Mike Harding - Bomber's Moon

[bimmo2]

Live in bomber county. Such a poignant song. Lest we forget.

[kts68]

Mike Harding did this live in Nottingham on his recent tour. There was not a dry eye in the house!

[yorkie6687]

Thank you for your service gentlemen,

we will not forget! You all epitemise the

word "HERO'S!"

[MrBNaylor]

May we always remember these brave Airmen...

[davidjb65]

Wars are started by politicians and finished by the everyday man

[EyeHawk777]

I wish Mike Harding had done a duet with Roger Waters.

[biggleski]

What a beautiful song. 

[draconova777]

as true today as it was for ww2 and this song will still be touching many hearts for many many years to come thank you mike for writing a beautiful piece that means so much to so many :)

[owainyebastards]

not ashamed to say this song never fails to make me cry

[mookett]

@owainyebastards me too bud 

[yorkie6687]

@owainyebastards

Me too, served nine years, but Northern Ireland was nothing compared

to what these gentlemen suffered, may God bless them all and keep them safe! NS.

[3belgarath]

GOD BLESS DOUGLAS BADER he was the first person to be shot down by friendly fire ,but of cause it was covered up.RIP.RODGER SPRINGET.

[3belgarath]

John Tams " Hagman the poacher " SHARP sings a lot of songs,both dislike WAR.

[lanckyboy266]

Sorry meant to say facebook not utube.

[lanckyboy266]

Sorry meant to say facebook not utube.

[lanckyboy266]

Brilliant video you have done the song and the brave airmen proud.

It is hard to imagine what they were thinking when they took off, nearly half of them never to return.

With your permission I would like to post this on utube in november.

Thanks again.

[djkennyubon]

The greast "reality of war" ever

[SpartanIntl]

My father loved this song...he was 49 Squadron...mid upper gunner on Lancasters...he was 83 when he died in 2008. I keep in touch with his best mate who is 86 and was the rear gunner. Such brave men...we should never what they did as 19 year old MEN.

[samiralou1]

such a sad song

[xxxem1xxx111]

Is mike harding - down our street on youtube?

[draconova777]

try terry kelly a pittance of time for another great rememberance song

[mentalmonkey26]

My Grandad would have loved this!! 467 SQ R.I.P

[farmerned6]

I used to watch Mikes show back in the 80's, only found this because of youtube a couple of years back- haunting, heartfelt and truthful, always makes my eyes damp, and my throat tight.

It  should be better known

[Bigmussie1]

I first heard this song on the tv many years ago. I remember it like it was yesterday, I was a young lad in my pyjamas and I turned round to say to my Dad, 'you flew on Lancasters, Dad, didn't you? I remember being shocked to see that he was sitting in his chair with a tear in his eye. R.I.P Dad and thank you Mike.

[SpartanIntl]

@Bigmussie1 your comment was similar to how I remember my Dad watching and listening to it for the first time...wish I had played it at his funeral now. G

[dixi1960]

how can anyone dislike this?

[exiledcornishman]

I live in Bomber County and the legacy lives on, we will never forget.

[GraemeJohnDavison]

Seen him sing this live in Scarborough once - simply brilliant

[MrDazza1964]

just looking for stuff to listen to

and found a old song to listen to

as a 17 year veteran of the parachute regimnent and now living half a world away from my home land

this brought a little peace to to a homesick old veteran

thank you for giving this to the world

cheers..

[bs5750]

I love this song, but I can't listen to it often, too powerful, too real.

[draconova777]

i challenge even the coldest heart not to melt and weep at this song this song reduced me to a sobbing mess thank you so much for posting this song

[joncbrown]

First heard this when I was a teenager in the mid ‘80s when Mike Harding ended one of his TV shows with it.

Four 15-16 year olds could not speak when it ended. We could not even look at each other for a few minutes – 15/16 year old boys did not have tears in their eyes back then! Beautiful

[m141263]

I am sorry to say, that all these galant men died for what, The uk. look at the state of it now, why bother, give it away & lets hope its better for it. RIP GREAT BRITAIN

[ianh13uk]

@m141263 They died as a tragic part of the effort to end the Nazi terror. The Holocaust was the other side of this sad coin. War can change things, end evil things. All things have their price.

[Jennywren1207]

Really there is nothing to say except... thank you xxx

Never enough, never adequate, never stops either.

[Infidelerious]

I was moved.

