|
01 Feb 11 - 08:11 AM (#3086544) Subject: Greenfields of France parody... From: scouse Me mate used to sing a Parody of the Green fields of France..I canna remeber really any of it except some of the Chorus which went... They didn't beat the drum slowly, They never player the Fyfe lowly, They never played the death march as they lowered you down, And the coffin was plywood and porous.. and the Band played football in the Forest. Davy Arther was mentioned in the last verse.. Well, that's all I can remember.. any help please. As Aye, Phil. |
|
01 Feb 11 - 08:48 AM (#3086560) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: Georgiansilver I've written parodies for a few songs myself but would never have dreamt of doing it with that song..... Too much feeling to mess with. |
|
01 Feb 11 - 08:57 AM (#3086564) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: Silas Agree. I like a joke as much as anyone, but some things should not be the subject of parody. |
|
01 Feb 11 - 10:04 AM (#3086599) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: GUEST,Bardan ah come on, anything is a fit subject for parody, satire etc... Not sure I'd enjoy a parody of willie macbride, but the whole point of a lot of parodies is going after something that's seen as sacred or what have you. Besides, a lot of military people have a seriously dark sense of humour in my (admittedly limited) experience. |
|
01 Feb 11 - 10:15 AM (#3086608) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: Silas Well, up to a point I agree with you, but.... If you read, for example, the Wipers Times, you get lots of jokes and parodies about WW1, some of it is very dark humour indeed and some of it is roaringly funny. The difference is that the guys who wrote it were part of the bloodbath and had every right to write whatever they wanted to. We, on the other hand, owe them an unrepayable debt to these guys and to take the piss when we have cannot even begin to imagine the sufferings they went through is just a bit much for some of us. Well, thats what I think anyway... |
|
01 Feb 11 - 12:52 PM (#3086684) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: GUEST,Steamin' Willie A bit worrying, assuming something should not, rather not, bad taste etc. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Bad enough the BBC saying what comics can say and can't. The original song has all the pathos, respect, lessons from history and everything else you may care to mention. However, it was, a few years ago, played by all and at regular intervals. Methinks the status of the song as one that gets sung all the time does lend itself to parody, albeit for the oversinging rather than the subject matter. Two things there; 1. I used to sing a parody of another song that was overplayed in folk clubs, Thompson's Bright Lights. "Meet me at the folk club, don't be late I need to sing some Richard and it just won't wait. Blow out the candles and turn on the lights, I don't want to hear "The Bright Lights" tonight." 2. It is suggested above that WW1 parody is not acceptable. There are those out there who feel Bob Dylan songs have some hallowed status too. Yet Eric Bogle wrote a wonderful song parodying the fact that wherever he went, people expected him to sing Dylan songs. So I doubt he for one would complain about the same done to his more serious songs? That said, the example in this thread isn't one I would personally want to expand on..... |
|
01 Feb 11 - 01:04 PM (#3086696) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: Silas I suppose that although ninety odd years ago, it is still in living memory and certainly many of us knew well grandfathers etc who served in WW1. I frequently visit Flanders and Picardy and may be a little more sensitive to this sort of thing than some people. |
|
01 Feb 11 - 09:33 PM (#3086935) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: GUEST,Gerry There have already been 10 threads about parodies of this song, Alternative lyrics to 'Willie McBride -Flower (7) Lyr Req: Green Fields of France Parody (14) Lyr Req: Green fields of france PARODY (21) Lyr Req: Parody on Green Fields of France (26) Lyr Req: Willie McBride (Parody) (6) Parody (again) No Man's Land ? (8) Lyr Req: Willie Mc Bride's OTHER reply (2) Lyr Req: no man's land parody (3) Lyr Add: Willie McBride parody - new chorus (5) Lyr Add: Not Willie McBride (7) Lyr Req: Parody of Green Fields of France (5) Do we need another one, or can we all just reread the old ones? |
|
02 Feb 11 - 05:13 AM (#3087059) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: scouse I made the thread not to cause offense, more out of curiosity.. Your right it is more than a bit insensitive to do a parody of the song in this way. However it's been written by someone, an I'm just wonderin' if anyone else has heard of it. Kees me mate said he heard it sung by a guy in Ireland. As Aye, Phil |
|
02 Feb 11 - 07:06 AM (#3087115) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: Dead Horse I can just see the dead of WW1 having a pint and a chin wag together and one young lad saying to his mate "Can you believe those folkies down there, they actually think our Willie is sacred???" Lighten up. If those poor lads died for something, surely it was so that we who are left can enjoy life as we think fit. But if you are going to do a parody of a song then make sure it is done well and not just for the sake of doing it. Some parodies that are out there are better than the song being parodied, some, unfortunately, are just plain awful. |
