@@shanedarcy361 same man ..eric bogle..also bringing buddy home..... also...all the fine young men.....also.....the band played waltzing matilda.....and more.
1970. I was 18, hitch-hiking through France; came over a small hill and saw a sea of white crosses. I sat and cried at the absurdity of it all. Thank you Eric; for writing wonderful songs such as this.
The voice, the lyrics, the emotion. We never acknowledge the true costs of war. And we never acknowledge who actually benefits from war, and they just go on to enjoy their riches gained by the blood of the men.
Beautiful song. I learned not long ago that my great, great uncle 'joined the great fallen of 1916' from wounds he sustained on the first day of the Somme. He was lost to the family for many years until my uncle discovered him while doing some family-tree research. Thankfully he is now remembered and my uncle travelled to France to put flowers on his grave.
@mattday " Beautiful song. I learned not long ago t..." It's a song for the Commonwealth, not just Australia. The Empire was at war. Like it or not, our origins are in the Empire. I had, as a younger man, and still do, an interest in WW 1 aviation. A bloke, part of our interest group, went back to Britain and sprinkled soil from Queensland on the grave of Stan Dallas, an RNAS pilot, no relation.
To all those who died in WW1 and WW2. In an attempt to make this world a better place for the generations coming after You. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE
I walk through our local cemetary and see graves of these hero's in a state of disrepute. It is a disgrace that those of us left to care for these young brave men don't care.
Forget the flag-waving, the military parades, nationalism and uniforms. Remembrance Day should be marked by TV and radio reading out the names of all those poor lads who died for the lies and greed of rich old men - and every person in every country should be made to listen to it.
Absolutely right Shaun , when you think WW1 was caused by a bunch of infighting inbred royalty...They were all related, so 20 million people died because of these ba$tards...Eric is a great anti war song writer, on top of that he looks like a great guy...Sadly it makes no difference, a president (Trump) in the has increased the military budget to more than the next 28 combined...Even Obama had to go along with the US war machine, this money would probably end starvation in the world, total madness!!!...
I'm with you, man. Imagine listening to all their names one after another. It's never been tried. Some people would just shut down and go to sleep, but many people would be deeply affected, I reckon.
One of the most important songs ever written. I'm a descendent of a soldier that fought in The Somme and was forever damaged, waking night after night screaming to his comrades to "get under, lads" meaning to take shelter from an imminent gas attack in the trenches. For anyone to be so mentally mutilated for the rest of his life, by a country that sent him in as cannon fodder, is an obscenity beyond words. This song however comes pretty damn close.
The psychopaths who rule over us, Fleece us and slaughter us like sheep, causing untold misery and pain yet they never loose a moments sleep. All wars are Bankers Wars, they loan money to both sides with cross guarantees all debts will be paid, enslaving future generations to pay of the debts. We get our Sons and Fathers killed or broken and our Daughters raped, our children grandchildren and even great grandchildren get to pay off the bill for their entire lives. They can only do this to us because we let them, we just can't believe they knew exactly what they were doing, when will we never learn, when will we ever learn.
From the "War to end wars", Young Willie McBride it all happened again. And again and again and again and again!! We are ALL RESPONSIBLE! Thank you Mr. Fogle.
I've seen him live a few times -Port Fairy, Echuca etc. Always sincere, and had a broad range of topics. Fun recordings, sad recordings. All of them great.
I served 34 years. My family served in every war since the French and Indian War. I understand the sympathies of this song perfectly. Here's a glass to the brothers and sisters I've lost and those who went before me.
@@bipedalame A Flight Nurse was buried in Los Angelos. As one bitter relative said at the funeral, "She returned with all the useless medals". It took most of 30 years for us to acknowledge the service of the Nurses who served and died in Viet Nam.
I've tried singing this song and cannot get very far. As a veteran of another pointless war (Vietnam), it cuts too deep. I was born a year after my uncle was killed in the Battle of the Bulge, and I was named after him. My mother and grandmother never got over his death.
The song is not poingnant perhaps to vietnam or the battle of the bulge.I did the road trip down the route of the battle some years ago at around the same time of year.. I hit Bastonge on the right hand side and sort of glanced and noticed the bullet holes from the road. Stopping seemed pointless, I had paid respect to the graves in the north already. I guess one needs to take the trip to see it is a place to get away from for some reason, I never figured why I never wanted to stop off , I just moved to a tank museum further south. Good trip in the easter break.. I recommend it
I just visited Flanders Fields and some of the many soldier cemeteries around Ypres and then I wondered about the stupidity, vanity, and greed of the men that caused the catastrophe in which so many young people lost their lives or were maimed for life. "lest we forget" is inscribed on the Menin Gate, and reading the words I thought about how soon we forgot the lessons of WWI. Humanity will never learn.
