2 MINUTE'S SILENCEThis collection of songs began as poems, written 100 years ago by my grandfather from his experiences as a soldier in the First World War. I decided, in remembrance of him and the war on this 100-year anniversary, to add music to these poems and turn them into songs.
I never knew my grandfather, and the only things left of him are these poems and two photographs - this is my way of spanning those 100 years. TRACKS: - (Lyrics Below)
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*1 Kaiser Bill.....................................................................................................................
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*2 The Stoker Down Below.................................................................................................
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*3 Bobs - A tribute to Lord Roberts.....................................................................................
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*4 The Slacker..................................................................................................................
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*5 Machine Gun Hill...........................................................................................................
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*6 Carry On.......................................................................................................................
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*7 Is It He?........................................................................................................................
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*8 I've Seen The Sun..........................................................................................................
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*9 The Little Paper Hat.......................................................................................................
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*10 Two Minute's Silence....................................................................................................
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LYRICS
1) KAISER BILL
When the war is finished – Kaiser Bill
And your possessions have diminished – Kaiser Bill
And you find you’ve not a friend
In the world from end to end
A little time in thought you’ll spend – Kaiser Bill.
When you rest your head at night – Kaiser Bill
And you wake in awful fright – Kaiser Bill
When you see those spectres who
Will shriek and grin at you
They will rend your heart in two – Kaiser Bill.
Then perhaps your thoughts will turn – Kaiser Bill
And in your memory burn – Kaiser Bill
To the little children slain
In the old town of Lourain/Lorraine
And you’ll hear their screams of pain – Kaiser Bill
You’ll find torture in your dreams –
When you think of dear old Rhiems –
For like Attilla and his Huns
You slaughtered priests and slaughtered nuns
And on God you turned your guns –
So your greed has come to nought – Kaiser Bill
Only horror has it brought – Kaiser Bill
And a lesson you will learn
‘pon the day it comes your turn
For in hell your soul will burn – Kaiser Bill
But the day is close at hand – Kaiser Bill
Before that God you’ll have to stand – Kaiser Bill
And when he hears your crimes recalled
Even he will be appalled
At the brutality in your heart installed – Kaiser Bill
2) THE STOKER DOWN BELOW
You hear of Tommy Atkins Those gallant sons o’ ‘mass’
You hear about our sailor-boys Those brave and jolly lars
You read about our airmen And their exploits ‘oer the foe
But there’s one you never hear about The stoker down below
When the battle’s at it’s height And shells are falling fast
He never knows the moment which Is going to prove his last
He knows his work and does it well He makes that big ship go
And his breast is filled with pride He’s the stoker down below.
He knows ‘pon him depends the fate Of one of Britain’s prides
He gets no word from those above Of how the battle tides
He hears the guns’ incessant roar He feels the battle grow
And he knows that much now lays with him The stoker down below
He never sees a shot go home He never feels the thrill
Of seeing a beaten battered foe Bend to superior skill.
He sees not an enemy flag come down Yet does he grumble – no.
For still there’s work for him to do The stoker down below.
And when the battle’s din has ceased And the men behind the guns
Have placed another victory To Britain’s dauntless sons
And others have their honours gained Do the British public know
That recognition goes to all – But the stoker down below.
So when you say your prayers tonight And said one for the men who fight
And shed their blood for the cause of right Just say a little prayer or so
For the stoker down below.
3) BOBS ~ A TRIBUTE TO LORD ROBERTS
He died amidst the din of thundering guns
A soldier’s privilege
Twas there amidst the lines of Britain’s sons
He crossed the brige.
He heard from the land where his soul had fled
His comrades’ sobs
When they heard of the death whilst they fought and bled
Of dear old ‘Bobs’
They murmured a prayer to the judge above
With many a sigh
And they thought of that brave little soldier’s love
With a tear-dimmed eye
They each of them know they had lost a friend
And it strengthened the bond
For they know that again they would meet in the end
In a land beyond
May his soul rest in peace and happiness
In the days to be
May the love we bear him never grow less
In sincerity
And the men in the trench who gave way to sobs
Can be forgiven
For they knew a place was reserved for Bobs
For his soul in heaven.
4) THE SLACKER
Are you thinking of the lads out in the trenches?
Are you thinking what it means to you?
Are you going to let them go on fighting
When know that there’s a bit that you can do?
Are you going to let them fight until it’s over?
Do you think just for a moment that they can?
Don’t let them feel ashamed of you
Let me tell you what do do
Go and join the army – be a man!
It’s not because you fear a German bullet
That makes you keep on hesitating to enlist
Because that British blood would not allow you
To be dominated by that iron fist.
You’ve got a sort of false impression you’re not needed
On all such silly notions put a ban
If you know that they will take you
Go – my lad before they make you
Go and do your duty – (be/like) a man.
5) MACHINE GUN HILL
Twas the 13th yof September That we took machine gun hill
And the lads of the Liverpool Regiment Looked forward to the ‘mill.’
