Veteran's Day (songs for)

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day (songs for)
From: GUEST,Lavengro
Date: 06 Jun 13 - 05:13 AM

I really like this by Mark Stuart and Stacey Earle. Written from the POV of someone who stayed at home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6hOT8d8pKw


The Old Watch

My friend he stepped on the train
To go far away and fight war
Something I saw in his eyes told me
I would see my friend no more

I'll be back, he said to me
And he gave me an old pocket watch
Count the seconds, till the second I'm home
We'll rejoice for the war will have stopped

Chorus
There's an old watch that lay on my shelf
It's old but it still ticks away
The owner will one day reclaim it
But meanwhile the old watch will stay….
On my shelf, a ticking, a ticking, ticking away

Well my life it went through some changes
I safely lived in my home town
My friend he lived in a different world
He walked on dangerous ground

Once, he sent me a letter
I could tell he felt homesick and pain
But he mostly wrote me of visions
Of when we would meet once again

Chorus
Well the war, it finally ended
3 or 4 years had gone by
Thousands of young men returned home
But other thousands had died

My friend he is missing in action
His body may never be found
He may not even know where he is
Be injured in some foreign town

Chorus

Subject: Lyr Add: DON'T TAKE MY DARLING BOY AWAY!
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 04 Jun 13 - 08:49 PM

The sheet music can be seen at Duke University's web site. The "tenting tonight" lines that GUEST,L posted above are interpolated from another song. Maybe somebody recorded it that way, but those words don't appear in the sheet music:


DON'T TAKE MY DARLING BOY AWAY!
Words, Will Dillon; music, Albert Von Tilzer.
New York: Broadway Music Corporation, ©1915.

1. A mother was kneeling to pray
For loved ones at war far away,
And there by her side,
Her one joy and pride
Knelt down with her that day.
Then came a knock on the door:
"Your boy is commanded to war."
"No, captain, please!
Here on my knees,
I plead for one I adore.

CHORUS: "Don't take my darling boy away from me.
Don't send him off to war.
You took his father and brothers three.
Now you come back for more.
Who are the heroes that fight your war?
Mothers who have no say!
But my duty's done,
So for God's sake leave one,
And don't take my darling boy away."

2. A hero is now laid to rest,
A hero and one of the best.
She fought with each son,
The battles he'd won,
And the battles that proved a test.
Though she never went to the war,
She was the hero by far.
They gave the guns,
But who gave the sons?
M. O. T. H. E. R.

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day (songs for)
From: GUEST,Azoic
Date: 11 Nov 12 - 12:30 PM

Today is Veteran's day here in the US.Because it is Sunday it will be observed tomorrow.

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day (songs for)
From: GUEST,Azoic
Date: 05 Nov 12 - 02:37 PM

Noble,elegant,and heartbreaking.

Subject: Lyr Add: 11:11 (Garnet Rogers)
From: GUEST,MikeK
Date: 04 Nov 12 - 01:34 AM

Here's a relatively new song (1999) about "Remembrance Day", the Canadian name for November 11, from Garnet Rogers. It's called simply "11/11"

11:11

by © Garnet Rogers

Ah the glorious few are all the few here
in the cold November air
the crowd draws silent
their collars raised
to the edges of the square
The children's choir sings "In Flander's Fields"
the band plays "Over There"
the old heroes still try to dress the line
As the chaplain leads the prayer

For the glorious few no longer stand so straight
As they did long years before
when they faced a hard and cruel fate
on a far and distant shore
their tunics faded green and blue
poor shelter from this cold
the memories made yet raw and new
at the calling of the roll

The heads are bowed in silence now
at the tolling of the hour
The first few falling flakes of snow
drift gently on the flowers
all piled and stacked against the stones
petals fluttering in the air
The eyes that stare down through the years
at the ones no longer there

The taste of lost and wasted years
so bitter on the tongue
white breath in clouds in the autumn cold
Fail chest with medals hung
in battle ribbons red and gold
in the pale November sun
the hands and faces grown so old
while the heart stays ever young

For the glorious few are the fewer here
the old soldiers from the square
the wind blows hard and shakes the leaves
and stirs the white thin hair
of these fading brave and fragile souls
as the bugler plays "Last Post"
the snow falls thick and faster still
and turns them white as ghosts

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day (songs for)
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 03:18 PM

The real question is why you're singing "songs for veterans day" in the first place.

