Origins: The Last Battle (Bill Gallaher)

Subject: Lyr Req: The Last Battle by BIll Gallagher
From: DonMeixner
Date: 26 Aug 19 - 04:16 PM

Greetings,

I have heard Gordon Bok's recording of The Last Battle. And I am wondering if there are others. I heard it most recently at Old Songs but with a slightly different melody.

Don Meixner

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Battle by BIll Gallagher
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 26 Aug 19 - 08:37 PM

http://www.timberheadmusic.com/disc/KindLandintro.htm

Lyrics a little ways down the page.

Subject: ADD: The Last Battle (Bill Gallaher)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Aug 19 - 02:06 AM

The song has been posted at Mudcat, but it's a little hard to find. I'll add it here, too. It's also in the Rise Again songbook. Gordon Bok's recording of the song is memorable.
-Joe-

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Thread #42509   Message #618373
Posted By: Mark Cohen
29-Dec-01 - 10:36 PM
Thread Name: Folklore: Wounded Knee Anniversary
Subject: Lyr Add: THE LAST BATTLE (Bill Gallaher)

Bill Gallaher's song "The Last Battle" was recorded by Gordon on In the Kind Land, as well as by Bill and Jake Galbraith on "The Grand Illusion". Here are the words, as transcribed from Bill and Jake's tape; I don't think they're in the DT.

Aloha,
Mark


THE LAST BATTLE
(Bill Gallaher)

An east wind blew in the storms of time
Where the Métis lived by the winding river
For on a steel rail the settlers came
To the south Saskatchewan and the land they claimed

[CHORUS]
Oh come, Riel, we'll make a stand
Here at Batoche beside the river
Oh never mind their Gatling guns
If we lose this time, we've lost forever

Then three Métis and Gabriel
Rode like the wind to wild Montana
And on the sweet grass in a church of stone
They found their savior and they took him home

[CHORUS] Saying, "Come, Riel..."

Then the bullets flew and the cannons roared
And the Métis blood flowed like a river
Into the coulis where they ran to hide
It washed their dreams away and their spirits died

[CHORUS]

Then a silence stole across the land
The drums of war were gone forever
But in the starlight on the barren plains
The cry of Gabriel flies on the wind

[CHORUS x2]

I think you'll like the Bill Gallaher recording, Don: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBcKWHYhjTY

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Battle by Bill Gallagher
From: DonMeixner
Date: 27 Aug 19 - 09:49 AM

I never think to look in Rise Again.

Thank you all.

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Last Battle by Bill Gallagher
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 28 Aug 19 - 10:26 AM

Please note that his name is spelled Gallaher. (Only one G.) No offence meant to anyone.