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

8 comments:

  1. Odd lyrics, yet intriguing. And the pictures are beautiful!!
    <3

    ~Ivie
    iviewrites.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Ivie!! It's an old folk song but I really think its beautiful <3 <3

      -Lia

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  2. I love Celtic Thunder, I had no idea they covered this song!

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    Replies
    1. GASP Another Celtic Thunder fan!!! I had no idea either until Spotify started to play it and I was like, "YAS"

      -Lia

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  3. Celtic Thunder covered this song???? Odd, never heard their version of it. I've heard the High Kings version, so I knew the song already but...

    Catherine

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  4. Well thanks Lia,

    Just what I needed. To cry dramatically over everything because you posted something about dead soldiers. You know that's my weak spot. Give me a little warning next time

    *goes and listens to song*

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