Vimy Ridge (V)

Sung by Lizzie Hoyt - recorded on her Home album 2005

Early in the morning, the cold snow falling down, Easter of 1917. My love climbed out from the tunnels underground and stepped to no-man’s land in between.

His last night was spent in the ground of the French land; with thousands of men he did wait. He laid down his head upon the barrel of his gun, a dark and cruel symbol of his fate.

Oh, my love can’t touch you now or calm the fear that’s building deep within. Oh, the terror you must have felt, waiting below the hill at Vimy Ridge.

An overpowering thunder from the creeping barrage left no room for thoughts within their minds. Forty pounds loaded down, the horror lingered on imprinted in their memories for all time.

Oh, my love can’t touch you now or calm the fear you’re feeling deep within. Oh, the terror you must have felt, fighting on the hill at Vimy Ridge

A hard thump on his chest stopped time in its tracks; his lucky streak had come and now had passed. Ahead lay the fury, behind was a different scene: a quiet kingdom of death and casualties.

He lay waiting for the stretcher bearer to come. The cold wind froze the clothes to his body. Disbelief came over him “This couldn’t really be for I am now a young man still with dreams!”

Oh, my love can’t touch you now or calm the fear you’re feeling deep within. Oh, the terror you must have felt, dying on the hill at Vimy Ridge.

Early in the morning, the cold snow falling down, Easter of 1917. My love climbed out from the tunnels underground and stepped to no-man’s land in between.

Men of Mourne (V)

 

Brunswick Accordian Band from Annalong Co Down. Playing a piece especially composed for the bands pilgrimage to the battlefields of the Somme. They were following the journies made 100 years before by many young men from their village and surroundings, particularly those who did not return. 

Many of the bands members were able to visit the last resting places of their relatives and pay their respects to them. The tune is entitled appropriately enough "Men of Mourne". It was composed especially for the band just for this occasion at the Menin Gate the memorial to the fallen who were never found. Captain Alex Knox a Scot wrote the music. 

He was for many years a director of music at Kneller Hall. Capt Knox said "When planning the "Men of Mourne", I wanted to represent the Granite Men with a strong melody but have a lilting style to capture the fishing tradition of the village."  

In just four days following the return of the band from Flanders, the clip was visited 16,000 times . 

Enjoy!

On tha Road to Passchendaele (V)

© Alan G Brydon/Major Gavin Stoddart MBE BEM
 
There’s a light that shines in Flanders
As a beacon for the brave
From the distant past it wanders
To recall the lives they gave
And it tells each generation
To be wise and never fail
To remember those who've fallen
On the road to Passchendaele

Chorus (x2)
On the road to Passchendaele
On the road to Passchendaele
Where the brave will live forever
On the road to Passchendaele

Come wi me and I will show you
Why all wars should ever cease
Take a walk among the gravestones
And your tears will cry for peace
For their spirits walk in Flanders
You can hear the grieving wail
For the brave who laid their lives down
On the road to Passchendaele

Chorus (x2)
On the road to Passchendaele
On the road to Passchendaele
Where the brave will live forever
On the road to Passchendaele

Copyright Scocha Recordings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Light on the Path, a Lamp about our Way (V)

(TUNE = HIGHLAND CATHEDRAL)

1. Light on the path, a lamp about our way,
wisdom to lead us through the longest day,
guiding our steps as once the Saviour trod:
here in the Scriptures is the Word of God.

2. Here may we find what Jesus did and said,
see Him in glory, risen from the dead;
claim for ourselves His cross and empty grave
sharing his life with those He came to save.

3. Truth for the seeker as the seed is sown,
bread for the hungry, strength beyond our own;
sword of the Spirit, bidding sin depart:
here is the word of life to warm our heart.

4. Here are the treasures of the realms above,
promise of mercy, never-failing love.
life more abundant by the Spirit given
Christ our companion on the road to heaven.