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Bright Battalions

from The Common Land by Kevin Adams

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    Thirteen of my own songs: seven written for various Living Archive theatre and radio productions, three for the Maids Moreton's Millennium Pageant, and three strays which wandered in.
    Released in 2002.

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about

The voice is Hawtin Mundy, of New Bradwell. His experiences of the First World War formed the basis for the play 'Days of Pride' from which the song comes.

lyrics

Bright Battalions
Words & music: Kevin Adams

So far away, those days of light
When the boys were all marched off to fight
Lines of volunteers in bright battalions
Marching into gathering night.
Heads held high and full of pride
We were assured that God was on our side
Death lay waiting for the bright battalions
Death was not to be denied..

They shall not grow old
As we that are left grow old
They shall not grow old.

Khaki drill and field grey
See them spread before the guns’ array
Lines on line of targets, doomed battalions
Fritz and Tommy had to pay.
There's a look I recognise
When I see it in a soldier's eyes
You were there among the doomed battalions
You saw death with no disguise....

Now it's done and I survive
Why should I be spared and left alive
I am not numbered with the bright battalions
My call up failed to arrive
The paper poppies tumble down
A single bugle lets the last post sound
Age shall not weary the bright battalions
In memory only they are found ...

credits

from The Common Land, released June 23, 2002
Words & music: Kevin Adams

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Kevin Adams Milton Keynes, UK

Blending traditional folk music with a love of other genres- classical, jazz, folk-rock, prog-rock, pop… music, music, music…

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