To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=39956
17 messages

Song challenge: Update Cruel War

10 Oct 01 - 09:12 AM (#568882)
Subject: Song challenge: Update Cruel War
From: Mrrzy

I'm thinking of a woman willing to follow her man even unto Taliban territory... "I'll wear a chadori, no one will ever know..." - anyone up for it? It should reflect the horror of war as well as the bonds (whoops, typoed "bongs" - sorry, different song!) of love, as did the original so well.

10 Oct 01 - 11:40 AM (#569012)
Subject: RE: Song challenge: Update Cruel War
From: Irish sergeant

Mrrzy: Great Idea! I'll have to work on it. As a start let's try this: The cruel war is raging/Johnny has to fight, For terror plunged our country to mourning this night. Our country is mourning, it grieves my heart so/ won't you let me go with you?/ No, my love no. I'll tie up my hair/ chadori I will wear/I'll scour the mountains/ for terrorist lairs. I'll scour the mountains. as long as you must go./Won't you let me go with you? No, my love no. It's a start let's see what Mudcat can really do, Neil;-)

10 Oct 01 - 12:45 PM (#569061)
Subject: RE: Song challenge: Update Cruel War
From: Mrrzy

I like it, Sarge! mourning and night... definitely something. I'll keep going too...

10 Oct 01 - 01:15 PM (#569087)
Subject: RE: Song challenge: Update Cruel War
From: Mrrzy

Wow. I've been singing this for years, and heard people sing it for years, and never ever have I heard the last verse that's in the Trad. For me the song always ended at Yes, my love, yes, and there was no aftermath verse. I didn't realize she died when I launched the song challenge! Feel free to have a different ending...

10 Oct 01 - 05:34 PM (#569283)
Subject: RE: Song challenge: Update Cruel War
From: SINSULL

A rough draft, amazingly cathartic:

All's Fair In Love And War

Early morning phone call
Johnny says "My Love
The Towers are burning
I'm trapped just above.
The Towers are burning.
I love you, you must know."
Then a scream; then a silence.
No, my love, no.

Johnny, Oh dear Johnny
Can you know the grief I feel?
For your body, for a token
I tear through glass and steel.
For your body, burned and broken
Will ease the doubt I know
Ah, if only I could die too!
No, my love, no.

Johnny, Oh dear Johnny
In anger and despair
I will play the game by their rules
Chador disguise I wear
I will play the game by their rules
Wreaking havoc and distress
Is it vengeance? Is it justice?
Yes, my love, yes.

11 Oct 01 - 08:46 AM (#569665)
Subject: RE: Song challenge: Update Cruel War
From: Irish sergeant

Sinsull: How agonizingly poigniant! I tip my kepi to you! Well done, Neil

11 Oct 01 - 10:13 AM (#569724)
Subject: RE: Song challenge: Update Cruel War
From: Mrrzy

Whew. When I can breathe again I'll try singing it. VERY nice, if that's the right word. And I'm glad it was cathartic!

11 Oct 01 - 10:22 AM (#569732)
Subject: RE: Song challenge: Update Cruel War
From: Donuel

Oh dear , If I had known this thread was started just as I made a seperate thread I would have posted here.

Here is my humble submission:

Love means never having to say you're Saudi


In the early morning hours there was a tragic terrible thing
In a land that revolved around oil and the sex life of a "king"

In the early morning hours an enemy unknown, was on their way
There was no warning on that crystal clear September day

They love their God and aim the planes for the wrath he's wrought.
Soon the enemy had a face that said he was innocent but you deserved what you got

. ON 911 a faceless enemy showered NY with PAPER, AIRPLANES AND BODIES.
Love means never having to say you are Saudis
R

[refrain] Paper , Airplanes and bodies. Love means never having to say you are Saudis.

The faceless enemies while among us looked us in the eye with silence
While in their hearts and minds was their loving God's violence.

The love of your God has promised you that you can change the course of history
The depth and horror of your hate was to us, of course a mystery

Somewhere tonight there is the man that plans your future and its cost.
It is not for God , it is not for Islam but to regain the family he has lost

An eye for an eye, a scar in the sky the shock and horror for the families that cried.
We will find a way each day to teach you the God you love has lied.

[refrain] An eye for an eye, a scar in the sky the shock and horror for the families that cried. We will find a way each day to teach you the God you love has lied.
Don Hakman oct.2001

11 Oct 01 - 01:49 PM (#569875)
Subject: RE: Song challenge: Update Cruel War
From: Mrrzy

Good one Don H! Not Cruel War, but good. Tune?