I first heard this song as a student in Canada on Remembrance Day. It was on the radio in 1984. Never forgot it but never knew the title. Searched for it years later using remembered lyrics and so grateful to have found it. Beautiful and haunting.
It applies equally to the foot soldiers on all sides. I don't believe for one minute, that the ordinary Russian wants to be involved in the present conflict. :-((
My Grandmother lost her husband during WW2, he was over 50 and had gone through all of WW1 but was kept on in the RN because WW2 had started, he was on the Hood between the wars and was transferred to HMS Galatea, which was torpedoed in the Mediterranean. She kept a picture of him on her mantelpiece, and a glass cabinet was almost a shrine to him. This song always reminds me of her, and the Grandad I never knew.
My two Grandfathers fought in suvla Bay, the Somme, yepys. Both came home. Eric Bogle really sums it all up in his songs just like you feel you was there with the diggers. Brilliant really
I watched it in school we were supposed to do a task and it was to think of 1 word about this song and I was unsure but my teacher put it on again and then I thought again (my thoughts words) “I think William McBride was all about BRAVERY “
2022 I am a Yank and just found this. I had heard this song many times, but this is something else to hear the composer doing this song. Let us all never forget...
Wow. And damn the politicians who think war is an alternative to bargain with. Have always cried with these songs, but my own regrets, thank you for spreading the word.
You've been gifted Eric Bogle...this and Waltzing Matilda prove how humans are sacrificed by cowardly unseen forces...the puppeteers...as is happening now across the World...thank you.
The psychopaths who rule over us, Fleece us and slaughter us like sheep, causing untold misery and pain yet they never loose a moments sleep. All wars are Bankers Wars, they loan money to both sides with cross guarantees all debts will be paid, enslaving future generations to pay of the debts. We get our Sons and Fathers killed or broken and our Daughters raped, our children grandchildren and even great grandchildren get to pay off the bill for their entire lives. They can only do this to us because we let them, we just can't believe they knew exactly what they were doing, when will we never learn, when will we ever learn.
Thirty four years of service, this rips me heart out. God bless those who served with me and the loved ones they left. Why was I left? Alcohol and time doesn't give me an answer. Bless my friends, hopefully I'll see you soon.
I visited the graves in Northern Thailand (river Kawai) was heartbroken at so many young men and women buried there, found many from my home city. War as an act is NOT something to be glorified - war should be despised as the wanton act it is. All my heartfelt love, respect, admiration, and veneration rightly given to the people who did not survive, all heroes.
I too visited the War Graves at Kanchanaburi...,,,,,Near River Kwai Bridge,,,,,the beautifully kept graves,,,,,,and the Ages of some buries there was so sad.
My grandfather survived WW1 with great luck as a damaged person, physically and of course psychically. But apparently he wasn't damned enough to be sent again in WW2 with the age of 44 years. In the meantime his young wife had died leaving three children, one of them my father. I was lucky to have a grandfather who had so much love for his grandchildren, we learned so much with him. But he was a broken man at all. Never talking about his war experience, only desperatly crying at night. No man can imagine, what he has seen, which fear he had to suffer hiding jews in the nazi time ... Would someone exchange lifetime with him? Or isn't peace a much better decision?
And now we have war again in Europe. And you find me in despair. What happened to the world, that one hazardeur puts the world into another Willi McBrieds destiny again?
The last concert that I seen with my dad, was Eric in Irvine. A moment for me that will stay for many years. Huge thanks as it was just my dad the night before I got married. the best Stag do with only two people ever. Thanks Eric.
I have heard many fine arrangements of your great song Eric. However, few can come near this one, as the recording is just sublime. The fiddle especially adds the tears.
Came across My Youngest son came home today by Eric bogle, he knows how to make people think about war. Also another war song As if He Knows , heart breaking
This is by far the best version of this song! If the writer of a song sings his song, it cannot be done better! It is the same with a book, the best is if the author reads it. This is pure feelings!!
@@davidsandz2186 different opinions are important! No one ever can match the feelings and motion of the writer. Everyone who comes next is an interpretation. There are very good ones but they always different from the original. To be honest I do not talk about texts that can be dung from everybody that is blah blah blah!
