No Man's Land
Echoes of Sacrifice: A Tale of Lost Youth in No Man's Land
Lyrics
Well how do you do private William Mcbride
Addressing Private William Mcbride, initiating a conversation.
Do you mind if I sit here down by your graveside?
Asking for permission to sit by the graveside.
I'll rest for awhile in the warm summer sun
Expressing the intention to rest in the warm sun after a day of walking.
I've been walking all day and I'm nearly done
Conveying exhaustion after a long day of walking.
And I see by your gravestone you were only 19
Observing that Mcbride was only 19 years old when he died in 1916.
When you joined the glorious fallen in 1916
Acknowledging Mcbride's membership in the fallen soldiers of 1916.
And I hope you died quick and I hope you died clean
Expressing a hope for a quick and clean death for Mcbride.
Or William Mcbride was it slow and obscene?
Pondering whether Mcbride's death was slow and obscene.
Did they beat the drum slowly, did they sound the pipes lowly?
Asking about the ceremonial aspects of Mcbride's burial.
Did the rifles fire o'er you as they lowered you down?
Inquiring about the military honors during Mcbride's burial.
Did the bugle play the last post and chorus?
Asking about the bugle playing the last post and chorus.
Did the pipes play the "flowers o' the forest"?
Asking about the pipes playing "flowers o' the forest".
Well the sun it shines now on these green fields of France
Describing the current scene in the green fields of France.
The warm wind blows gently and the red poppies dance
Depicting the serene atmosphere with the wind and dancing poppies.
The trenches have vanished now under the plow
Noting the disappearance of trenches under the plow.
No gas and no barbed wire, no guns fire now
Highlighting the absence of war elements like gas, barbed wire, and gunfire.
For here in this graveyard it's still no man's land
Stating that the graveyard remains no man's land.
And the countless white crosses in mute witness stand
Pointing to the countless white crosses as silent witnesses.
To man's blind indifference to his fellow man
Commenting on humanity's indifference to the suffering of others.
And a whole generation who butchered and damned
Referring to a generation that participated in senseless killing and damnation.
Well I can't help but wonder now, willie mcbride
Pondering if Mcbride understands why he and others lie in the graveyard.
Do all those who lie here know just why they died?
Raising the question of whether those buried understand the purpose of their sacrifice.
Did you really believe them when they told you the cause?
Questioning if Mcbride believed in the cause for which he fought.
Did you really believe this war would end all wars?
Challenging the belief that the war would end all wars.
But the suffering the sorrow the glory the shame
Summarizing the various aspects of war, including suffering, sorrow, glory, and shame.
The killing, the dying, it was all done in vain
Declaring that the killing and dying were in vain.
For William Mcbride it's all happened again
Asserting that the cycle of meaningless war has repeated for Mcbride.
And again and again and again and again.
Emphasizing the tragic repetition of war throughout history.
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