The Green Fields of France

 Well how do you do, young Willie 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 19

When you joined the great fallin' in 1916

I hope you died quick and I hope you died clean

 Willie McBride, was it slow and obscene?

Did they beat the drum slowly?

Did they play the fife lowly?

Did they sound the death march as they lowered you down?

Did the band play the post and chorus?

Did the pipes play the flowers of the forest?

Did you leave a wife or a sweetheart behind?

In some faithful heart is your memory in shrine?

And though you died back in 1916

In that faithful heart you're forever 19

Or are you a stranger without even a name?

Enclosed  forever behind a glass pane

In an old photograph, torn and battered and stained

And faded to yellow in a brown yellow frame

Now Willie McBride, I can't help wondering why

Do those who lie here know why they died?

Did they really believe when they answered the cause?

Did they really believe that this war would end wars?

But the sorrow, the sufferin', the glory, the pain

The killing and dying were all done in vain

But, Willie McBride, it all happened again, and again

and again, and again, and again

Did the pipes play the flowers of the forest?

So, obviously, this isn't my song. I found this cover done by my favorite band, Celtic Thunder. I had no idea they did this song and I have listened to nothing else!!!!

-Lia