My grandfather was in the Kiwi company who went to war. He survived Gallipoli from the start to the end and somehow he was able to get a photo from high ground looking back at Suvla Bay. He made it until 1918 when he suffered a gut shot but somehow he survived being sent back to Britain and was recovering when the war ended. There was one man above all the other idiot generals who constantly put our men in unwinnable fighting over and over. He always said the one most hated by anyone who sent to the slaughter of Gallipoli and that was Winston Churchill. He was not qualified to be in charge of planning anything let alone such an insane campaign as Gallipoli. He always said that the real murderers were the generals who just repeatedly sent troops into situations over and over again no matter how many were slaughtered. The other thing that he said was some of the best soldiers he fought beside were the men of the Maori Brigade. They were segregated going to war but they still died in the same horrors that the non Maori soldiers. He said he was incredibly lucky and proud to have fought sholder to sholder with those fine young men and their blood ran red just like the white boys. He had a couple of special mates from the Maori battalion and they fought together through Gallipoli and then the absolute carnage of France. Sadly he was the only one that made it out alive but was with his two mates sent over the wall into no man's land and most didn't make it more than a few meters before being mown down by the German machine guns. He didn't get back to New Zealand until 1919 because of his wounds but when he got home the first thing he did was find the families of his two Maori mates so he could tell the families about the heroic actions by their sons saved many lives including his before they were murdered by the incompetent Generals forcing the men into unwinnable battles over and over again. He didn't go home to his own family until he had done his duty to his mates. He was a very hard man his whole life and he never recovered from the horrors and sadly like so many he became a life long alcoholic and often extremely violent on the drink. He died at 60 in a fire that engulfed a massive warehouse where he worked. So perhaps he never really came home after all.
A song that was written about the First World War , but yet it really continues to be valid in how it relates not just to WW I , but it really now covers all of the war and conflicts that have been fought since , the questions asked to Willie McBride would be relevant to be asked to any of our fallen soldiers , sailors , marines , and airmen .
@@patrickkoreman7576 Listern to the The Fureys version of Eric Bogle's Green Fields of France and your mind will be blown away. ruclips.net/video/XDyip7SIJkQ/видео.html
Was lucky to have seen Eric live in concert on numerous times when he lived in Australia. Genius song writer with also a sense of humour, I remember his shows he would have you laughing with one song and in tears with the next.
After being a fan of Eric's music for years, I finally got a chance to see him perform in New Jersey about a dozen years ago. He has many fans in the USA.
Absolutely awesome.The lyrics are amazing, how Eric can sing that without cracking up I do not know. it is the Violin that gets me every time I hear this song, it brings so much pathos to it.
Stonyfell , outside of Adelaide was a small group of emergency houses after WW2 for homeless 2/27th Battalion men and their families. My family ended up their after the 1956 Riverland floods for a short period
All the way from Broughton fkn tears in my eyes listening to a genuine classic I'm privileged to have heard this man live and Scotland's loss is Australia's gain
The psychopaths who rule over us, Fleece us and slaughter us like sheep, causing untold misery and pain yet they never loose a moments sleep. All wars are Bankers Wars, they loan money to both sides with cross guarantees all debts will be paid, enslaving future generations to pay of the debts. We get our Sons and Fathers killed or broken and our Daughters raped, our children grandchildren and even great grandchildren get to pay off the bill for their entire lives. They can only do this to us because we let them, we just can't believe they knew exactly what they were doing, when will we never learn, when will we ever learn.
@@bobapbob5812 They believed they were giving their lives to protect us, they believed they were fighting the forces of tyranny, they believed they were fighting for freedom. The sad tragic truth is they were fighting for our slave masters and for the forces of evil.
@@MegaDavyk Straight up, solid gold truth right there, mate. It both saddens me and angers me when I hear folk talk of how those young boys dying in misery with their guts hanging out crying for their mothers in a stinking shit infested hole, men turned into raging killers, Men turned into bone-shaking wrecks, Men turned into vacuous eyed nothing.... dead and brutalised so we can be here today! The same goes for the Sons of the first war that were butchered in the Second. And Churchill, that Cunt, that vile drunkard bastard lapped it up, reveled in every mad bastard moment of his Glorious Wars. Paid to the hilt, the fucking stooge he was. And I got no truck for Red Poppy, or the White Poppy that gets flashed about, or those so called anti-war protesters that defile monuments, and I care nothing for the monuments them selves, really, I am very indifferent to it all. It all makes me rather solemn and pensive. The whole fucking sorry lot of it, this obsequious Festival of Remembrance, that gets more and more expansive and manipulative the further we get in time from the actual events.... and on top of the popcorn emotion, pride of place is given to the bastards that cause, profit and gain from the death, butchery, and brutality wrought upon my Kin. No more brothers Wars! Though is that an empty determined wish, cos we both know if they want another war on this scale, every one will go marching again. It bewilders me how so many good solid people are so intrinsically naive and easily fooled to swallow the most blatant lies and deceit. See, I can't help but understand that the problem isn't the 1%, but the large portion of the 99% that dance to the tune these parasites sing.... Left Wing, Right Wing are both sides of the same coin tossed by the same hand of control. It would seem that, I have come to think that, every one is predicated towards an intrinsic naive, gullible, ignorant disposition, a disposition that our masters understand implicitly, and have studied microscopically, and play us all... tune perfect. Though we do have, if we allow our selves, the opportunity to understand this natural disposition, and some of the 99% can see the world for the insufferable truth that it is, folk like you and I. But once, in the past I believed, and fell for lies of the Glorious Wars to save us all.
