Lyr Req: Unity (John Tams)

04 Oct 01 - 09:46 PM (#565345)
Subject: Raise your banner high
From: GUEST,nogs on vacation

I heard Swan Arcade sing this one years ago. Cant find it in a web search except for a reference to a CD by the Wheeze and Suck Band.

Words are something like:

Raise your banner high
Strenth to strength and line by line
Unity must never die
Raise your banner high

Sounds like a union song. Great chorus, but that is the only part of the tune that I remember, so I need help with the verse tune as well.

Many thanks.

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04 Oct 01 - 10:54 PM (#565382)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raise your banner high
From: Malcolm Douglas

Written by John Tams, and called by him Unity, subtitled Raise Your Banners High.  It's on his CD, Unity, released last year, and Roy Bailey has been singing it for some time; that's all I can remember just now.  Damn good song.

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05 Oct 01 - 04:44 AM (#565525)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raise your banner high
From: Ralphie

Malcolm...
Absolutely correct (as usual!!)
Also, Fellside records have just re-released Swan Arcades' two classic albums "Together Forever" and "Diving for Pearls" on one CD (FECD160) as part of their 25th anniversary celebrations. And "Unity" is track 12.
It's a stonker !! (UK for quite good really!) Regards all
Ralphie

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05 Oct 01 - 01:30 PM (#565756)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raise your banner high
From: GUEST,nogs

Ah, thanks lads. Not surprised to hear that Tams was the genius behind this.

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22 Feb 02 - 04:01 PM (#655559)
Subject: Lyr Add: UNITY (John Tams)
From: wildlone

UNITY
John Tams
Taken from "Unity" TSCD 508

Bound together through the land
stand up-stand up now
Brother sister make a stand
stand up-stand up now

Keep the spirit keep the way
stand up-stand up now
Unity will win the day
stand up-stand up now

Those who stand against all strife
stand up-stand up now
Fight to win a better life
stand up-stand up now

Those who stand for liberty
stand up-stand up now
Fight to keep the future free
stand up-stand up now

Chorus
Raise your banners high
Strength to strength and line by line
Unity must never die
Raise your banners hlgh

Though the struggle brings you pain
stand up-stand up now
Yours will be the final gain
stand up-stand up now

Though the struggle brings you tears
stand up-stand up now
You shall hear the victory cheers
stand up-stand up now

Chorus
Raise your banners high
Strength to strength and line by line
Unity must never die
Raise your banners hlgh

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22 Feb 02 - 05:54 PM (#655633)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raise your banner high
From: Nemesis

More praise for Raise your Banner - what a great song this is. We did a horrendous gig at a Day Care centre when one of our accapella trio was sick - and after suffering us struggling 2-parting through 3-part arrangements the old dears stopped muttering gummily about where was the tea and biscuits and were really enthusiastic about this song (or maybe it's because we mentioned it in the same breath as MARGARET THATCHER and they thought it was about her? :))

Anyway, as a rule I've found it's song that has universal appeal - so well worth putting in the repertoire!

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