I can think of two or three reasons, but the only one that's any good is "to honor our veterans."

But the only songs that are especially appropriate to Veterans' Day are either "patriotic" or "antiwar." (There are silly marching songs like "I Don't Want No More Army Life," but I doubt that's what most people on this thread have in mind.)

Either kind is likely to offend or annoy somebody, including veterans.

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day (songs for)
From: GUEST,Azoic
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 02:58 PM

Indeed.

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day (songs for)
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 31 Oct 12 - 01:13 PM

I would highly recommend leaving out any that insult veterans on this day of all days. If you can't sing something at least neutral, please don't sing anything. mg

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day (songs for)
From: GUEST,Azoic
Date: 31 Oct 12 - 05:24 AM

We are coming up on Vet's Day 2012. Here are a few song suggestions:The Band Played Waltzing Matilda,Flowers Of The Field-No Man's Land,Happed In Mist,The Nurse Dorothy Nicol-The Long Trail-The Reaper's Blade,Soldiers Three,Standing In Line,The Writing Of Tipperary,Rumours Of War,I'll Be Seeing You,Send Us A Quiet Night,Will Ye Go To Flanders?,A Smiling Shore,Aqaba,Shipbuilding,The Grey Funnel Line,The King's Shilling,The Fiddle And The Drum.

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day (songs for)
From: Mrrzy
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 10:07 AM

I sing:

-Anything by Phil Ochs against war in general
-And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda, and
-The Green Fields of France / No Man's Land (it has various titles, but it's by Eric Bogle, I think)

I have a hard time getting through the last 2 without tearing up... (that is, tee-ring, not tay-ring!)

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day (songs for)
From: open mike
Date: 11 Nov 09 - 12:02 PM

What is margaret and me? is the same as the Dutchman?

Here is a song about trees planted in the shape of a heart
as a memorial to a deceased pilot

http://www.kristinaolsen.net/pdfs/duet/hill.pdf

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day (songs for)
From: CET
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 10:29 PM

I have to say that I have always despised Judy Small's "Mothers, Daughters, Wives". I find it contemptuous and condescending to the many good men I know who have worn a uniform. I dislike this song just about as much as I do "Margaret and Me".

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day (songs for)
From: open mike
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 09:28 PM

Here is the result of my striving for balance..
(which i believe there is always a reason to do..)
I found this c.d. which also has been made
into a video...http://www.ardensgarden.org/tmh.html
a benefit c.d. for the cause of Veterans for Peace,
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/
Take me Home....which is a collection of songs
by a variety of artists. It is available here:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/takemehome

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day (songs for)
From: mg
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 05:58 PM

I personally would not strive for balance on November 11, but instead have it totally a memorial. There are many other days of the year for balance. There is one day a year we should not have to brace ourselves. mg

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day (songs for)
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 05:49 PM

I have a Karaoke Business and I need a Veteran's Day song to sing tonight......HELP.. Im drawing a blank other than that Lee greenwood song...

Subject: Lyr Add: AS IF HE KNOWS (Eric Bogle)
From: eddie1
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 04:59 AM

Open Mike
It was the McCalmans. On "Far, Far From Ypres" (Greentrax CDTrax1418).

Amos
Like most here, I found your first post inappropriate at first but then I did some thinking.
In Edinburgh Castle, right in the middle, at its highest point, is The Scottish National War Memorial. There are plaques on the walls for most of the Scottish regiments and books, covered in red leather and bound in brass, with the names of the fallen.
One such plaque is devoted to the Royal Army Veterinary Corps and depicts the various animals that were used in war, from horses to canaries. Taken there as a small child by my parents, I always found this particularly sad.
All these feelings were brought back when I first heard this song, also written by Eric Bogle and also on the above CD.
In WWI the Australian Light Horse took 53,000 horses overseas to various theatres of war and of the 53,000, one horse was allowed to return home (a general's horse of course!) The reason for the rest not being allowed to return home was the fear that they would spread anthrax to the Australian beef industry. In the French, Belgian and German theatres horses were sold or given to local farmers and peasants but in the Middle East it was believed that the locals were cruel to their animals so a decision was reached that the horses should be shot, Each man agreed to shoot his best friend's horse.

