Today marks the 97th anniversary of the Armistice which ended the First World War. It's said that somewhere in the vicinity of 17 million people lost their lives and another 20 million were injured. The trench fighting in France was horrendous. If you'll allow me my friends, I'd like to post a clip of Liam Clancy paying tribute to the British, French, the ANZACS and Turks who fought at Gallipoli. Forgive the Australian feel, and please feel free to contribute.
A horrible war, mostly caused by the arrogance and selfishness of European royalty and aristocracy. They cared not a damn for the lives of ordinary citizens. When I read yet again the events that preceded this conflict, it just beggars belief. The lives of millions of good men and women were lost, and for what?
'Disposable Heroes' Bodies fill the fields I see, hungry heroes end No one to play soldier now, no one to pretend Running blind through killing fields, bred to kill them all Victim of what said should be A servant 'til I fall Soldier boy, made of clay Now an empty shell Twenty-one, only son But he served us well Bred to kill, not to care Do just as we say Finished here Greetings, Death He’s yours to take away Back to the front You will do what I say, when I say Back to the front You will die when I say, you must die Back to the front You coward You servant You blind man Barking of machinegun fire does nothing to me now Sounding of the clock that ticks, get used to it somehow More a man, more stripes you bare, glory-seeker trends Bodies fill the fields I see The slaughter never ends Soldier boy, made of clay Now an empty shell Twenty-one, only son But he served us well Bred to kill, not to care Do just as we say Finished here Greetings, Death He’s yours to take away Back to the front You will do what I say, when I say Back to the front You will die when I say, you must die Back to the front You coward You servant You blind man Why, am I dying? Kill, have no fear Lie, live off lying Hell, hell is here I was born for dying Life planned out before my birth, nothing could I say Had no chance to see myself, molded day by day Looking back I realize, nothing have I done Left to die with only friend Alone I clench my gun Soldier boy, made of clay Now an empty shell Twenty-one, only son But he served us well Bred to kill, not to care Do just as we say Finished here Greetings, Death He’s yours to take away Back to the front You will do what I say, when I say Back to the front You will die when I say, you must die Back to the front You coward You servant You blind man Back to the front These are the lyrics to a song that Metallica did way back in 1986 which to me sums up what the wars must have been like for these poor young men. Just 'Disposable Heroes' doing the work of the men with stripes on thier shoulders... What a sad and tragic loss it was to the world to send these lads to certain death day after day after day...
I have that song by the Pogues, Cyc. I was gob-smacked on first hearing it. Brilliant. I haven't heard the Metallica song, Red, but the lyrics are very emotive on this day. Here is my own contribution ... the Dropkick Murphys with Green Fields of France. Have a listen
