5.  The Green Fields of France:

Words & Music by Eric Bogle http://www.windbourne.com/ebogle/

Bill Masino – Lead vocal

Kathleen Mullaly Masino - Harmony vocals

Colin O'Brian - Acoustic Guitar

 

Dedicated to John and the soldiers of the 

147 Special Forces Security Detachment

The guitar & lead vocal for this song was recorded in one take. It was so spirited and powerful that first time. It gives the listener a good feel for hear the passion in Bill’s dynamics live performances.

Lyrics:

1) Well, how do you do young Willie McBride?

     Do you mind if I sit hear down by your graveside,

     And rest for a while ‘neath the warm summer sun.

     I’ve been working all day and I’m nearly done.

     I can 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,

     Oh Willie McBride, was it slow and obscene?

 

Chorus: 

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 bands play the last post and chorus?

Did the pipes play the flowers of the forest?

 

2.)  And did you leave a wife or sweetheart behind

     In some faithful heart is your memory enshrined,

     Although you died back in nineteen sixteen

     In some faithful heart are you forever nineteen?

     Or are you a stranger without even a name

     Enclosed now forever behind a glass frame

     In an old photograph torn, battered and stained

     And faded to yellow in a brown leather frame.

     Chorus:

3.)   Now see how the sun shines o’er the green field of France

     There’s a warm summer breeze makes the red poppies dance,

     And see how the sun shines from under the clouds

     There’s no gas or barbed wire, there’s no guns firing now.

     But here in this graveyard it’s still no-man’s land

     The countless white crosses in mute witness stand

     To man’s blind difference to his fellow man

     To a whole generation who were butchered and damned.

     Chorus:

4.)  Now young Willie McBride, I can’t help wonder why

     Do all those who lie here know why did they die.

     And did they believe when they answered the call

     Did they really believe that this war would end wars.

     Well the sorrow, the suffering, the glory the pain,

     The killing, the dying they were all done in vain

     For young Willie McBride it all happened again

     And again and again and again and again.

Chorus: