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Lyr Add: Shot at Dawn / Ballad of Harry Farr |
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Subject: Lyr Add: SHOT AT DAWN / BALLAD OF HARRY FARR From: GUEST,huw Date: 25 Aug 06 - 09:25 AM The song is based on the story of private Harry Farr who was executed on the Somme in 1916 for refusing to go back into the trenches.He had served almost two years at the front before suffering from shellshock.He was pardoned in August 2006 after a long campaign by his family and the Shot At Dawn Campaign. SHOT AT DAWN [The Ballad of Harry Farr ] At five in the morning As daylight was dawning Harry Farr was taken out From his cold cell He'd been filled up with morphine Oh ,the sights that he'd seen But Harry was sick Of the sound of the shells. At first light we are told He refused a blindfold He stared at his comrades But he stood brave and tall The order was given His life cruelly taken And Harry was shot An example to all. CHORUS Damn all the generals In their headquarters It would have been better If they'd never been born A sick man they accused A brave man they abused He was tied to a post And shot dead at dawn The fat swarms of flies The cursing , the cries The dead and the dying Out in No Man's Land The artillery fire The rolls of barbed wire The bearers with stretchers Barely able to stand. Up there in the trenches In the mud and the madness The shock of the shelling Made him sick of the fight Last night he was sentenced By a drumhead court martial To be tied to a post And shot at first light REPEAT CHORUS Oh his wife sits at home She sits all alone They took her war pension To rub salt in her grief On Remembrance Day morn Harry's still shot at dawn While the veterans march past Their commander in chief. So many years on The soldiers have gone Young Harry's been pardoned With the stroke of a pen But what of the leaders Who send men to the slaughter? They are still free To start wars once again. REPEAT CHORUS TWICE lyrics and tune by Huw Pudner |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Shot At Dawn From: Big Mick Date: 25 Aug 06 - 11:58 AM Huw, do you have a tune? I would be interested in doing this song. PM me. Mick |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Shot At Dawn [The Ballad of Harry Farr ] From: GUEST,huw Date: 25 Aug 06 - 01:11 PM Big Mick I will get back to you with the tune asap huw |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Shot At Dawn [The Ballad of Harry Farr ] From: Big Mick Date: 25 Aug 06 - 01:46 PM For those interested, HERE is the story of the fight by Harry's daughter to clear his name. Powerful stuff, this. Anyone who has been in combat understands that but for some unknown reason, it could have been them. It is horrifying what we ask young men to do in the name of patriotism. All the best, Mick |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Shot at Dawn / Ballad of Harry Farr From: GUEST Date: 28 Aug 06 - 11:42 AM Mick I am still trying to work out how to send the tune of Shot At Dawn. huw |
Subject: Lyr Add: Shot At Dawn From: GUEST,Huw Date: 29 Aug 06 - 02:37 PM Shot At Dawn [ The Ballad of Harry Farr] by Huw Pudner At five in the morning As daylight was dawning Harry Farr was taken out From his cold cell He'd been filled up with morphine Oh the sights that he'd seen But Harry was sick Of the sound of the shells At first light we are told He refused a blindfold He stared at his comrades And he stood brave and tall The order was given His life cruelly taken And Harry was shot An example to all. CHORUS Damn all the generals In their headquarters It would have been better If they'd never been born A sick man they accused A brave man they abused He was tied to a post And shot dead at dawn The fat swarms of flies The curses the cries The dead and the dying Out in No Mans Land The artillery fire The rolls of barbed wire The bearers with stretchers Barely able to stand. Up there in the trenches In the mud and the madness The shock of the shelling Made him sick of the fight Last night he was sentenced By a drumhead court martial To be tied to a post And shot at first light. REPEAT CHORUS Oh, his wife sits at home She sits all alone They took her war pension To rub salt in her grief On Remembrance Day Morn Harry's still shot at dawn And the veterans march past Their commander in chief. So many years on The soldiers have gone Young Harry's been pardoned With the stroke of a pen But what of the leaders Who send men to the slaughter? They are still free To start wars once again. REPEAT CHORUS TWICE Private Harry Farr was executed at the Somme in 1916 after refusing to teturn to the trenches.He had fought for two years before being hospitalised for shell shock.He refused to go back to the front and was sentenced to be shot at dawn after a short court martial.He was pardoned in August 2006 after a long campaign by his family and the Shot At Dawn Campaign. Huw |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Shot at Dawn / Ballad of Harry Farr From: Joe Offer Date: 30 Aug 06 - 01:45 AM Hi, Huw - I don't know if your second lyrics submission is any different from the first one (I moved the second one to the original thread). If you'd like to have a tune posted, e-mail it to me. MIDI or Noteworthy Composer or ABC is best, but you can also send me a scan of the notation and I'll transcribe it to MIDI. -Joe Offer- joe@mudcat.org by the way, you can find old threads by using the Filter on the main forum menu page |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Shot at Dawn / Ballad of Harry Farr From: GUEST,huw Date: 30 Aug 06 - 03:17 AM Thanks Joe! My technical skills on the computer are prehistoric to put it kindly...but I will get back in touch after I have consulted a friend or two who are a bit more computer savvy!! huw |
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