@@TheGeezer30 You have to understand we were bred to be this way. For countless generations the psychopaths who farm us like stupid sheep have culled out the mavericks who opened their eyes and tried to warm their community, horrible fates befell them as the crowd cheered..
I don't know when I first heard Eric sing this song, but it seems like a lifetime ago now and I have loved it from that day to this. It stirs up a lot of images of someone walking through a war graves cemetery, which is something everyone should have to do. This song turned me against wars when I was a teenager and am still anti war to this day. The sentiments he expresses in this song remind me of some of the old women I knew as a child, who kept a photo of some long lost soul who was taken during that conflict, and we forget that some of them were underage soldiers who ran off to war thinking it was the right thing to do. They were 14 and 15 year olds, and what do we hear now on the news? Boy soldiers in war zones
Any thinking person and most particularly soldier/veterans are 'anti-war'. Sadly though, as recent events have proven, you only need one totalitarian scumbag like Vladimir Putin in a position of power with no moral compass to start a war and then folks' 'anti war' stance is irrelevant. Ordinary people have to pick up a rifle and fight tyranny or succumb to it. Don't get too bent out of shape about 'rich old men' - it's usually about psychopaths. We see them coming but they get away with until it's too late.
My father was wounded in the Battle of the Somme. He died when I was a child. This song always reminds me of him. We think of those who died on the Somme, but none of those young men, some but boys, survived unscathed. Such a lovely song always brings tears to my eyes.
When I was a teenager, we had an alcoholic living with us whom my father had taken pity on - a Scotsman. We went on holiday and I was in a tent with him. One night he started shouting his head off - "Get down laddy, get down - Oh no, what can I tell your father?". I woke him, he was in a total sweat, shaking and very emotional. He told me he was landing in Normandy in 1944 and he had his best friend's son with him - he was "looking after him". The boy wanted to see where they were going and put his head up over the parapet of the landing craft - he took a round between the eyes. This has haunted him all his life!
What happened to him? And when did that holiday take place? And just because I want to tell it Here's a little story of my great great grandfather: He fought in the war from beginning to end in a special bavarian regiment and he told once that they always had to stuff their dead comrades back into the walls of the trenches in a artillery barrage because the bodies were blown out by shells time and time again. I think he carried some trauma with him too. Although he died sometime in the sixties he's still one of my greatest role models, not just because he survived the great war but also because he was able to keep on living normally afterwards without alcohol. And to the end of the second world War he saved some young boys by sending them away instead of training them, as the Nazis intended because of his military background.
@@durinderunsterbliche6472 It was in the late 1960's. [I think it was Southern-hemisphere Summer of 1966 or 67]. his name was Don Morrison. He was such a great guy when he was sober; he took me under his wing and was like a second father to me. We lost contact, I left home, went studying, flatting, drinking, wenching etc. When I was more mature, I asked dad whatever happened to Don and he told me that the last he had heard from Don was that he had returned to Scotland and apparently married his boyhood sweetheart. Sad, I wish I had been more mature and kept in touch with him - he will be long gone now.
Every time I hear this song I've got tears in my eyes because I think of my great uncle who I found out about in the family bible he was killed in action aged 19 2 weeks before the war was finished his older brothers felt survivors guilt god bless all who serve their country's
Same for my grandmother's young cousin... 18 and gone right at the end of the war. People never learn, well, some of them usually those who make decisions for the rest of us.
My wife and I had breakfast with Eric and John in Rotherham the morning after seeing them live, what a surprise, we had booked into the B&B not knowing 🥰 and he signed The Dreamer album I bought. Fantastic artists and decent human beings 😎
As an ex soldier this song hits like a sledge hammer. "My" war was nothing on this scale, but it was just as futile, wasteful and obscene. These lyrics are the most powerful thing about this song. They should never be changed as other renditions do...this is perfection...