|
02 Feb 11 - 07:51 AM (#3087135) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: GUEST,Desi C Oh I agree with Bardan, soon as you start saying something is too sacred for comedy, sooner we end up like Iran or some such dictatorship. And Eric Bogle does a fair few funny songs himself and I know has a keen sonse of humour. And as someine else pointed out Soldiers have a good, often black sense of humour. It's never had to laught at things like war and death, wasn't it the British sense of humour kept folk going in the world war |
|
02 Feb 11 - 07:54 AM (#3087138) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: Splott Man I know the parody you want. The problem with it for me is that it assumes that the original was written by the Furies and Davey Arthur, and therefore doesn't ring true. Splott Man |
|
03 Feb 11 - 08:02 AM (#3087823) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: scouse Splott Man...If I remember right,sometime way back The Fury's tried to claim the song as their own.??? I could of course be mistaken. As Aye, Phil. |
|
03 Feb 11 - 09:54 AM (#3087858) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: Jim Carroll It is the song being parodied, and the fact that it has become a maukishly meaningless 'chucking out time favourite', not the situation it covers. The composer, Crawford Howard was well aware of the authorship of the original, and his parody has also been adapted by Fintan Vallely 'Willie McBride, You Bastard'. Both are to be found in the collection (book) 'Sing Up' Irish comic songs and satires for every occasion - collected and introduced by Fintan Vallely. This is his introduction to the the first parody, 'Willie McBride - the Revenge' Willie Mac Bride: The Revenge "Some time in the 1970s, Australian Eric Bogle wrote a wonderful (so to speak) song about the horrors of World War 1. It dealt with the pointlessness of the slaughter, and addressed an unknown soldier, one Willie MacBride. The Fureys recorded it and it became a hit, reaching the top of the charts and staying lodged in everybody's sentiment file, everywhere that English is spoken. Overnight it replaced Thomas Moore's Believe me if all these endearing young charms, Goodnight Irene and Paper Roses as the No. 1 wedding-guest song. From that oxygen-rare pedestal of success it veered downward into the average shower-routine repertoire, and finally it arrived in the weekend-night, lounge-bar circuit—in which emotional surroundings it could be dealt full, deliberate, slow and painful lyric justice. By the early eighties it was already having the effect of mustard gas in the pubs and there were rumours of a fatwah being put out on Eric Bogle for writing it. Anyone who was suspected of being able to sing was constantly terrorised by unknown civilians with requests to "do Willie MacBride". Finally Crawford Howard from Belfast—a renowned composer of satires— went insane and decided he would oblige—with" parody, as revenge. Jim Carroll |
|
03 Feb 11 - 04:39 PM (#3088120) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: scouse Jim thanks for the wonderful info.. A treasure so it is.. But I would still like the words to the Parody written by Crawford Howard or a least were I can find them? As Aye, Phil |
|
03 Feb 11 - 05:21 PM (#3088148) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: GUEST,Gerry scouse, have you checked any/all of the previous 11 discussions that I listed a few messages above? |
|
03 Feb 11 - 05:46 PM (#3088162) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: Dave Hanson Firstly, Eric Bogle is a Scot not Australian, and secondly he called his song ' No Mans Land ' and it's definately not Irish. Dave H |
|
04 Feb 11 - 05:00 AM (#3088420) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: scouse Oh Shit, I must be a Mudcater... I asked this question 10 years ago, I just found the old thread and while looking through the rest found the Parody I was lookin' for.... Thanks to Guest Gerry.. I am in your debt sir. Oh bugger.... what else have I asked for more than thrice. The mind boggles. Thanks once again. As Aye, Phil. |
|
05 Feb 11 - 03:30 AM (#3089029) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: Brian May I lived in France for 18 months a couple of years ago. Visiting some of the battle fields 90 years on and seeing the 'rows of white crosses' has emotionally knocked any of the 'want to do a parody' of THAT particular song out of me. However, it doesn't stop me being a complete un-feeling arse on any other subject I have no personal knowledge of. Heartening to see the responses, I am the last one to judge who should and who shouldn't, it's just that I won't. It's too poignant. Did that make sense? |
|
05 Feb 11 - 04:52 AM (#3089048) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: Silas OK, lets be picky. They are not 'rows of white crosses' they are Tombstones made of Portland Stone' the only cross you will find in a CWGC cemetry is the cross of sacrifice. The French graves have crosses made of concrete. |
