Harvey Andrews - Soldier

[rolli25]

The song and "words" are on youtube
I can download a link but it may not be to everbodys taste as to those who know it it is quite an emotive song. thoughts appreciated as to whether I should bring it over

There is a station in a city.........

PS Ken Hewer can I have my 45rpm back and Ill swop you shirt I borrowed in 1982

[ap1]

I met Harvey Andrews about 7 years ago. Great songwriter. He told me he doesn't perform the song anymore. At the time I think he felt its was counterproductive to the ongoing peace process.

[richie264]

In a Station in The City a British Soldier stood just talking to the people there if the people would, some just stared in hatred & others turned in pain & the lonely British Soldier wished he was back home again.

Come join the British Army said the posters in his town, come see the world & have some fun come serve before the crown, the jobs were hard to come by and he could not face the the dole, so he took his countries shilling & enlisted on the role.

There was no fear of fighting the Empire long was lost, just 10yrs in the Army getting paid for being bossed, they leave man experienced a man who's made the grade, a medal & a pension some memories & a trade.

Then came the call to Ireland as the call had come before, another bloody chapter in an endless civil war, the priests they stood on both sides, the priests they stood behind, another fight in Jesus name the blind against the blind.

In the station in the City the Soldier soon was bored, but better in the station than where the people warred, the room filled up with mothers, with daughters & with son's who stared with itchy fingers at the Soldier & his guns.

A yell of fear a screech of breaks a shattering of glass, the window of the station broke to let the package pass, a scream came from mothers as they ran towards the door, dragging children crying from the bomb upon the floor.

Take cover young soldier, take cover for your life & the Irish men put down their sons & stood before their wives, they turned towards the Soldier their eyes alive with fear, for gods sake save our children or they'll end their short lives here.

The Soldier moved towards the bomb his stomach like stone, why was this his battle God why was he alone, he lay down on the package & he murmured one farewell, to those at home in England, to those he loved so well.

He saw the sights of summer, felt the wind upon his brow, the young girls in the City parks how precious were they now, the soaring of the swallow, the beauty of the swan, the music of the turning earth so soon it would be gone.

A muffled soft explosion & the room began to quake, the soldier blown across the floor his blood a crimson lake, they never heard him cry or shout, they never heard him moan, & they turned their children's faces from the blood & from the bone.

The crowd outside soon gathered & the ambulances came, to carry off the body of another pawn lost to the game, the crowd they clapped & jeered & they sang their rebel songs, one soldier less to interfere where does not belong.

And will the children growing up learn on their mothers knees, the story of the Soldier who bought their liberties, who used his youthful body as a means towards the end, who gave his life to for those who called him murderer not friend. THE END

I lost my copy years ago but it's as I remember it, but like with all songs until you see them on the Karaoke you don't realise you've sang them wrong all your life.