I reccomend you all, after listening to this wonderful song, to listen to Hannes Wader - Es ist an der Zeit - the German version. My granddad came though Palestine in 1917-1918, my daugheter's great-great uncle did not survive his first dy of action on the Somme...
Eric Bogle wrote the two best anti-war songs ever imo, this and The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
Agree. But many other great songs. An absolute legend. 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
I agree.
Don't forget "My youngest son came home today" was his bitterest anti-violence song
@@thespoon91 By whom?
@@shanedarcy361 same man ..eric bogle..also bringing buddy home..... also...all the fine young men.....also.....the band played waltzing matilda.....and more.
1970. I was 18, hitch-hiking through France; came over a small hill and saw a sea of white crosses. I sat and cried at the absurdity of it all. Thank you Eric; for writing wonderful songs such as this.
The voice, the lyrics, the emotion. We never acknowledge the true costs of war. And we never acknowledge who actually benefits from war, and they just go on to enjoy their riches gained by the blood of the men.
My uncle was killed in WW2. He was 24.
So sorry for your family's great loss. 😢
Beautiful song. I learned not long ago that my great, great uncle 'joined the great fallen of 1916' from wounds he sustained on the first day of the Somme. He was lost to the family for many years until my uncle discovered him while doing some family-tree research. Thankfully he is now remembered and my uncle travelled to France to put flowers on his grave.
yep.....
So happy he is now remembered & loved. ❤
@mattday " Beautiful song. I learned not long ago t..." It's a song for the Commonwealth, not just Australia. The Empire was at war. Like it or not, our origins are in the Empire. I had, as a younger man, and still do, an interest in WW 1 aviation. A bloke, part of our interest group, went back to Britain and sprinkled soil from Queensland on the grave of Stan Dallas, an RNAS pilot, no relation.
@@joyrobbins4540 RIP .. he was a hero.. the word is used to frequently today
How Eric isn't a Scottish icon is a mystery this man is up their with Dylan for songwriting a lyricist genius
@@brianforbescolgate2352 that's poss Brian if so it's very petty he's a great songwriter
Eric gave up his Scottishness to stay in the lucky country forever. Tae me he'll always be a Jock.
@@allanwbrown aye he's proud of his border roots , gutterbluid
@@allanwbrown Im from Peebles Scotland I only heard about him from a guy at work in Dublin Ireland mad.
Eric even wrote a song about Bob Dylan
Can you sing any Dylan
70 YO here, and never tire of this man's brilliance.
For Dan 1974-2008 in this faithful heart your still young and carefree. Your devastated wife
🙏
I don’t even know u, but your comment brought a tear to my eye. I’m so sorry for your loss 😖😭
Breaks my heart. I am so sorry and wish you some peace.
Saddened for your lose
To all those who died in WW1 and WW2. In an attempt to make this world a better place for the generations coming after You. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE
I walk through our local cemetary and see graves of these hero's in a state of disrepute. It is a disgrace that those of us left to care for these young brave men don't care.
Forget the flag-waving, the military parades, nationalism and uniforms. Remembrance Day should be marked by TV and radio reading out the names of all those poor lads who died for the lies and greed of rich old men - and every person in every country should be made to listen to it.
Absolutely right Shaun , when you think WW1 was caused by a bunch of infighting inbred royalty...They were all related, so 20 million people died because of these ba$tards...Eric is a great anti war song writer, on top of that he looks like a great guy...Sadly it makes no difference, a president (Trump) in the has increased the military budget to more than the next 28 combined...Even Obama had to go along with the US war machine, this money would probably end starvation in the world, total madness!!!...
What a great idea,we need a politician to run with this.
Yes, Shaun. Then people might realize it takes more than a year to read through the list. Might set them to thinking.
Should have conscripted and placed on the front line all the feminists of that era.........
I'm with you, man. Imagine listening to all their names one after another. It's never been tried. Some people would just shut down and go to sleep, but many people would be deeply affected, I reckon.
The most haunting anthem and reminder of what we, today, owe to so many unknown young men who gave their lives. Thank you Eric Bogle.
One of the most important songs ever written. I'm a descendent of a soldier that fought in The Somme and was forever damaged, waking night after night screaming to his comrades to "get under, lads" meaning to take shelter from an imminent gas attack in the trenches. For anyone to be so mentally mutilated for the rest of his life, by a country that sent him in as cannon fodder, is an obscenity beyond words. This song however comes pretty damn close.
The psychopaths who rule over us, Fleece us and slaughter us like sheep, causing untold misery and pain yet they never loose a moments sleep.
All wars are Bankers Wars, they loan money to both sides with cross guarantees all debts will be paid, enslaving future generations to pay of the debts.