[nelso507121]

Mike's just so Amazing! I have the album (vinyl). Seen him twice live. Can somebody please convince him that we need him on tour!! Everything that he has released on

vinyl/CD is just soooo good. The RAF band is releasing a new album. Such a shame that this could not have been added. My dad was an aussie pilot. his son misses him!!

[ken12345616]

@nelso507121 Mike's on tour soon (October and November)...check out his website for dates. Hope this helps

[nelso507121]

Mike's just so Amazing! I have the album (vinyl). Seen him twice live. Can somebody please convince him that we need him on tour!! Everything that he has released on

vinyl/CD is just soooo good. The RAF band is releasing a new album. Such a shame that this could not have been added. My dad was an aussie pilot. his son misses him!!

[scottishemobird]

such a beautiful song i am crying still

[5872steve]

I have 1 of the original LPs. In fact "the bombers moon LP. Even attemped a vid, going 2 try a accrington pals vid just so i can post the song.

[pudmeister69]

I've always liked this song, used to love seeing Mike live, the slide shows were al;ways good, and I've nothing but admiration for these guys.

[sheelz321]

I've loved this song for years and it still reduces me to tears. It's applicable to any era, nationality and arena of war.

[ConstanceMarkiewicz]

Three tours in Northern Ireland, not the same! It was an invasion!

Just concentrate on the photos of real heroes, kids who flew by night from places like Leconfield who won't ever go home.

[maegus1]

Great stuff!

[yarmouthwolf]

this comes from a german lady excellent song i have tears in my eyes

[christinalouiseholt]

Mike Harding was born in Crumpsall, Manchester in 1944, into a working-class Irish-Catholic family.

His father was killed returning from a bombing mission just 4 weeks before Mike was born. This had a profound effect on his childhood and later life, and provided the inspiration for his haunting song, Bombers Moon. Much of the inspiration for his writing comes from his early years growing up in post-war Manchester.

[tomhamilton8]

nice song

[thebat1964]

a very funny man BUT what a great and excellent song - had the LP with this song on aswell as the accrington pals

[lerxt42]

beautiful and sad.

[LordUhtred1]

Beautiful and thought provoking. I have just finished reviewing a book called The Haunted Trousers about a child killed by bombing - puts it all into a different context after viewing this clip.

[irishmanufan]

mike harding wrote this song about his father who died in world war 2 when the plaine he was flying was shot down right ?

[ncm1965]

This is so

[MungoShuntbox]

@ncm1965 and IrishManU fan

according to the book Tail End Charlies, Mike's dad was shot down and killed while he was still unborn.

[yorkie6687]

Just one word SUPERB!!!!!!!!!!!

Try also listening to mike singing

Jimmy Spoons, another heartbreaker!

[tpmsnw]

Mike is the best comedian I have ever seen live, add to this his talent as a songwriter plus his excellent broadcasting on radio, he is a hero to me and bombers moon always brings a tear to my eye. We shall never forget! Simon.

[stashyjon]

a powerfully moving song......

[mingmong75]

wonderful song, written and sung perfect a brilliant tribute to all those that died.

[remeclerk]

I dint do anything in my nine yrs, Got a GSM from NI, not a hero like these guys are/were, god bless them and also our troops who are serving now...Steve Ex CPL REME

[leenyburghers]

Yes you did remeclerk YOU WERE THERE. That is important. Im glad that wherever it was you had to go you came home safe.

Greetings from Canada

Leeny

[remeclerk]

Tks Leeny ( im now in the USA BTW!), that was a long time ago..God bless you ....Steve

[yorkie6687]

Respect, mate, but don't sell yourself short, i did 3 tours of N.I. everybit as dangerous as any conflict!

[ncm1965]

Without seeking to diminish the risk that was taken by those undertaking tours of NI (or indeed the current conflicts), the loss rate suffered by Bomber command crews were terrible: 55,573 killed out of a total of 125,000 aircrew (a 44.4% death rate), a further 8,403 were wounded in action and 9,838 became prisoners of war.

[yorkie6687]

Must be geting xst swords ncm, you are spot on in what you say, I just didn't want

you to denegrate youself with your service,

i lost 11 mates on one tour, in what was OUR war, it dosn't diminish the hurt just because we didn't lose as many as the war. Respect for your service mate!

[ncm1965]

Yorkie - I've never served but I do hold all of the services in the utmost regard, if not the politicians. The latest stuff on Iraq and forces funding sickens me.