|
05 Feb 11 - 08:22 AM (#3089132) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: GUEST,Grishka Click here for the thread with the lyrics. The other threads mentioned above are interesting as well. WWI as a source of present-day emotions is a slippery field; none of the songs in question convinces me. |
|
05 Feb 11 - 10:33 AM (#3089175) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: Jim Carroll Here y'go, courtesy of 'Sing Up' - two for the price of one, Enjoy Jim Carroll WILLIE MAC BRIDE: THE REVENGE Have you heard of the song about Willie Mac Bride? If I hear it again it'll turn me inside. For it's sung in the Springtime, it's sung in the Fall, And mostly by people who can't sing at all. You go down to the bar on a Saturday night For a pint and a song, and things are all right 'Till some drunken punter slumps down by your side,—saying: "Sing us that song about Willie Mac Bride." Now you say you don't know it—but this will not do, For now he's determined to sing it to you, And he spills half your drink and starts off in a key That was never invented on land or on sea! And as things go on sure the whole thing gets worse For you now realise that he knows every verse. With his arm round your shoulder—for now he's your friend— He's going to sing the damn thing to the end. CHORUS: Did they sing the song badly? Did they drink the pints gladly? Did the drunks fall asleep as they lowered them down? Did the barman cry "Last Drinks!" in chorus Did the punters cry "Thank Christ that's over!" You go out to the Gents for a quarter of an hour And you watch the TV in the old Public Bar, And then you come back thinking that he will tire But he's still going on about gas and barbed wire. And ten minutes later you're now in a trance For he's up to his oxters in the Green Fields of France, The punters are quiet—you won't hear a peep— And you now realise that they've all gone to sleep. CHORUS Oh, Willie Mac Bride why the hell did you die? The trouble you'd have saved if you'd come back alive. If you'd got a good job, or signed on the b'roo— Wed not have to listen to songs about you. But still I don't know now—I'm glad that you're dead With the green Fields of France piled up over your head; For the trouble you've caused since the day that you died Oh, shootin's too good for you, Willie Mac Bride. CHORUS Now listen, Mac Bride, what the hell is your game With a photograph stuck in a mouldy old frame? You can buy them in Smithfield at 10p a throw, So what's all the fuss about I'd like to know? And what's all this talk about barbed wire and smoke? Sure you shouldn't have joined if you can't take a joke! We don't give a damn where the red poppies dance, Oh, Willie Mac Bride, will you give us a chance! CHORUS © Crawford Howard (Schitheredee version appears in Appendix 2, page 240. The song can be heard sung by everybody. WILLIE MAC BRIDE YOU BASTARD YOU (Schitheredee version) Oh, youse know that big long song about Willie MacBride, Well, to tell yis the god's truth, it turns me inside, You'll hear it on the Shankhill, you'll hear't on the Falls, And mostly from people who can't sing at all, You go out to the pub on a Saturday night, For a pint and the crack, a-and things are all right 'Till some boy with his shirt out Slumps down by your side —and says: "Zing-zzz z'wunn zbouzz Wllee Mmm-Bride," Ah, you say you don't know it (but this will not do) For his plan all along has been to sing it to you. He knocks over your drink, and takes off in a key That wasn't constructed for Pava-Rotti; And with the lines grinding on, Oh, the horror gets worse, As it slowly sinks in—that he knows every verse. With his arm round your shoulder, by now he's your friend—and He's determined to sing this damn thing to the end. CHORUS: Did he sing the song badly? Did they gulp their pints madly? Did we all fall asleep before we'd finished our round? Did the barstaff cry, "Last drinks" to stir us? Did the punters cry, "Thank God it's o-o-o-ver"? You slip out to the jacks for a quart'r of an hour, Kill time at the TV set out in the Bar, And then you sneak back thinking he might have tired, But he's still choking on gas, tangled up in barbed wire; And for ten minutes more he continues this rum Again, and again, and again till you can't Care that he's up to his oxters in gutters in trench-es or give Two lupp'ny damns where the red poppies dance. CHORUS Oh, Willie MacBride why the hell did you die? The trouble you'd have saved if you'd come back alive. If you'd got a good job, or signed on the b'roo— We wouldn't have to endure this ould mush about you. Aye but maybe it's better for you that you're dead With the green fields of France piled up over your head; For the trouble you've caused us since that day you died, Oh, rusty shrapnel's too good for you, Willie MacBride. CHORUS And you—Eric Bogle, just what was your game? White crosses mark out the road to your fame. Could you not guess the Fureys might drive us insane? Can you not call them off?—Jasus, we're not to blame! And why d'you complain about shellfire and smoke? Sure with PA and cig'rettes, the pubs are no joke. Where we drink to his mem'ry each weekend we're broke Makin' Willie Mac Bride's fans consumptive ould soaks. CHORUS © Crawford Howard, variations Fintan Vallely |
