Lyr Add: Shot at Dawn / Ballad of Harry Farr

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-
[e-mail]


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