[EyeHawk777]

@yorkie6687

respect for you, your comrades, and the fallen.

when/when did you serve?

Great respects to you

[yorkie6687]

@EyeHawk777 I did my first tour in South Armargh,

then Belfast, in the 70s!

[remeclerk]

@yorkie6687 Tks Mate!!!!

[OrchardFairy]

@remeclerk

You did your bit.  Never sell yourself short.

Respect your own service as well as theirs. You are a hero.

[10hab]

god bless all those who served. please remember all gave some but some gave all.

[fishini]

Not heard this for many a year, always moves me and breaks my heart, all the young men that gave their lives in that awful war. We must never forget

[Boingy72]

very good

[vespasian1966]

i will never tire of this song. mike brings it home to the heart. thanks for posting

[flanderer]

I had heard some of Mike Harding being serious before, but never heard this song until now. Very emotive. Thanks for sharing this.

[cakeyspig]

Lest we forget.

[mcm4259]

J'ai entendu cette musique dans un documentaire sue la Guerre. J'ai pleuré d'emotion et MERCI a tous, YOUtube inclus, puisque je cherchais a acheter l'album. Maintenent je sais ou l'acheter. Merci a celui qui a mis cette video en ligne.

[yorkshireblue10]

beutifull song,beutifull planes.brave men

[dfarmbrough]

I heard this but once in about 1984 when it was on the telly, and some lines stuck in my head for 25 years.... Great songwriting.

[thermaz2]

I remember this well from years ago. Mike Harding is a much underrated musician in my book, well worth listening to.

I might have heard it on Alan Beswick too - ahh, memories! :)

Also worth a look is lancaster-lm658 co uk for the story of one Lancaster & the fate of her crew.

[ncm1965]

Hey - I'd forgotten Alan Beswick - I remember listening to his late night phone in on Red Rose Radio - great guy!

[jimbo620ti]

Mike harding was and is an excellent comdien, but these serious heartfelt albums he produced are pure brilliance. In this songs case, every word was true then much as it is today, maybe tony and gordan should invest in a couple of his albums.

[pting17]

my dad always played this back we had tapes in the car, loved it then, even more amazing now.

i say get Gordon Brown to listen to it, see if he is really all for the war...

"old men sending young men out to die, young men dying for a politicians lie. for godsake, no more bomber's moon"

[yorkie6687]

Spot on there mukka!

[wn3]

I remember hearing this song when Allan Beswick played it on Red Rose Radio, back in the late 80's. I was only a kid then, but I still remember how haunted I was by it.

As a 35 year old adult - it still has the same effect. An amazing piece of music. MUCH under-rated.

[buttership]

extraordinarily brilliant.

[Boingy72]

Mike Harding was a great comedy act, but this and Accrington Pals shows his heart.

[mijbil9]

Wow..i remember this song from about twenty years ago when Mike Harding had his own show on Tv...actually it's probably longer than twenty years ago now...but it's stayed with me ever since..mainly because i am from 'Bomber County' as they call it..a terrible claim to fame for a county...just wanted to say thanx for uploading this and what a powerful video too...thanx!!!...

[kramzoo]

Cannon fodder. Just like the Boar war, First WW, Second WW. Mike summed it up when he asked how many officers have died in the various conflicts ? Brave young British men and women losing their lives thanks to old men and women in Westminister. This must stop now.

[spiritualcat]

Oh and I meant to say that this is a really wonderful video as well.

[spiritualcat]

Beautiful song but timeless and sad commentary about humanity and our capacity for war. Makes me wonder what we have learned as of 2009. The war in Iraq and Afghanistan are a sad statement of our lack of evolution. I do feel for the men who go to war. It is the leaders of our countries who should be ashamed but then politicians and the generals die in bed while the young boys die. What a waste of life and resources. There are so many better things we could put energy into other than genocide.

[arfurchance10]

I'm proud to say my Dad was one of those brave men....R.I.P Dad x Ray

[FallschirmjagerUK]

support the campaign to get these brave young men a medal

[ncm1965]

If you work upon the basis that medals are for bravery it is the gravest injustice that the crew of bomber command have not been awarded a campaign medal. I fear that now looking back at the consequences of the orders that they carried out no politician would enter this domain. I dare them to do so though.

