We sipped fine wine,
Now I am old
Sipping wine, as Eagles fly
And I miss you dear Felicity |
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: 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) |
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: 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: 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: 02 Nov 21 - 04:40 AM 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 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
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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: 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: 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 ? |
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.
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’
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: 08 Aug 20 - 07:47 PM OLD BRIGADES' SONG by Rory McLeod
Well, I'm glad I fought fascism
I can't take up my guns
Well, bless all the kids
Well, I can't take up my guns 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: 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 |
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: 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: 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: 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 |
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: 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: 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. TRACK LIST1 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 THE LYRICSReproduced in italics beneath some of the songs is information provided bySean Cooney which describes how the song was composed. 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? < CARRYING THE COFFIN by Sean Cooney
We’re carrying the coffin all the way to London town 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 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. 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. 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. 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? 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 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. 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 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 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. 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. 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
Well you’ve all heard how 5000 oafs
There’s a valley in Spain called Jarama CD Reviewshttps://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 |
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 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.
------------------------------------------------------------------
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 |
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: 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 |
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: 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: 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
Chorus:
Hey Spriggy, you're dead at my side now
Chorus |
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
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: 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: 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 |
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: 16 Nov 16 - 07:21 PM THE LANCASHIRE LADS By JOHN KIRKPATRICK
|
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: 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: 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 |
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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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).
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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". 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: 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: 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 |
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