|
05 Feb 11 - 10:52 AM (#3089185) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: MGM·Lion Enjoy Jim Carroll=== ····· No: sorry, Jim, just can't. I fear I am of the school that thinks there are things beyond the scope of parody, mockery, burlesque, travesty, spoof... I can't raise a smile at Springtime For Hitler ~~ & yes I know a Jew wrote it; and I know its alienatory play-within-the-play get-out, supposed to be the most tasteless ever but amazing smash-hit. I have, honest, heard of irony. & I know all about soldiers singing in the face of danger to cheer themselves up ~~ but they are there, and smartarses in folk clubs aren't. I have clearly had a SOH·ectomy. And you know what? It didn't hurt a bit, & I can still live with myself after it. Don't know what, as some have speculated about above, Eric thinks or would think about it. I only know what I do. ~Michael~ |
|
05 Feb 11 - 01:22 PM (#3089277) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: kendall Not one I would ever sing. |
|
05 Feb 11 - 01:40 PM (#3089292) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: Acorn4 Surely it's not as simple as saying it's a parody of the song, it's about bad singers, who will always choose songs such as this. "The caterpillar lays its eggs on the best leaves". |
|
05 Feb 11 - 01:43 PM (#3089301) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: Seayaker I saw Eric Bogle on his farewell tour in Coventry a couple of years ago and before he sang the song (as he was always obliged to do) he discussed the parodies with good humour and had no qualms about them at all. |
|
06 Feb 11 - 07:23 AM (#3089676) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: Jim Carroll "No: sorry, Jim, just can't. I fear" Mike, Don't shoot the messenger - Scouse requested the song - I passed it on. Personally I wouldn't sing either the original or the parody, the first for the reasons adequately covered in Vallely excellent introduction (and the fact that I find it incredibly insipid)'; the second because it appears to becoming as oversung as the one it parodies You are either missing or ignoring the point of the parody. It has no agenda towards those who died in the obscenity that was WW1; whatever the (dubious IMO) merits of the original, it has become a mawkish travesty of its composer's intentions and is now as relevent to real life as Yellow Submarine. Treating the song as sacrosanct is equivalent to recalling what you were doing on the day Bambi's mother was shot. Jim Carroll |
|
06 Feb 11 - 07:43 AM (#3089684) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: MGM·Lion You didn't just pass it on, Jim; you enjoined us to "enjoy", which was what I declined, and decline, to do. It is nothing to do with the quality of the song, or its 'relevance', but more with its motivations. I do not wish to have the point of the parody explained or deconstructed for my benefit, thank you. I am of opinion that it should not exist, and wish to have no more cognisance of it than that. ~Michael~ |
|
06 Feb 11 - 08:05 AM (#3089697) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: Silas I think there is probably no rights and wrongs here. I reserve the right to think parodies of songs like this to be crass and insensitive, but that's just me. I recall both my grandfathers describing some of the horors of WW1 and I would challenge anyone to go to the Mennin Gate at 8.00pm any night and see if their own opinion may change. |
|
06 Feb 11 - 08:05 AM (#3089698) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: Jim Carroll "I am of opinion that it should not exist," A little too 'blue pencil' for me Mike. I gave what I believe to be the intentions of the song maker in response to your reasons for disapproval. I also wonder whet Bogle would make of the mawkish travesty the song has become. Jim Carroll |
|
06 Feb 11 - 08:30 AM (#3089715) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: Brian May Is it mawkish, or are those sort of sentiments ones better 'enjoyed' privately? I don't know. Thanks for correcting me Silas by pointing out the Commonwealth War Graves Commission placed stone . . . I know, I've been there and even taken photos. I was being figurative and quoting a line from the song. Probably being mawkish actually. Oh well . . . |
|
06 Feb 11 - 09:06 AM (#3089735) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: GUEST,Grishka In my ears, all these songs are meant seriously and try to make a point about WWI, war in general, heroism, our emotions, and lessons to be learned. As long as these emotions and issues exist, we must be allowed to argue about them. |
|
06 Feb 11 - 09:20 AM (#3089741) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: Silas Hi Brian I wasn't correcting you in particular, just the words of the song. I would imagine that Eric wrote the song having not visited the area, unless he saw a French or American cemetry. |
|
06 Feb 11 - 10:34 AM (#3089794) Subject: RE: Greenfields of France parody... From: MGM·Lion A bit 'blue-pencil' perhaps, Jim. But I was responding in the main to your injunction to 'enjoy', which I feel perfectly entitled not to do. ~M~ |