Gary Miller 'Bold as Brass' Official Promotional Video

The official promotional music video (directed by Ethan Race www.ethanrace.com) for Gary Miller 'Bold as Brass' from the album 'Reflections on War', Whippet Records WPTCD22 2010 (produced by Iain Petrie www.myspace.com/iainpetriemusic).

The song was inspired by writings by, and conversations with, Susan Elizabeth Elliot and is based on the true story of her Grandfather Archibald Frederick Harold Mill (1890-1985), who played cornet in a military band in Battersea prior to the outbreak of the First World War. When war was declared, he signed on at Woolwich Barracks and was sent to France as a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery. He fought at Ypres and suffered two attacks of mustard gas.


BOLD AS BRASS

Sat in your uniform looking real class
Striking a pose as bold as brass
You played a mean cornet in a military band
The finest sound in all of the land

The girls all adored you; it was always a lark
When the band came to play in Battersea Park
Polished and smart, a mighty fine gang
All for one, one for all, when the instruments sang

So blow on your cornet, blow it loud and proud
When the band would strike up, what a heavenly sound

An old photograph in sepia tones
Shows all of the boys in impeccable rows
Trombones and euphoniums, marching snares and bass drum
Cornets and tuba and a shield proudly won

So blow on your cornet, blow it loud and proud
When the band would strike up, what a heavenly sound

As the call went out, "there's a war to be won"
Rifles and bayonets replaced cornets and drums
Down on the platform there was not a dry eye
As they wished you luck as they waved you goodbye

An artillery officer astride a fine mount
Twice gassed 'midst the carnage, still not out for the count
But no longer to blow so bold on your brass
With your lungs constricted by the harsh mustard gas

So blow on your cornet, blow it loud and proud
When the band would strike up, what a heavenly sound
And though sweet music fades, its memory flows
Are you playing in Heaven now God only knows?
As the angels sing when your cornet blows
I'll be blowing your trumpet wherever I go

(Gary Miller)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• gary miller
• bold as brass
• reflections on war
• whippet records
• whisky priests
• folk
• folk-rock
• acoustic
• iain petrie
• ethan race
• folksong
• singer-songwriter
• singer/songwriter
• folksinger
• brass
• war
• antiwarsong
• english folk
• british folk
• britfolk
• celtic folk
• folk-punk
• indie-folk

[allanmildread]

Why isn't this amazing songwriter not more well known and celebrated ? He is up there with Ray Davies, Cole Porter, John Lennon, Billy Bragg and all the other great English songwriters. I have followed his career and I know he has struggled against severe odds. It's time he was acknowledged! He is a f***ing genius! He may not be the world's greatest singer technically (so what?) but he has a unique passion and honesty and writes from a broad canvas. Why don't other artists cover his songs?

[WhippetRecords]

@allanmildread Cole Porter was actually American but thanks anyway!

[tigerjackster]

wonderful video!

[hansiklopek]

Great song, great clip! How I would love to see Gary with the Whisky Priests in Germany again...

[youthgoes]

QUite simply a beautiful song. Cheers on the video Gary. The visuals make it an even more compelling song and make one think twice about the horrors of war.

[1johnnyclash]

Worth the wait - Welcome from the Wilderness