11 Oct 01 - 02:03 PM (#569887)
Subject: RE: Song challenge: Update Cruel War
From: SINSULL

Mrrzy,
Looks as if few of us are up for a love song. Lots of anger, though.

Donuel,

Somewhere tonight there is the man that plans your future and its cost. It is not for God , it is not for Islam but to regain the family he has lost


I think that you are right. I believe that these terrorists have more to fear from their counterparts in the West than from Bush and all his bombs.

11 Oct 01 - 05:55 PM (#570077)
Subject: RE: Song challenge: Update Cruel War
From: Tinker

Sinsull, Powerful images.I can't make it through out loud yet, perhaps by Getaway? I'm not sure my verses fit, but heres a few more

Oh Johnny, dear Johnny
Each night I sit and talk
As if from the next room
In you would walk
But your voice doesn't answer
Sounds echo soft and low
I must go where love leads me
No, my love no

Your sister the guardsman
Shipped out just yeasterday
And before she left
She bade me to stay
She bade me to stay
With the ones you both love so
Yet I want to go to love,
No, my love no.

12 Oct 01 - 11:34 AM (#570522)
Subject: RE: Song challenge: Update Cruel War
From: SINSULL

Neither can I Tinker. Verses I and II are based on real people and events. Still too close to home to be detached enough to sing.

12 Oct 01 - 02:18 PM (#570679)
Subject: RE: Song challenge: Update Cruel War
From: Mrrzy

From someone in my office:

Cruel war is raging, Ibn has to fight
And I hope that they'll catch him before dark tonight
I hope that they catch him, alive would be best
But if dead is what happens, I won't lose no rest

Note that these are not my sentiments, I am merely the messenger.

And Sins, the one about scrabbling through the wreckage for Johnny's body - that is a love story, even if it's set after the death of one, no?

12 Oct 01 - 11:32 PM (#571038)
Subject: RE: Song challenge: Update Cruel War
From: Irish sergeant

You guys are making me seem like a rank piker . Have to put the cap on again when i get up in the morning.

13 Oct 01 - 12:14 AM (#571054)
Subject: RE: Song challenge: Update Cruel War
From: SINSULL

Nah, Mrrzy - she's just hoping to find the key to the Safety Deposit Box! Sorry. The anthrax scare had me going but recovery was swift. I went through the disbelief, fear, anger, sorrow thing real quick and landed at black humor. Experience is a wonderful thing. Two terrorist attacks in NYC and I have it down to a science.

I do like your friend's contribution. Not exactly a love song though. Sounds like someone in your office is going for the anger/humor thing too. See you Friday.

15 Oct 01 - 11:11 AM (#572472)
Subject: RE: Song challenge: Update Cruel War
From: Mrrzy

refresh

01 Apr 14 - 12:18 PM (#3614285)
Subject: RE: Song challenge: Update Cruel War
From: GUEST,Sam A. Robrin

I was just doing some research here, and ran across this thread. I had the same idea some time ago:

ANOTHER WAR RAGES ("The Cruel War Is Raging"—Traditional)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huATREpHkQA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6Ah0fan9B4

Another war rages
In some foreign land.
My Jason's been summoned
To join their command.
My Jason's been summoned—
He could tell them No.
"Stay and build a life with me."
"No, I must go."

"They might call you 'coward,'
May mock and accuse,
But it's much more courageous
To stand and refuse.
It's much more courageous
To buck the status quo—
Stay and build a life with me."
"No, I must go."

"There's no direct threat,
No peace that you can win—
Politicians deceive you
To lure voters in.
The system deceived you—
This isn't your fight!
Stay and build a life with me."
"Maybe you're right."

"My Jason, dear Jason,
You're gentle, kind, and wise.
Don't risk your—no, our future
For their petty lies.
Resist for our future—
I feel your bravery grow!
Stay, and build a life with me."
"Yes, I'll say No."

The grid's no place for those
Who won't be controlled.
I've heard their names mentioned
In tales rebels told.
I've heard their names mentioned—
Did they, do you suppose,
Build a free life together?
Nobody knows.
___________________________________
COPYRIGHT JA 2012 by Sam A. Robrin. Creative Commons, blah, blah, woof, woof. Go ahead and use it (hey, I lifted the melody), but if you make a little money on it, I want some!