We get our Sons and Fathers killed or broken and our Daughters raped, our children grandchildren and even great grandchildren get to pay off the bill for their entire lives.
They can only do this to us because we let them, we just can't believe they knew exactly what they were doing, when will we never learn, when will we ever learn.
And the mud and blood of Flanders.
Graham Lee Kernigan Covered revisited
My two grandfathers were there, on opposite sides.
Only 20,000 dead in one day! No regrets from General Haig.
Men who don't learn from history, repeat it. 😩
Probably the greatest song ever written. A masterpiece.
A definite masterpiece and I salute you in your knowledge of what the song represent love from Scotland
@@richardrobertson4318 the most poignant anti war song EVER ???
@@harveystill4549 more so now ,did they really believe that this war would end wars
Hard to argue with that...
From the "War to end wars",
Young Willie McBride it all happened again.
And again and again and again and again!!
We are ALL RESPONSIBLE!
Thank you Mr. Fogle.
Bogle.
Great song! RIP JOHN 💯🍀🏴
Fought in the Angolan War in the 80's. Of British blood. Brings tears to my eyes
Makes me cry every damn time i hear it.
How is possible to write such beautiful lyrics and a beautiful piece of music at the same time and then perform it better than anyone could imagine?
Amazing performance...
Profound words...
Let them seep into your hearts...
@@aliceskewthorpe8991 It's called genius...pure and simple.
I've seen him live a few times -Port Fairy, Echuca etc. Always sincere, and had a broad range of topics. Fun recordings, sad recordings. All of them great.
I served 34 years. My family served in every war since the French and Indian War. I understand the sympathies of this song perfectly. Here's a glass to the brothers and sisters I've lost and those who went before me.
medal on it's way to you
I Served 24 Yrs, ill toast with you brother.
@@edwenzel8170 Thank YOU for your service my brother. The best to you as a member of the brotherhood!
@@bipedalame a beer with friends would be even better!
@@bipedalame A Flight Nurse was buried in Los Angelos. As one bitter relative said at the funeral, "She returned with all the useless medals". It took most of 30 years for us to acknowledge the service of the Nurses who served and died in Viet Nam.
I've tried singing this song and cannot get very far. As a veteran of another pointless war (Vietnam), it cuts too deep. I was born a year after my uncle was killed in the Battle of the Bulge, and I was named after him. My mother and grandmother never got over his death.
The song is not poingnant perhaps to vietnam or the battle of the bulge.I did the road trip down the route of the battle some years ago at around the same time of year.. I hit Bastonge on the right hand side and sort of glanced and noticed the bullet holes from the road.
Stopping seemed pointless, I had paid respect to the graves in the north already.
I guess one needs to take the trip to see it is a place to get away from for some reason, I never figured why I never wanted to stop off , I just moved to a tank museum further south.
Good trip in the easter break..
I recommend it
Thank you for your service.....
From another Veteran of a foreign war....
Stay safe brother
I just visited Flanders Fields and some of the many soldier cemeteries around Ypres and then I wondered about the stupidity, vanity, and greed of the men that caused the catastrophe in which so many young people lost their lives or were maimed for life. "lest we forget" is inscribed on the Menin Gate, and reading the words I thought about how soon we forgot the lessons of WWI. Humanity will never learn.
What a beautiful, emotional song. Our heroes won't be forgotten.
I first heard this song as a student in Canada on Remembrance Day. It was on the radio in 1984. Never forgot it but never knew the title. Searched for it years later using remembered lyrics and so grateful to have found it. Beautiful and haunting.
I thought I had heard the best anti war ever with " they band play waltzing matilda", now i cant pick.
Eric Bogle is a genious
I've lost count of the number of times ive listened to this beautiful song tearsh every tlime
I've lostcount of the number of times I've watched this clip. Tears every timr!
As a Germam.. A wunderfull Song.. Thank you!
It applies equally to the foot soldiers on all sides. I don't believe for one minute, that the ordinary Russian wants to be involved in the present conflict. :-((
My Grandmother lost her husband during WW2, he was over 50 and had gone through all of WW1 but was kept on in the RN because WW2 had started, he was on the Hood between the wars and was transferred to HMS Galatea, which was torpedoed in the Mediterranean. She kept a picture of him on her mantelpiece, and a glass cabinet was almost a shrine to him. This song always reminds me of her, and the Grandad I never knew.
My father served on the HMS Aurora in WW2,His best friend died on the HMS Hood.
I'm proud of him and I have no family connections.
Great post mate, from another Kelly who served.
As an soldier inte been trough two wars.. And i'm crying like an Child. We are all fooled..
