Aug 2016
In 1933, my darling Martha and me
Took a ride out past the boat lake
Where the only other things there were trees
We layed out a picnic blanket
She fell to the grass, we both ate it
For desert she said it’s love to be had, but I’ve not yet made it
Together we made love
Alongside the river where frogs and fish come together
The trees were waving at me, how could this be happening to me
I asked for her hand and got down on one knee
I built a house for the two of us
Made a couple of extra rooms for the kids
We’ve got none yet and there’s no rush
We’ve got our lives together, my Martha and me
Then came 1939, you know the date, you know the time
I found myself standing in the enrollment line
Martha said I’d not go, you’re not medically fit you know
She was with child; surely they’d keep me home
Stand up straight said the major, I want your height and your date of birth
Your next of kin and the names of the parents that made you
And if in the muddy fields you should die
Do you have yourself a wife?
We need someone to tell when those ******* take your life
I write down Martha Nathaniel, an unborn baby named Daniel, he'll have the most beautiful laugh, you know it’s kind of sweet
I come from Measham parish, past the coal pits and bad habits; my address sir is 27 Bosworth Street
Down came the red stamp, the moist air, the walls were damp, a line of boys being sent to their death,
You’re medically fit man, the soldier shook my hand I closed my eyes and took one last breath
Went home to Martha and told her, in my arms I held her and said, I’d be back for Christmas day
I found myself flying so high, in the evening sky where the sun was pushing up and guiding us the way
Over to Germany, a photo of Martha and me lie in my wallet next to where my heart beat so with me she will stay
Then I heard a sound, the pilot turned around “we’ve been hit” prepare to escape
I didn’t see nothing but white, a mighty big old light, maybe it was time for my judgment day
A bullet, a bang and some lightning, below us the wounded were lying
The men still fighting I fall from the sky like an angel with no wings
I hit the earth and kept falling, all around me soldiers mourning, “I think that’s Michael, the sergeant major sings”
A knock on the door back home, Martha holds Daniel in her arms and smiles when she see’s the uniform
Then she realizes it ain’t me, she fell to the ground and cried for weeks, they said he was a brave man and died with dignity
There’s a picture of me on the mantel piece, where before my baby goes to sleep
She tells him “that is your daddy” he fought for this country
And although he isn’t here with you and me
He loved you ever so dearly and he lies somewhere in the fields where for him the willows weep, My boy he lives in your blue eyes, but he sleeps forever neath the dust and the skies, where he rests in an eternal sleep.
Took a ride out past the boat lake
Where the only other things there were trees
We layed out a picnic blanket
She fell to the grass, we both ate it
For desert she said it’s love to be had, but I’ve not yet made it
Together we made love
Alongside the river where frogs and fish come together
The trees were waving at me, how could this be happening to me
I asked for her hand and got down on one knee
I built a house for the two of us
Made a couple of extra rooms for the kids
We’ve got none yet and there’s no rush
We’ve got our lives together, my Martha and me
Then came 1939, you know the date, you know the time
I found myself standing in the enrollment line
Martha said I’d not go, you’re not medically fit you know
She was with child; surely they’d keep me home
Stand up straight said the major, I want your height and your date of birth
Your next of kin and the names of the parents that made you
And if in the muddy fields you should die
Do you have yourself a wife?
We need someone to tell when those ******* take your life
I write down Martha Nathaniel, an unborn baby named Daniel, he'll have the most beautiful laugh, you know it’s kind of sweet
I come from Measham parish, past the coal pits and bad habits; my address sir is 27 Bosworth Street
Down came the red stamp, the moist air, the walls were damp, a line of boys being sent to their death,
You’re medically fit man, the soldier shook my hand I closed my eyes and took one last breath
Went home to Martha and told her, in my arms I held her and said, I’d be back for Christmas day
I found myself flying so high, in the evening sky where the sun was pushing up and guiding us the way
Over to Germany, a photo of Martha and me lie in my wallet next to where my heart beat so with me she will stay
Then I heard a sound, the pilot turned around “we’ve been hit” prepare to escape
I didn’t see nothing but white, a mighty big old light, maybe it was time for my judgment day
A bullet, a bang and some lightning, below us the wounded were lying
The men still fighting I fall from the sky like an angel with no wings
I hit the earth and kept falling, all around me soldiers mourning, “I think that’s Michael, the sergeant major sings”
A knock on the door back home, Martha holds Daniel in her arms and smiles when she see’s the uniform
Then she realizes it ain’t me, she fell to the ground and cried for weeks, they said he was a brave man and died with dignity
There’s a picture of me on the mantel piece, where before my baby goes to sleep
She tells him “that is your daddy” he fought for this country
And although he isn’t here with you and me
He loved you ever so dearly and he lies somewhere in the fields where for him the willows weep, My boy he lives in your blue eyes, but he sleeps forever neath the dust and the skies, where he rests in an eternal sleep.