"Recalling his days in Palestine, an old Light Horseman called Elijah Kohn who was in the Seventh Light Horse told of his horse, Banjo and of his best mate having to shoot Banjo. Even after 70 years, Elijah's eyes filled with tears. He'd forgotten the names of some of his mates, but he remembered the name of his horse, Banjo because, as he said, he reckoned it saved his life three or four times.
It's bad enough what we do to human being during war but what we do to poor dumb animals is just as reprehensible." (from sleeve notes)



AS IF HE KNOWS

It's as if he knows
He's standing close to me
His breath warm on my sleeve
His head hung low
It's as if he knows
What the dawn will bring
The end of everything
For my old Banjo
And all along the picket lines beneath the desert sky
The Light Horsemen move amongst their mates to say one last goodbye
And the horses stand so quietly
Row on silent row
It's as if they know

Time after time
We rode through shot and shell
We rode in and out of Hell
On their strong backs
Time after time
They brought us safely through
By their swift sure hooves
And their brave hearts
Tomorrow we will form up ranks and march down to the quay
And sail back to our loved ones in that dear land across the sea
While our loyal and true companions
Who asked so little and gave so much
Will lie dead in the dust.

For the orders came
No horses to return
We were to abandon them
To be slaves
After all we'd shared
And all that we'd been through
A Nation's gratitude
Was a dusty grave
For we can't leave them to the people here, we'd rather see them dead
So each man will take his best mate's horse with a bullet through the head
For the people here are like their land
Wild and cruel and hard
So Banjo, here's your reward.

It's as if he knows, he standing close to me,
His breath warm on my sleeve, his head hung low.
As he if he knew.

Copyright Eric Bogle July 2001

I can't listen to this song without a lump in my throat.

Eddie

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day (songs for)
From: open mike
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 11:48 PM

oh yes, also Judy Small..
Mother's Daughters Wives..

i lost the URL of the
recording i found..
i think it was 3 fellows..
Maccollums or something??

Subject: Lyr Add: THERE'S A WALL IN WASHINGTON (I DeMent)
From: open mike
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 10:26 PM

I am looking for songs for a radio show..
and am trying to balance the ideas of
being thankful and appreciative to veterans
and being horrified that such an insane thing
as war even exists...

Kris Kristopherson...has some
Judy Small...Mothers, Daughters, Wivews...recorded by several including Margaret Crystal (Christal?), the Mac

Iris DeMent....THERE'S A WALL IN WASHINGTON,

here's a wall in Washington
and it's made of cold black granite
They say 60,000 names are etched there in it
in that wall in Washington

A father, he traveled from far away
to walk the path 'til he finds that name
He reaches his hand up and traces each letter
The tears they fall as his memories gather
for the boy who filled his heart with pride
is now but a name that's been etched
in the side of this wall in Washington

A mother she traveled from far away
to walk the path 'til she finds that name
She reaches her hand up and traces each letter
The tears they fall as her memories gather
She feels the baby at her breast
but her heart it breaks because all that is left
is this wall in Washington

A boy, he traveled from far away
to walk the path 'til he finds that name
He reaches his hand up and traces each letter
He stares at the name of his unknown father
His heart is young and it's filled with pain
in anger he cries out

"Who is to blame for this wall in Washington
that's made of cold black granite?
Why is my father's name etched here in it
in this wall in Washington?

also Iris DeMent...Wasteland of the Free,

John McCutcheon..(mentioned before) Christmas in the Trenches,

Don't get me Started -- by Rodney Crowell see it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqwoOsblEnY

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day (songs for)
From: oldhippie
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 05:16 PM

Lots of different viewpoints - all appropriate

Veterans Day - Tom Russell
Sam Stone - John Prine
Agent Orange (My Country Tis Of Thee)- Larry Long
Agent Orange - Kate Wolf
Forgotten Soldier - Linda & Greg Lewis
The Wall (I Touched His Name) - Marie Zerby
Thank You - Daniel Smith
two by Bobby Ross - No Home For The Brave, The Home of Billy D
And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
Old Viet Vet - Dane Brown