My two Grandfathers fought in suvla Bay, the Somme, yepys. Both came home. Eric Bogle really sums it all up in his songs just like you feel you was there with the diggers. Brilliant really
If this doesn't bring a tear to your eye, you're not human.
I’m not human..
I watched it in school we were supposed to do a task and it was to think of 1 word about this song and I was unsure but my teacher put it on again and then I thought again (my thoughts words) “I think William McBride was all about BRAVERY “
I would’ve cried tho
Fearless songwriter thank you Eric reminds us of our humanity. Those who will listen anyway
Sad and beautiful song, Eric is a superb singer/song writer.
2022 I am a Yank and just found this. I had heard this song many times, but this is something else to hear the composer doing this song. Let us all never forget...
This song says it all.
Unparalleled.
Hauntingly beautiful.
Wow. And damn the politicians who think war is an alternative to bargain with. Have always cried with these songs, but my own regrets, thank you for spreading the word.
Wonderful just wonderful
This is so sad and so beautiful at the same time ❤️
You've been gifted Eric Bogle...this and Waltzing Matilda prove how humans are sacrificed by cowardly unseen forces...the puppeteers...as is happening now across the World...thank you.
Beautiful 😍 🤩 👌.
Love from Scotland
No words necessary-- just tears. My great uncle was an army officer and died at Gallipoli.
and it happens again and again, peace now is theirs
My great great uncle died in action in France in 1918.
If you do not already know the song, go listen to Bogle's "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda".
@@katyapartan8577Love that song, and yes I have heard it many times.
The psychopaths who rule over us, Fleece us and slaughter us like sheep, causing untold misery and pain yet they never loose a moments sleep. All wars are Bankers Wars, they loan money to both sides with cross guarantees all debts will be paid, enslaving future generations to pay of the debts. We get our Sons and Fathers killed or broken and our Daughters raped, our children grandchildren and even great grandchildren get to pay off the bill for their entire lives. They can only do this to us because we let them, we just can't believe they knew exactly what they were doing, when will we never learn, when will we ever learn.
Thirty four years of service, this rips me heart out. God bless those who served with me and the loved ones they left. Why was I left? Alcohol and time doesn't give me an answer. Bless my friends, hopefully I'll see you soon.
This live performance is the best version of the song in my opinion.
Einzigartig
Look up "The green fields of France finbar furey and Christy dignam" it's another excellent albeit short version
Yes, @@respectedbeetle6955 that version does very fine instrumentation, but they screw up the wonderful lyrics in several places.
Yes, this performance is my favourite too. Christy Dignam does a great job too, his Irish tone fits well with this.
Great, thank you, Eric! ♥
I visited the graves in Northern Thailand (river Kawai) was heartbroken at so many young men and women buried there, found many from my home city. War as an act is NOT something to be glorified - war should be despised as the wanton act it is.
All my heartfelt love, respect, admiration, and veneration rightly given to the people who did not survive, all heroes.
I too visited the War Graves at Kanchanaburi...,,,,,Near River Kwai Bridge,,,,,the beautifully kept graves,,,,,,and the Ages of some buries there was so sad.
I too visited Kanchanaburi,,,,River Kwai War Cemetary....Beautifully kept.....Tragic to see the Names and Ages of those buried there.
So many of those poor lads were abused and worked to death.
My grandfather survived WW1 with great luck as a damaged person, physically and of course psychically. But apparently he wasn't damned enough to be sent again in WW2 with the age of 44 years. In the meantime his young wife had died leaving three children, one of them my father. I was lucky to have a grandfather who had so much love for his grandchildren, we learned so much with him. But he was a broken man at all. Never talking about his war experience, only desperatly crying at night. No man can imagine, what he has seen, which fear he had to suffer hiding jews in the nazi time ... Would someone exchange lifetime with him? Or isn't peace a much better decision?
My grandfather survived Gallipoli - 3rd Lighthorse Brigade, and died many years later a staunch Communist.
And now we have war again in Europe. And you find me in despair. What happened to the world, that one hazardeur puts the world into another Willi McBrieds destiny again?
The last concert that I seen with my dad, was Eric in Irvine. A moment for me that will stay for many years. Huge thanks as it was just my dad the night before I got married. the best Stag do with only two people ever.
Thanks Eric.
Another beautiful, anti war rendition against the insanity of war. Well done, Eric!
Yes, it should be an Aussie evergreen ... a song never forgotten!
I have heard many fine arrangements of your great song Eric. However, few can come near this one, as the recording is just sublime. The fiddle especially adds the tears.
The lady playing the fiddle is Verity Trueman from Red Gum
Spence I will always think of you when I hear this version. Rest well brother!
