War Song: No Man's Land - Eric Bogle cover

Another request. This is one of the best songs ever written about the futility and hardships of war. Eric, who left Scotland for Australia over 30 years ago, is now well known throughout the world for his thought-provoking material. This is also known as Green Fields of France and Willie McBride. Here I am trying out a new video in video approach which I think works quite well. Syncing the photos with the words was interesting! I see I have clipped the very last chord from the sound track but....its done now ;o)

No Man's Land
Well, how do you do Private William McBride?
Do you mind if I sit here down by your graveside?
And rest for a while neath the warm summer sun
I've been walking all day, and I'm nearly done
I see by your gravestone, you were only nineteen
When you joined the great fallen in nineteen sixteen
Well I hope you died quick and I hope you died clean
Or Willie McBride, was it slow and obscene?

Did they beat the drums slowly?
Did they play the pipes lowly?
Did the rifles fire oer you as they lowered you down?
And did the band play 'The Last Post' in chorus?
Did the pipes play 'The Flowers Of The Forest'?

And did you leave a wife or a sweetheart behind?
In some loyal heart is your memory enshrined?
And though you died back in nineteen-sixteen
In that faithful heart are you always nineteen?
Or are you a stranger without a name?
Forever enshrined behind some glass pane
In an old photograph, torn and tattered, and stained.
And faded to yellow in a brown leather frame.

Did they beat the drums slowly?
Did they play the pipes lowly?
Did they bugles carry you over as they lowered you down?
And did the band play 'The Last Post' in chorus?
Did the pipes play 'The Flowers Of The Forest'?

Well the sun's shining down on these green fields of France
The warm wind blows gently, and the red poppies dance
The trenches have vanished long under the plow
There's no gas, no barb wire, there's no guns firing now
But here in this graveyard its still no-man's land
The countless white crosses stand mute in the sand
To man's blind indifference to his fellow man
To a whole generation was butchered and damned

Did they beat the drums slowly?
Did they play the pipes lowly?
Did the rifles fire oer you as they lowered you down?
And did the band play 'The Last Post' in chorus?
Did the pipes play 'The Flowers Of The Forest'?

And I can't help but wonder now Willie McBride
Do all those that lie here know why they died?
And did they really believe you when you told them the cause
Did they really believe that this war would end wars?

Well the suffering, and the sorrow, the glory the shame
The killing and dying they were all done in vain
For young Willie McBride it's all happened again,
And again, and again, and again, and again...

Did they beat the drums slowly?
Did they play the pipes lowly?
Did the rifles fire oer you as they lowered you down?
And did the band play 'The Last Post' in chorus?
Did the pipes play 'The Flowers Of The Forest'?

Category:

Music

Tags:

• william McBride
• private

[rangersultra]

Fantastic cover Kev. Shame that the song is not true but still a fantastic song. I've been two the graves of the soldiers they thought it might be but Bogle then admitted that it wasn't a factual song as some of the stuff didn't match up with what Bogle was singing.

Keep up the good work :D

[keltickev27]

@rangersultra

thnx my friend...glad you approve ;o)

[hastie9]

Fantastic cover Kev.Very well done.

[keltickev27]

@hastie9

thnx my friend

slainté

[PapaNoMidokoro]

Beautiful rendition, Kev. Peace to all.

[keltickev27]

@PapaNoMidokoro

thnx as ever my friend....

[mellydodge]

You have a beautiful voice

[keltickev27]

@moominpic

thnx my friend....this is based on Eric's original from a tape I bought 30 years ago, and learnt at that time ;o)

[moominpic]

Great stuff, Kev. One of my personal favourites. Thanks also for not doing the blasted Fureys' version!!

[keltickev27]

@ceanadach

thnx my friend

slainté