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day (songs for)
From: Amergin
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 03:51 PM

Eric Bogle's Gift of Years

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day (songs for)
From: GUEST,Jacqued
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 03:24 PM

May I suggest a visit to http://www.terry-kelly.com/pittance/pittance_en_lyrics.htm

Says it all for me.   God bless them all

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day (songs for)
From: GUEST,Elmore
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 11:46 AM

"Touch a Name on the Wall" by Joel Mabus

Subject: Lyr Add: NOTHING BUT A PLAIN OLD SOLDIER (Foster)
From: GUEST,Mike B.
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 10:23 AM

Predates Veterans Day by a lot of years, yet still seems fitting.

NOTHING BUT A PLAIN OLD SOLDIER (Stephen Foster)

I'm nothing but a plain old soldier,
An old revolutionary soldier,
But I've handled a gun where noble deeds were done,
For the name of my commander was George Washington.
My home and my country to me were dear,
And I fought for both when the foe came near,
But now I will meet with a slight or sneer,
For I'm nothing but a plain old soldier.

Nothing but a plain old soldier
An old revolutionary soldier,
But I've handled a gun where noble deeds were done,
For the name of my commander was George Washington.
The friends I loved the best have departed,
The days of my early joys have gone,
And the voices once dear and familiar to my ear,
Have faded from the scenes of the earth one by one.
The tomb and the battle have laid them low,
And they roam no more where the bright streams flow,
I'm longing to join them and soon must go,
For I'm nothing but a plain old soldier.

Again the battle song is resounding
And who'll bring the trouble to an end?
The union will pout and secession ever shout
But none can tell us now which will yield or bend
You've had many generals from over the land,
You've tried one by one and you're still at a stand,
But when I took the field we had one in command,
Yet I'm nothing but a plain old soldier.

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: GUEST,Lily Gardner
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 11:26 PM

This is why I love WWI songs so much better than WWII. Ernie Mayne made a whole career out of songs like Lloyd George's Beer, My Meatless Day, Sugar...there were songs about war profiteering, conscientious objectors, and wartime lust. Some of the songs about the enemy were playful, like "Old Iron Cross" or the one suggesting that the way to trap the "Huns" was to entice them with sauerkraut and pinochle. Compared to the relentless team spirit of the whole Andrews Sisters/Johnny Mercer brigade, it is really refreshing to hear songs that honestly address the way people felt about the effect of the war on the soldiers and those at home.

Of course, now we don't sing about them at all...

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: Pinetop Slim
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 03:47 PM

Vets Day puts me in mind of this verse from Ralph McTell's "Streets of London."

Have you seen the old man outside the seaman's mission

Memory fading like the ribbons that he wears

In our winter city, the rain cries a little pity

For one more forgotten hero in a world that doesn't care

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 03:38 PM

The same website has "An Internet History of the Great War." Find it directly at World War 1
Worth reading on this day.

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 03:32 PM

No one seems to have quoted the John McCutcheon rewrite of "Christmas in the Trenches." Just parts of the first and last verses:

My name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool.
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.
To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany to here
I fought for king and country I love dear.

My name is Francis Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell.
Each Christmas come since World War I, I've learned its lessons well.
That the ones that call the shots won't be among the dead and lame,
And on each end of the rifle we're the same.

Francis Tolliver
(mentioned by Susanne in another thread)

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: mg
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 02:35 PM

thank you everyone who expressed positive or neutral sentiments or sat this one out.    And to those who just went shopping...that is perfectly fine too. But I think one, and I am willing to drop it to one, this one, day a year to at least not abuse veterans is a very good idea. Drive on. If you want a good song, find the one Kipling wrote about when you go to London town grieving, grieving, take your flowers and lay them down at the wall of grieving. (not celebrating by the way)....you can sing this to one of the Banorie tunes..mg

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: Big Mick
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 02:07 PM

Nope, Troll, nor will she ever. The posts by this person using a multitude of personalities demonstrate the real agenda. They also demonstrate an inability to see anyone's point of view than her own. There is an agenda at work here to demonstrate superiority (but only in Guest L, Peace Matriot, Ladies against War, and on and on own mind) by hijacking this and getting folks not to discuss the need to thank Vets regardless of one's belief about war. She has suggested that I am attacking her for personal reasons, once more ducking that I have her figured out. Well, I am. I am happy to discuss the music of Vets, and the politics of war. Dropping a line in a thread entitled "Veterans Day" just to remind folks about the price paid by those still living is entirely appropriate. This person's reaction and suggestions demonstrate, if read carefully, exactly what her agenda is.

