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28 Mar 08 - 11:18 PM (#2300152) Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN THE BOYS ARE ON PARADE (M Turner) From: Stewie Here's a fine song by New Zealander, Marcus Turner. WHEN THE BOYS ARE ON PARADE (Marcus Turner) Here they come marching past the houses, shiny boots and khaki blouses Stiff as the creases in their trousers, standing tall and straight and strong And they all keep in step together, glint of steel and flash of leather Braving every kind of weather as they boldly march along You may dismiss it as a ploy for the enlistment of the boys Who'll be impressed to see the toys and play the games that can be played Refrain: And you may well prefer abstention but I feel compelled to mention You'd do well to pay attention when the boys are on parade. Look at your sons before they're older they'll be stronger, they'll be bolder Just the thing to make a soldier and we'll turn them into men And they'll be taught to follow orders, keep the peace and guard the borders To protect us from marauders and defend us to the end. But the position they'll be filling is to be able and be willing To be killed or do the killing when there's a price that must be paid Refrain In the pursuit of a community of decency and unity And equal opportunity, we stand prepared to fight And if there's a threat to our position from aggressive opposition Then, with guns and ammunition, we'll repel with all our might. We'll dehumanise and hate them, send in the troops to decimate them As in the name of the nation all it stands for is betrayed Refrain Merely the whim or intuition of an elected politician Makes a melee without conditions as the monster quits the cage It's a machine that knows no quarter, dealing death and sowing slaughter Raping mothers, wives and daughters in an all-consuming rage We may well decide we need it and we'll pay to arm and feed it Can you tell me who will lead it when a decision must be made? Refrain Instrumental break Some will wonder what's to fear and say there is no danger here But there has never been a year when soldiers haven't been at war And the eternal executions and the bloody revolutions And the ultimate solutions, too, have all been seen before. And there's always someone scheming and some nights when I am dreaming In the distance, I hear screaming and in my heart I feel afraid Refrain Here they come marching past the houses, shiny boots and khaki blouses Stiff as the creases in their trousers, standing tall and straight and strong And is it any cause for pride that now the women march beside them Will they have wiser gods to guide them in discerning right from wrong? 'Cause every step is a reminder of the threat that lies behind If we forget the ties that bind us when the decisive game is played Refrain And as the procession passes by, consider the sight before your eyes 'Cause it'll be you they'll kill and die for when called to the crusade And you may love them and adore them, you may hate them and abhor them But, for God's sake don't ignore them, when the boys are on parade Source: Booklet accompanying Michael Black 'Michael Black' Compass Records --Stewie. |
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29 Mar 08 - 12:16 AM (#2300166) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: When the Boys Are On Parade From: GUEST Sort of brings to mind: While we go marching And the band begins to P -L-A-Y You can hear them shouting The raggedy-ass Marines are on the way! |
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29 Mar 08 - 03:19 AM (#2300190) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: When the Boys Are On Parade From: Murray MacLeod a magnificent song, and anybody who has ever heard Andy Irvine performing it will not forget the experience in a hurry |
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28 Feb 19 - 05:34 AM (#3979526) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: When the Boys Are on Parade (M Turner) From: GUEST A brilliant song that says it all. Andy is a discerning collector in the modern day, gracious and modest, sadly Marcus passed away too soon. |
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28 Feb 19 - 07:47 PM (#3979661) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: When the Boys Are on Parade (M Turner) From: GUEST,Gerry Andy Irvine recorded it on the Way Out Yonder CD in 2001. Appleseed Recordings, APR CD 1049. |