[wolof2]

I agree,,,funny isnt it ? crews that refused to fly on moral grounds were labelled cowrads and treated as traitors,,,yet after the war they were all villified as evil!!! typical politicians ,,,order people to do your evil then deny and redistribute blame ...Bomber Harris and his "old contemptables" should have a campaign medal at the very least ,,,even posthumously as many would be after all these years . Bravery should be honoured

[wolof2]

@ncm1965 I am afraid you are right . The Politicians that refuse to "face the consequences of 70 or so years ago" because it would be politically incorrect will never have to worry about the results of their wiilingness to contanimate the middle east with depleted uranium that will eventually kill untold numbers of innocents slowly. Hypocrisy is a requisite for being a politician it seems. Wish at least a few would question things publicly tho but too busy counting their expenses ;)

[themighty6]

wow, such a great song, with powerful lyrics, lets hope the leaders of each country will take 5 or 6 minutes to listen to this, instead of 5 minutes to send 1000's and 1000s to death.

RIP to all that have fallen

[wolof2]

"Old men sending young men out to die" still the same in 2009 ,,,Lions led by donkeys ....will it ever change ?

[themighty6]

i dont think it will change, well not anytime soon , so sad

[lerxt42]

@wolof2 well said

[kramzoo]

Let's hope for no more wars in Europe or anywhere in the world. Sadly .... because of crazed and deranged dictators, there always will be.

[behblc]

An excellent song.

[remeclerk]

I love Mikes show on weds (folk music) I listen to it here in St Louis (BBC Radio 2), I had all his albums (comedy), I was born in Lancashire (bred in Stretford!), Mike always makes me wish the places in Lancs I never went, like the hills, I too cant help but think about this song and xmas eve 1914 (im ex british army)..tks Mike for this!

[granadagreg]

This is brilliant.

[ncm1965]

Thanks

[PGreasychip]

I too had the pleasure of seeing Mike on 3 or 4 occaisions in the early eighties and agree totally with bartboyz comments.A truly moving song. perhaps todays politicians should listen.

[boots1234521]

HARDING NAMASTE!! PAL

[bartboyz]

Man you really hit it home by matching mike-s haunting lyrics with a compassionate choice of images. I-ve seen mike 4 times live and its stunning how he can give you stomach ache for an hour with his hukourous tales of life, then suddenly drop this or "Accrington pals" into his act and shock the audience into silence.He never mentioned in his live show that his Dad was one of the unreturning heroes.

Brad

[coolanti8]

Yeah never ceases to amaze me that my mother who was German ......and my father was English and in the RAF..... dropping bombs during world war 2 on Hanover where my mother lived .......after all that they fell in love and married eh

[derangedinsanity24]

I cant listen to this and Christmas 1914 with out crying. Mike harding nows how to move people with comady and with truth and as he says in this we where and still are fighting because of politicians lies

[Boingy72]

he is the best

[vanndykes]

excellent keep em coming....does any one have the story of noah and his quest to buy cheaper timber...

[heepmag]

Thanks so very much for this, brings tears to my eyes. Truly moving.Bless em all.

[PrettyKlaire]

What can I say,  excellent.

(Remember their names and they will live on)

[vappula92]

you spoke with wisdom there thank you for the jump start

[Scoggy999]

Brave, brave, men. All doing a horrible job, facing a horrible death to bring a horrible death to others. Because they faced their fears, I can sit here and type this freely.

Thank-you from the bottom of my heart. RIP those who didn't return. Upmost respect to you all.

[kvwriter2]

Very moving! Almost haunting. Love it! Thank you for sending this my way! Wow!

Kel

[ncm1965]

Thank you!

[thatcher1976]

Brilliant.....We all loved it.

Thanks for your support.

[walkeran]

Moving and true. I've loved this guy since i first heard his tapes as a child and this, along with Christmas 1914, is as good as it gets.

[barragergus]

what can you say......

[keeperofthecheese]

"Christmas 1914" is also an excellent song by Mike

[itsmeat94]

Does anyone have Mike Harding's Accrington Pals?

[KirstyandHeather]

moves me to tears every time! I grew up with this song, but still married a forces lad! Its a real fear for all of us. Thanks for adding it and putting the seed of doubt into peoples heads. But please, even if you dont support the government - support the lads and lasses of our British Forces. xxxxxxxxxx

[bs5750]

This freezes my blood. So powerfull. I can only imageine the hidden fear of those boys, because that's what most of them were.

Bravery for me is to continue, despite being scared shitless.

[behblc]

A long time since I heard this song , thank you for adding it.