Now, ....... please don't feed this poster anymore.

For some reason, Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky" always comes to mind.

Mick

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: Troll
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 06:08 AM

GUEST,L with all the explainations, you STILL don't have a clue do you? You don't know what we're about and you never will know, because you're too damn busy presenting your rebutals to what you think we said.
Why not listen and try to understand for a change.

troll

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: GUEST,L
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 02:10 AM

And BTW Mary, I'm Guest L to distinguish myself from Guest Q, who also is posting information on WW1 right now in another thread. We aren't the same people. If that is what you are referring to with this whole abusive/non-abusive guest thing.

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: GUEST,L
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 02:05 AM

Mary, I don't who you are from adam, or pretend to know what this debate is over abusive/non-abusive guests, but I've got to say, in this thread you are coming off like a poster child for victimhood.

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: mg
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 12:52 AM

Sorry I was an officer and was stateside. And a lot of those songs Dr. Fish collected were by officers. Pilots in particular. And since I don't know if you are abusive guest or non-abusive guest I will pass on sharing anything at this particular moment. We sang things like Blowing in the Wind. mg

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: GUEST,L
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 12:45 AM

Actually, considering the fact that Vietnam has such a well documented wealth of folk songs sung by enlisted folk, how about those of you who served and are posting to this thread, share the songs *you* sang while in Vietnam?

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: GUEST,L
Date: 11 Nov 02 - 12:30 AM

One final thing, as I finish perusing my bookmarks on war and anti-war music of the 20th century. Anyone with a serious interest in the real thing--the folk music and folklore of American involvement in the Vietnam war, should not be without this exhaustive site of Dr. Lydia Fish:

http://www.vwip.org/articles/f/FishLydia_FolkloreBibliography.htm

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: GUEST,L
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 11:57 PM

Many great WW1 songs (including the two I give lyrics to above) can be found at my favorite WW1 website, FirstWorldWar.com. Their list includes song MP3s of the actual vintage recordings of these and many other songs, speeches, etc. and was just updated.

John McCormack was one of the most famous singers of this era, and recorded many of the popular songs of the era, and there are many sources of information, recordings, etc about him online.

Also, there are WAV files at Trenches on the Web here:

http://www.worldwar1.com/media.htm#clips

You can also hear samples of WW1 songs recorded from original hand cranked Victrolas can be heard here, and the tapes & sheet music ordered too!

http://www.besmark.com/ww1b.html

Subject: Lyr Add: LLOYD GEORGE'S BEER (Weston & Lee)
From: GUEST,L
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 11:37 PM

A humorous WW1 song from Britain, called "Lloyd George's Beer" by R P Weston and Bert Lee, 1915. In response to government attempts to limit alcohol consumption during the war.

LLOYD GEORGE'S BEER
As recorded by Ernie Mayne, 1917.

1. We shall win the war; we shall win the war.
As I said before, we shall win the war.
The Kaiser's in a dreadful fury,
Now he knows we're making it at every brewery.
Have you read of it, seen what's said of it,
In the Mirror and the Mail?
It's a substitute, and a pubstitute,
And it's known as Government Ale (or otherwise).

CHORUS: Lloyd George's Beer, Lloyd George's Beer.
At the brewery, there's nothing doing,
All the water works are brewing,
Lloyd George's Beer, it isn't dear.
Oh they say it's a terrible war, oh Lor!,
And there never was a war like this before,
But the worst thing that ever happened in this war
Is Lloyd George's Beer.

2. Buy a lot of it, all they've got of it.
Dip your bread in it, Shove your head in it
From January to October,
And I'll bet a penny that you"ll still be sober.
Get the froth of it, make some broth with it,
With a pair of mutton chops.
Drown your dogs in it, drop some frogs in it,
Then you'll see some wonderful hops (in that lovely stuff).

