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.

 

"The Lurgan Volunteer"

This poem was composed by J. McAlinden with the help of fusiliers Creaney, Brady, Toland and ONeill:

We are the local heroes
Who come from Lurgan Town;
We don't forget our comrades
Who come from Portadown.
And God bless our gallant heroes,
That they may never fail,
And when the letters they arrive
They shout, 'Here's the Lurgan Mail'.

Now here's to Sir Edward Carson,
And likewise John Redmond too,
Sure they have joined hand in hand
To make the Germans rue;
Sure we are the 1st Battalion
Of the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Joined hand in hand to crush the foe
With the Ulster Volunteers.

And when we get to the German trenches
You should hear the Gentians shout;
"My goodness there's the Irishmen,
Now you sentries keep a sharp look out;"
And when we mount the parapet
The German shows fair heels.
 "My goodness straf the Irishmen,
And their fondness for cold steel."

Here's to our hero soldiers,
I tell you one and all
The Lurgan boys turned out in hundreds
When they heard the bugle call;
The bugle sounds the rally,
Our bayonets we fix.
And Hugh Creaney from Arthur Street,
He was ever at his tricks

Also James McAlinden who made the Boches run,
And Jemmy Smyth, the devil,
Sure he's always up to fun;
And when Mac dashes forward
I may tell you, it is true
Sure he is out run by Neil, Brady and Toland,
Who comes from Lurgan too.

And here's to all the Lurgan boys sure
It's them we like to see,
And when we meet in Lurgan town
May we have a jolly spree;
And when we walk down North Street
Right down to the Distillery Hill
Sure we'll shout God strafe the Kaiser
And his nosy son called Bill.

Now here's to the "Lurgan Mail"
That leads the paper band,
So we think when in the trenches
When we get it from friends in Ireland
And when it comes to us we shout
With might and main
Good Luck to all the Lurgan men from Blough
To the Long Plain.

I'll Trust in Thee (V)

1. Though thunders roll and darkened be the sky,
I'll trust in thee!
Though joys may fade and prospects droop and die,
I'll trust in thee!
No light may shine upon life's rugged way,
Sufficient is thy grace from day to day.

2. I'm not outside thy providential care,
I'll trust in thee!
I'll walk by faith thy chosen cross to bear,
I'll trust in thee!
Thy will and wish I know are for the best,
This gives to me abundant peace and rest.

3. Thy word is sure, thy promise never fails,
I'll trust in thee!
A hiding place thou art when Hell assails,
I'll trust in thee!
I conquer all while hiding 'neath thy wing,
And in the storm sweet songs of triumph sing.

4. I'm pressing on towards my home in Heaven,
I'll trust in thee!
Where crowns of life to faithful ones are given,
I'll trust in thee!
This hope is mine, through Jesus crucified,
And all through grace I shall be glorified.

   John Lawley (1859-1922)
Music: Sandon (A favourite silver band tune) 

The Old Noble Flag

It`s only a small bit of bunting,
It`s only an old coloured rag,
Yet thousands have died for its honour
And shed their best blood for the flag.

It`s charged with the cross of St Andrews,
Which, of old, Scotland`s heroes has led:
It carries the cross of St Patrick,
For which Ireland`s bravest have bled.

Joined with these is the English ensign,
St George`s red cross on the white field,
Round which, from King Richard to Wellington,
Britons conquer or die, but ne`er yield.

We hoist it to show our devotion
To our Queen, to our country and laws
It`s the outward and visible emblem
Of advancement and liberty`s cause.

You may say it`s an old bit of bunting,
You may call it an old coloured rag;
But the freedom has made it majestic,
And time has ennobled our flag.