Lyr Req: Feed the Children (Eric Bogle)

Subject: desperate for lyrics to Eric Bogle's
From:
Date: 06 Jul 97 - 12:30 AM

I'm desperate for the lyrics to Eric Bogle's song Feed the children. Who can help? My e-mail address is [e-mail] My postal address is

Juergen Wagner Heidenkopferdell 47 D - 66123 Saarbruecken

Thanks

Juergen

Subject: RE: desperate for lyrics to Eric Bogle's
From: Bobby O'Brien
Date: 06 Jul 97 - 08:00 AM

I will check Eric Bogle's CD for the song, and post it here and on e-mail this evening or tomorrow.

Subject: RE: desperate for lyrics to Eric Bogle's
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 08 Jul 97 - 05:19 AM

Juergen,

Could that be "Suffer the Children"?

Suffer the children to come unto me
The man who said that died on Calvary

etc.

If so let me know & I will post the rest.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: desperate for lyrics to Eric Bogle's
From: Kiwi
Date: 08 Jul 97 - 09:06 PM

Hrm... Don't know the song, but Alan, have you ever come across the other song called "Suffer the Children"? I don't know the music for it, though a friend has ordered the tape from Firebird Music. It's from Mercedes Lackey's Vows and Honor duology, and the words are absolutely beautiful:

"Suffer, they suffer, the children
When I see them, gods, how my heart breaks!
It is ever and always the children
Who will pay for their parents' mistakes."

The song is supposedly sung by a mercenary woman who cannot have children of her own, but would love to adopt some younglings... and it's about how much it hurts her seeing the orphans when the parents go off to war.

Subject: RE: desperate for lyrics to Eric Bogle's
From:
Date: 08 Jul 97 - 09:38 PM

the song is on Eric Bogle's CD "Voices In The Wilderness" ALCAZAR 115 (ALC115) I have it in my hand as I type, but it doesn't have any words with it, just the song titles and credits. This appears to be a version for the American market - the fine print says it's under license from Larrikin Records, Australia, 1990. this disk is dated 1992. Eric states in the liner notes that it was inspired by "the magic of television" as he watched two little Ethiopian kids die in front of his eyes on the boob-tube. Its a powerful song (as are many of his); good luck - maybe later I can find the time to write down the words from the listening - but then I'll probably want to get out my guitar and learn to sing it myself. I would guess that it's also probably in some sort of song book - as is, I believe, some of his other stuff, such as "Green Fields of France." cheers

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Feed the Children (Eric Bogle)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Nov 02 - 09:28 PM

"Feed the Children" by Eric Bogle, appears on his album "Voices in the Wilderness", 1991, also on his "Singing the Spirit Home," 1987. I transcribed the following words from a sound sample at CDNOW. Some phrases are unclear.

If the future's born with every birth,
How much is a child's life worth?
Feed the children of the earth,
Or the future dies with them.
And have you seen the madmen
Who strut the world ... stage (?)
Threatening our destruction
As they prance and preen and rage
Rattlin' nuclear (?) sabers
At humanity's...

[Not to be confused with another song called "Feed the Children" by Tom Paxton.]

Subject: Lyr Add: FEED THE CHILDREN (Eric Bogle)
From: GUEST,Pete of Windle
Date: 07 Mar 03 - 12:49 PM

I think this is the complete set of words

Have you seen the children who disturb our paradise?
Staring from the TV with empty dying eyes
No trace of anger at the betrayal of the trust
That left them to die, like starving dogs, in the famine's bitter dust

But if you close your ears you won't hear them crying
If you close your eyes you won't see them dying
And if you close mind, your heart won't condemn.
If the future's born with every birth
Tell me, how much is a child's life worth
We must feed the children of the earth
Or the future dies with them.

Have you seen the madmen who strut the world's stage
Rattling nuclear sabres as they prance and preen and rage
Threatening our destruction, while humanity holds its breath
Feeding on fear and bigotry while the children starve to death

But if' .. etc

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Feed the Children (Eric Bogle)
From: Carol
Date: 13 Jul 07 - 05:52 AM

I thought there was another verse to this song but can't find my 'live' copy of Eric Bogle singing it. Am I wrong or has someone another verse or does he sing the first verse again?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Feed the Children (Eric Bogle)
From: Effsee
Date: 13 Jul 07 - 07:28 AM

Lots of Eric's lyrics are on his website:

http://ericbogle.net/lyrics/lyricspdf/feedthechildren.pdf

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Feed the Children (Eric Bogle)
From: Carol
Date: 13 Jul 07 - 07:49 AM

Thanks Effsee - I had tried searching on feed the children but didn't get very far for some reason. I wonder did he write another verse and then drop it 'cos the recording I had must be about 20 years ago at Burnley Mechanics Festival or it looks as though I'm having another senior moment!! Anyhow I thought I might 'bring it out again' to sing so will have to make do with the 2 verses.
Thanks again Carol

Subject: Lyr Add: FEED THE CHILDREN (Eric Bogle)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Jul 07 - 10:58 PM

The lyrics from Eric Bogle's own web site are nearly identical to the ones posted by Pete above. Only the sequence of lines is a bit different:

FEED THE CHILDREN
(Eric Bogle)

1. Have you seen the children who disturb our paradise,
Staring from the TV with empty dying eyes,
No trace of anger at the betrayal of the trust
That left them to die like starving dogs in the famine's bitter dust?

CHORUS:
But if you close your eyes, you won't see them dying.
If you close your ears, you won't hear them crying.
And if you close your mind, your heart won't condemn.
If the future's born with every birth,
Tell me, how much is a child's life worth?
We must feed the children of the earth
Or the future dies with them.

2. And have you seen the madmen who strut the world's stage
Threatening our destruction as they prance and preen and rage,
Rattling nuclear sabres as humanity holds its breath,
Feeding on fear and bigotry while the children starve to death?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Feed the Children (Eric Bogle)
From: Bugsy
Date: 16 Jul 07 - 06:51 PM

Jim you beat me to it. Eric has all his lyrics on his site.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Feed the Children (Eric Bogle)
From: Tim theTwangler
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 07:13 AM

Please go here and have a listen.
Hope no one will mind
But if you want to help National Childrens Home and Viking Radios " For The Kids Appeal*
Click on the link for a listen to sample of the charity CD.
Have a great Folking time and spare a fiver for the kiddy winkles.
Cheers
Tim