CHORUS: Lloyd George's Beer, Lloyd George's Beer.
At the brewery, there's nothing doing,
All the water works are brewing,
Lloyd George's Beer, it isn't dear.
Said Haig to Joffre when affairs look black:
"If you can't shift the beggars with your gas attack,
Just get your squirters out and we'll squirt the devils back,
With Lloyd George's Beer."

Subject: Lyr Add: DON'T TAKE MY DARLING BOY AWAY
From: GUEST,L
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 11:30 PM

An early anti-war song, from 1916:

DON'T TAKE MY DARLING BOY AWAY

A mother was kneeling to pray
For loved ones at war far away
And there by her side, her one joy and pride,
knelt down with her that day

Then came a knock on the door
Your boy is commanded to war
"No Captain please, here on my knees,
I plead for one I adore"

Don't take my darling boy away from me,
Don't send him off to war
You took his father and brothers three,
Now you've come back for more

Who are the heroes that fight your war
Mothers who have no say
But my duty's done so for god's sake leave one!
And don't take my darling boy away.

Tenting tonight, Tenting tonight
Tenting on the old campground

You took his father and brothers three,
Now you've come back for more

Tenting tonight, Tenting tonight
Tenting on the old campground

But my duty's done so for god's sake leave one!
And don't take my darling boy away.

A hero is now laid to rest, A hero and one of the best
He fought with each son, The battles he'd won,
And the battles that proved a test

Though she never went to the war,
She was a hero by far, they gave a gun
But who gave a son,
M. O. T. H. E. R.

Don't take my darling boy away from me,
Don't send him off to war
You took his father and brothers three,
Now you've come back for more

Who are the heroes that fight your war
Mothers who have no say
But my duty's done so for god's sake leave one!
And don't take my darling boy away.

Tenting tonight, Tenting tonight
Tenting on the old campground

You took his father and brothers three,
Now you've come back for more

Tenting tonight, Tenting tonight
Tenting on the old campground

But my duty's done so for god's sake leave one!
And don't take my darling boy away.

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: mg
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 10:52 PM

I think we should go back to calling it Armistice day. mg

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: GUEST,L
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 10:45 PM

You know folks, if you don't want to discuss these songs, and want to have a thread for the purpose of thanking veterans, why don't you just start one? This thread was started, and has been about songs dating back to Armistice Day, from it's inception. For the record people, the history of Armistice Day:

November 11 1919: President Wilson proclaims the first Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…" The original concept for the celebration was for the suspension of business for a two minute period beginning at 11 A.M., with the day also marked by parades and public mettings.

On the second anniversary of the armistice, France and the United Kingdom hold ceremonies honoring their unknown dead from the war. In America, at the suggestion of church groups, President Wilson names the Sunday nearest Armistice Day Sunday, on which should be held services in the interest of international peace.

Get it people? The history of this holiday has been linked just as much to anti-war efforts as it has to honoring veterans from the gitgo. Whether it is called Peace Sunday, Discernment Sunday, or Armistice Day Sunday, ever since the first anniversary of Armistice Day, the two have gone hand in hand.

One has to wonder what exactly the agenda is of people accusing other posters in music threads of goading Vietnam Vets into committing suicide? Do we really need to go there?

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: Tinker
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 10:06 PM

Mary, I sat and cried last night through your post. And smiled this morning when you hit our hormonal guest with angels. Through the night and the morning this arose... it's rough and I will not battle with idiots for the thread. But it arose from you... it may recycle and be born again at some other date, as do all the things that force us beyond ourselves. But for now...

