Gary Miller 'Bold as Brass' Dickens Room, Library, Haren 01.10.10

Gary Miller performing 'Bold as Brass' in the Dickens Room at Haren Library on Friday 1st October 2010 during a tour with his sometime collaborator, poet and friend Keith Armstrong.

A studio version of this song appears on Gary's 2010 CD 'Reflections on War' (Whippet Records WPTCD22).
The song was inspired by writings by and conversations with Susan Elizabeth Elliot and are 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

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