Lyr Add: The Gift of Years (Eric Bogle)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE GIFT OF YEARS (Eric Bogle)
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 07:38 PM

My trio's got a small coffee house gig this Friday, and being so close to Remembrance Day, we'll be doing "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" I thought we might follow it with what is in effect a sequel song "The Gift of Years". I've always performed it a capella in the past, but wouldn't mind trying it with the group. My Bogle books are packed away at a friend's place. Any kind soul out there got easy access to the chords, before I start experimenting?

The Gift of Years
(Eric Bogle)

Well, old friend, here I am, I told you I'd be back.
And as usual mate, I'm bloody late; it's 75 years down the track.
For the last time here I stand in this familiar foreign land.
Back with the mates I left behind, fixed forever in their time.

And all the men and of all the boys who haunt this lonely place
Only one of them wears your cheery grin & your Queensland joker's face
But I drown in all the bloody dreams of helpless young men's dying screams
I feel your hand give my arm a shake & your voice say "steady, mate"

And the country that you died for, mate, you would not know it now
The future that we dreamed of, mate, got all twisted up somehow
The peace that we were fighting for, the end to stupid senseless war
So it couldn't happen to our kids - well old mate, it did.

But thank you for the gift of years & the flame that brightly burned
For the time you bought & the lessons taught, tho' often wasted & unlearned
"Lest we forget" cry the multitudes, as if I ever ever could
So forgive an old man's tears, & thank you for the years.

Subject: Chords Add: THE GIFT OF YEARS (Eric Bogle)
From: GUEST,Marion in Cornwall
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 02:47 PM

Verse 1 & 4
(D)Well, old friend, (G/B)here I am, I (A7)told you I'd be (D)back.

And as usual mate, I'm (G/B)bloody late; it's 7(A7)5 years down the (D)track.

For the last time (G/D)here I stand in (Asus7)this familiar (D)foreign land.

Back with the mates I (G/B)left behind, fixed for(A7)ever in their (D)time.

Verse 2 & 3
And the country that you (G/B)died for, mate, you (A7)would not know it (D)now

The future that we (G/D)dreamed of, mate, got all (A7)twisted up some(D)how

The peace that we were (G/D)fighting for, the (A7)end to stupid (D)senseless war

So it couldn't happen (G/B)to our kids - (A7)well old mate, it (D)did.


Hope this helps
Marion

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Gift of Years
From: Peter T.
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 05:10 PM

Such a great song. yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Gift of Years
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 05:32 PM

A great song to be sure; not as epic as "The Band Played . . .", but a fitting sequel nonetheless.

Sidenotes:

The song was written to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Galipolli, when as many veterans as were able to make the trip were taken back to Suvla Bay for the ceremony.

Another interesting parallel: Galipolli marked the first time the Australian Army had fought as a unit under its own officers; much as the battle of Vimy Ridge was the first that the Canadian Army fought as itself rather than under British officers as part of the Allied Expeditionary Forces.

Near the end of "The Band Played . . ." is the line: "But year by year more old men disappear; soon no one will march there at all." The last of the surviving veterans has passed away. For the last 2 years there has been no-one left to "answer the call".


And lastly to 'Marion from Cornwall', thank you so very much for the chords. You've made things much easier for me; I am in your debt.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Gift of Years
From: breezy
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 07:06 PM

Nice job, thank you Jeremiah for the notes, the last ones in particulr

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Gift of Years
From: Peter T.
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 07:07 PM

Not that one can weigh between the songs, but I think the Gift of Years is the equal of the other. It is a real old vet's song. He must have listened to hundreds of them to get the tone so perfect -- pissed off, haunted, and sentimental at the same time.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Gift of Years (Eric Bogle)
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Feb 16 - 11:27 AM

refreshing this old thread because I just read this page

You 'can' skip to the bottom, but it is best absorbed in context.