Tho’ we’d not been lying idle We’d never had a scrap
And we were all determined To wipe the Boshes off the map.
The ‘kings’ had had a knock Sir And we’re feeling pretty sore
For they’d got us in a gully And we longed to pay the score
For mates and mates were parted Mates we’d known for years
Twas enough to rend your heart sir Twas a sight to bring the tears.
Yet not a man there faltered When evening turned to night
And each man grasped his rifle All eager for the fight.
We knew twas neck or nothing For they’d beaten back the French
But we knew now more than ever We would take that German trench.
So up we went in silence Our hearts were beating fast
For some of us we knew Sir That night would be the last
We thought of wives and mothers Of sweethearts left behind
But thoughts they only spurred us We didn’t seem to mind.
The word then came to go sir Up and at ‘em lads
We’ll show the German bullies We’ll teach the bulger cads
That British pluck and grit sir Are just the same today
As when our lads with Nelson Won – at Trafalgar Bay.
So we took the trench that night sir But we paid a heavy toll
For many a gallant lad was missed At the calling of the ‘roll’
But we did what we were told sir And the honour that it brings
Adds yet another laurel To the gallant ‘14th Kings’
Twas the 13th of September...........
6) CARRY ON
When the rain is coming down In a steady drenching shower
An’ you’re standing with yer pack on For over a bloomin’ ‘our
Yer back is achin’ a’fore yer start An’ nothin’ seems ‘no bon’
You’re goin’ up the line tonight So smile and carry on.
Yer start – an’ soon the roads are like Rivulets o’ mud
Yer slips and slurs over swamping fields’ An’ wade through steams in flood
No place to put yer head tonight What chance you ‘ad ‘as gone
But put your teeth together lads Yer’ve got ter carry on/
Very soon yer’ll see again Doiran and the ‘ills
But this time there’s no fallin’ back For a thousand Kaiser Bills
For your goin’ through to Sophia Our relivin’ days are gone
So remember last December lads An’ say yer’ll carry on
The day is not far from us now When Foxy Ferdinand
And big and little Willie Will wonder ‘and in ‘and
On the shores of St. Helena Where better men have gone
So buck up 14th (kings/liverpools my lads) And stick it – carry on.
Yer wouldn’t like yer friends at home To think that you would shirk
You’ve done yer little bit till now You’ve done some dirty work
Yer’ve lived on slabs and’ bully Not much to fight upon
But what’s the use of grousin’ The ‘kings’ can carry on.
Perseverance , dauntless pluck Victory always brings
We’ll pull through with the best of luck The good old 14th Kings
Let every nation in the world The sun ‘ere shines upon
Point and say in some future days There’s the Kings that carried on.
7) IS IT HE?
(A mother’s thoughts at the unknown grave)
Is it he, whose ‘good-night mummy’ thrilled me
That fair-haired boy who stood beside my knee
Whose good -night on my lips still lingers
Oh! God I wonder is it he.
Is it he whose smile was like the sunshine
Whose arms around my neck so tenderly
Clinging – mummy dear I love you
I wonder Oh I wonder is it he
Good-night mummy. Good-night son
Then with angels into dreamland he would flee
Those happy nights are haunting my memory still
And I wonder is it he.
8) I’VE SEEN THE SUN
I’ve seen the sun as it rose in the east
And set amidst gold in the west
I’ve watched the birds making love in the trees..
Or busily building their nest...
I have seen the flowers on a summer morn …
Sparkling with silver dew
But far more welcome than all of these
Are a few loving lines from you.
9) THE LITTLE PAPER HAT
I can picture my boy with a paper hat Perched on a curly head
I can hear his childish shouts of joy As to victory his men he led
A wooden sword hung from his side As on Dobbin his steed he sat
He looked every inch a General In his little paper hat
One day he'd be Napoleon conquering the Alpine chairs
Or again he was fighting Indians Or tracking the grizzly bears
Or stalking a ferocious tiger I felt sorry for our poor cat
How can one tell what wonderful thoughts Were beneath that paper hat
Then came a day when that paper hat Was changed for one of steel
The wooden sword was replaced By one so much more real
And they sent him away on a real live horse
A smile on his face – in my heart a pain
I little thought when we kissed goodbye I'd never see my boy again
But he left me with sweet memories As at dusk I dream in my chair
I hear again the childish voice I fancy I stroke his hair
I caress his little wooden sword And old dobbin gets a pat
And I press my lips with a silent prayer To that little paper hat.
10) Two Minute's Silence
And yet you say it does no good to think
Old wounds re-open and memories cause pain
It seems to make their sacrifices shrink
It seems as though they gave their lives in vain
In other lands, in far off foreign climes
England's acres can be seen today
To remind us that still we owe a debt
A debt that we can never hope to pay
Two minutes – it is not much to ask
A silent prayer seems but a small reward
Yet refuse it not, but do this simple task
It brings a soul a little nearer God