remembrance day/veterans day: take heed of the dream

Today is Veterans Day, or Remembrance Day over in the UK. Also known as Armistice Day, it marks November 11, 1918, the end of World War I.As sprite noted in her post today, we experienced Remembrance Day, English style, back in 2001. The two minutes of stone silence (save for the whirring of a car motor) was truly moving – it was a true memorial to those who fought for England in wars, as well as those who are still serving overseas. “Remember them,” the silence seems to say, “as they are paying the ultimate sacrifice.”

While I was against the war in Iraq from the beginning, I do support the troops, and hope that they all come home alive and intact. As my little tribute to them, I’ve chosen a few lyrics to share, as there are songs that seem to sum up the feelings I have for those who are serving in the military, and those we have lost.

Armistice Day
by Paul Simon

On Armistice Day
The Philharmonic will play
But the songs that we sing
Will be sad
Shufflin’ brown tunes
Hanging around

No long drawn blown out excuses
Were made
When I needed a friend she was there
Just like an easy chair

Armistice Day
Armistice Day
That’s all I really wanted to say

Oh I’m weary from waiting
In Washington D.C,
I’m coming to see my Congressman
But he’s avoiding me
Weary from waiting down in Washington D.C.

Oh Congresswoman
Won’t you tell that Congressman
I’ve waited such a long time
I’ve about waited all I can
Oh Congresswoman
Won’t you tell that Congressman

There’s more below the link.

The Gunner’s Dream
by Roger Waters

Floating down through the clouds
Memories come rushing up to meet me now.
In the space between the heavens
and in the corner of some foreign field
I had a dream.
I had a dream.
Good-bye Max.
Good-bye Ma.
After the service when you’re walking slowly to the car
And the silver in her hair shines in the cold November air
You hear the tolling bell
And touch the silk in your lapel
And as the tear drops rise to meet the comfort of the band
You take her frail hand
And hold on to the dream.
A place to stay
“Oi! A real one …”
Enough to eat
Somewhere old heroes shuffle safely down the street
Where you can speak out loud
About your doubts and fears
And what’s more no-one ever disappears
You never hear their standard issue kicking in your door.
You can relax on both sides of the tracks
And maniacs don’t blow holes in bandsmen by remote control
And everyone has recourse to the law
And no-one kills the children anymore.
And no one kills the children anymore.

Night after night
Going round and round my brain
His dream is driving me insane.
In the corner of some foreign field
The gunner sleeps tonight.
What’s done is done.
We cannot just write off his final scene.
Take heed of his dream.
Take heed.

Southampton Dock,
by Roger Waters

They disembarked in ’45
And no-one spoke and no-one smiled
There were to many spaces in the line.
Gathered at the cenotaph
All agreed with the hand on heart
To sheath the sacrificial Knifes.
But now
She stands upon Southampton dock
With her handkerchief
And her summer frock clings
To her wet body in the rain.
In quiet desperation knuckles
White upon the slippery reins
She bravely waves the boys Goodbye again.

And still the dark stain spreads between
His shoulder blades.
A mute reminder of the poppy fields and graves.
And when the fight was over
We spent what they had made.
But in the bottom of our hearts
We felt the final cut.

When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Traditional

When Johnny comes marching home again,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We’ll give him a hearty welcome then
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The men will cheer and the boys will shout
The ladies they will all turn out
And we’ll all feel gay,
When Johnny comes marching home.

The old church bell will peal with joy
Hurrah! Hurrah!
To welcome home our darling boy
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The village lads and lassies say
With roses they will strew the way,
And we’ll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

Get ready for the Jubilee,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We’ll give the hero three times three,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The laurel wreath is ready now
To place upon his loyal brow
And we’ll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

Sunday Bloody Sunday
by Paul “Bono” Hewson

I can’t believe the news today
I can’t close my eyes and make it go away

How long, how long must we sing this song?
How long, how long?

Tonight we can be as one, tonight
Broken bottles under children’s feet
Bodies strewn across a dead end street
But I won’t heed the battle call
It puts my back up
Puts my back up against the wall

Sunday bloody Sunday
Sunday bloody Sunday
And the battle’s just begun
There’s many lost, but tell me who has won
Trenches dug within our hearts
And mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apart

Sunday bloody Sunday
Sunday bloody Sunday

How long, how long must we sing this song?
How long, how long?
‘Cause tonight we can be as one
Tonight, tonight
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Tonight, tonight
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Tonight, tonight

Wipe the tears from your eyes
Wipe your tears away
I wipe your tears away
I wipe your tears away
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Wipe your blood shot eyes

Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday

And it’s true we are immune
When fact is fiction and T.V. reality
And today the millions cry
We eat and drink while tomorrow they die
The real battle just begun
To claim the victory Jesus won

On a Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday

Give Peace A Chance
by John Lennon

Ev’rybody’s talking about
Bagism, Shagism, Dragism, Madism, Ragism, Tagism
This-ism, that-ism, -ism, -ism, -ism.

All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

C’mon
Ev’rybody’s talking about Ministers,
Sinisters, Banisters and canisters
Bishops and Fishops and Rabbis and Pop eyes,
And bye bye, bye byes.

All we are saying is give peace a chance