When there is no choice but to give
Until humanity has been stripped
And the soul stands on the void
Echoing in the winds of the demonic and the devine

And again need calls and the winds blow
An again I answer the unknown
Pelting the rain, echoing pain
The still of the night may recall the devine
Or the winds only echo the void

Blessings on those who rode the wings
Blessings on those who fell
Blessings on all who stand the edge
Blessings ride the winds whisper,hear,tell

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: mg
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 10:03 PM

Folks, this is it in a nutshell. Why so many veterans, especially of the Vietnam war, have committed suicide. They were goaded to death. Younger people, perhaps if you haven't seen this in person, you don't know. Print this thread out and keep it. This type of stuff happened constantly and has only in the last few years died down. This is what we went through after the war when we should have been healing. I guess we will go through it until we die one way or the other. It is not someone just being insensitive, as others have been, but I can tell the difference and write it off usually. This is someone who knows what buttons to push and will do it regardless of the consequences. This country will get what it as a whole deserves sooner or later, which is a terrible threat and not the human resources to defend against it. Don't bother asking yourselves why.

mg

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: Amos
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 09:56 PM

In case anyone wonders what I had in mind, I meant no offense, but I do regret I was not being sufficiently sensitive to the feelings of those who have been where I have not been, and faced forces that for all my adventures I could not begin to know. I believe they deserve complete respect and recognition for what they've beent hrough, done and survived. "S all I got to say on the matter.

A

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: Mr Happy
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 09:44 PM

'poor murdered men never laid down their lives,they were sent to be killed in the war' jon heslop

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: GUEST,L
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 09:35 PM

ballpienhammer, do all the songs you list above predate Armistice Day?

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: GUEST,L
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 09:31 PM

Here is a great website with WW1 songs from the trenches (warning: also non-bowdlerised):

http://info.ox.ac.uk/jtap/tutorials/intro/trench/songs.html

The source for most of these songs is given as 'What a lovely war!': British Soldiers' Songs.

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: GUEST,L
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 09:08 PM

Sorry, meant to give the source I'm quoting this from, a great article titled "Soldiers' Songs: Folklore of the Powerless".

You can read it online here:

http://faculty.buffalostate.edu/fishlm/folksongs/les01.htm

Subject: Lyr Add: FUCK 'EM ALL
From: GUEST,L
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 09:06 PM

Dunno if this bawdy soldier song is in DT or not. WW2 British, it morphed across the water into a GI song. Later it was bowdlerized & popularized as "Bless Em All". Apologies to those of you with senstivities to this sort of thing, but it's historic and on topic.

FUCK EM ALL

Oh they say there's a troopship just leaving Bombay
Bound for old Blighty's shore,
Heavily laden with time-expired men
Bound for the land they adore;
There's many a twat just finishing his time,
There's many a cunt signing on;
You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean,
So cheer up my lads, fuck 'em all!
Chorus: Fuck 'em all!
Fuck 'em all!

The long and the short and the tall;
Fuck all the Sergeants and W.O.l.'s,
Fuck all the corporals and their bastard sons;
For we're saying goodbye to them all,
As up the C.O.'s arse they crawl;
You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean,
So cheer up my lads, fuck 'em all!

The Fleet Air Arm of the British Royal Navy had its own version, as did the U.S. Army Air Force both in World War 2 and in the Korean War. Numerous adaptations circulated in the Pacific theatre, including the following.

They called for the army to come to Tulagi,
But Douglas MacArthur said no;
They said there's a reason,
It isn't the season,
Besides there's no USO.
Chorus: Fuck 'em all! Fuck 'em all!

The long, the short, the tall;
Fuck all the Pelicans and Dogfaces too,
Fuck all the generals and above all fuck you!
So we're saying goodbye to them all,
As back to our foxholes we crawl;
There'll be no promotion on MacArthur's blue ocean,
So cheer up Gyrenes, fuck 'em all.

Two additional verses circulating in the Marine Corps were:

They sent for the Navy to come to Tulagi,
The gallant Navy agreed;
With one thousand sections
In different directions,
My God! What a fucked-up stampede!
Chorus: Fuck 'em all, etc.

They sent for the nurses to come overseas,
The reason was perfectly clear,
To make a good marriage and push a carriage
While fucking all hands, my dear!

Chorus: Fuck 'em all, etc.

Finally a version collected from a G.I. returning from Germany.

Just think of the boys at the front,
No beer, no whisky, no cunt;
They sit in their trenches
And think of their wenches,
So cheer up, my boys, fuck 'em all! etc.

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: ballpienhammer
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 08:48 PM

Dixie
Yellow Rose of Texas
Tramp Tramp Tramp
Navy Hymn

Subject: RE: Veteran's Day
From: ballpienhammer
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 08:35 PM

When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Two Brothers
Yankee Doodle