6th RAR Long Tan
Came across My Youngest son came home today by Eric bogle, he knows how to make people think about war. Also another war song As if He Knows , heart breaking
Eric Bogle, Another one of your songs that sends chills up and down my spine!
This is by far the best version of this song! If the writer of a song sings his song, it cannot be done better! It is the same with a book, the best is if the author reads it. This is pure feelings!!
Listern to the The Fureys version of Eric Bogle's Green Fields of France and your mind will be blown away.
ruclips.net/video/XDyip7SIJkQ/видео.html
I agree with your first sentence...and there are so many examples to disprove your second...but your third, omg, that's just nonsense.
@@davidsandz2186 different opinions are important!
No one ever can match the feelings and motion of the writer. Everyone who comes next is an interpretation. There are very good ones but they always different from the original.
To be honest I do not talk about texts that can be dung from everybody that is blah blah blah!
My grandfather was in the Kiwi company who went to war. He survived Gallipoli from the start to the end and somehow he was able to get a photo from high ground looking back at Suvla Bay. He made it until 1918 when he suffered a gut shot but somehow he survived being sent back to Britain and was recovering when the war ended. There was one man above all the other idiot generals who constantly put our men in unwinnable fighting over and over. He always said the one most hated by anyone who sent to the slaughter of Gallipoli and that was Winston Churchill. He was not qualified to be in charge of planning anything let alone such an insane campaign as Gallipoli. He always said that the real murderers were the generals who just repeatedly sent troops into situations over and over again no matter how many were slaughtered. The other thing that he said was some of the best soldiers he fought beside were the men of the Maori Brigade. They were segregated going to war but they still died in the same horrors that the non Maori soldiers. He said he was incredibly lucky and proud to have fought sholder to sholder with those fine young men and their blood ran red just like the white boys. He had a couple of special mates from the Maori battalion and they fought together through Gallipoli and then the absolute carnage of France. Sadly he was the only one that made it out alive but was with his two mates sent over the wall into no man's land and most didn't make it more than a few meters before being mown down by the German machine guns. He didn't get back to New Zealand until 1919 because of his wounds but when he got home the first thing he did was find the families of his two Maori mates so he could tell the families about the heroic actions by their sons saved many lives including his before they were murdered by the incompetent Generals forcing the men into unwinnable battles over and over again. He didn't go home to his own family until he had done his duty to his mates. He was a very hard man his whole life and he never recovered from the horrors and sadly like so many he became a life long alcoholic and often extremely violent on the drink. He died at 60 in a fire that engulfed a massive warehouse where he worked. So perhaps he never really came home after all.
A song that was written about the First World War , but yet it really continues to be valid in how it relates not just to WW I , but it really now covers all of the war and conflicts that have been fought since , the questions asked to Willie McBride would be relevant to be asked to any of our fallen soldiers , sailors , marines , and airmen .
This is the best version ever, by the writer of this great lament, the great Eric Bogle.
I couldn't agree more .....
@@patrickkoreman7576 Listern to the The Fureys version of Eric Bogle's Green Fields of France and your mind will be blown away.
ruclips.net/video/XDyip7SIJkQ/видео.html
Listern to the The Fureys version of Eric Bogle's Green Fields of France and your mind will be blown away.
ruclips.net/video/XDyip7SIJkQ/видео.html
Was lucky to have seen Eric live in concert on numerous times when he lived in Australia. Genius song writer with also a sense of humour, I remember his shows he would have you laughing with one song and in tears with the next.
After being a fan of Eric's music for years, I finally got a chance to see him perform in New Jersey about a dozen years ago. He has many fans in the USA.
Great, Eric.. beyond words.. thank you so much!
Absolutely awesome.The lyrics are amazing, how Eric can sing that without cracking up I do not know.
it is the Violin that gets me every time I hear this song, it brings so much pathos to it.
The violinist just adds a ton of emotional vibes to the song - great interpretation
Stop tears in my eyes
Stonyfell , outside of Adelaide was a small group of emergency houses after WW2 for homeless 2/27th Battalion men and their families. My family ended up their after the 1956 Riverland floods for a short period
Whagt a great tune. Awesome song writer...
This is a excellent rendition of this song performed by the writer Eric Bogle.
One of the greatest songs of it's genre. Of any genre.
First time I have heard this ,how beautiful
Beautiful violin playing.
what a great song. Tears on my face. Also thank you Emma for your great Violine!
A perfect folk song. SOB....Wish I wrote it. There's time. Oh yes my friend there is time.
This is my deceased brothers fav song he loved Eric bogle love from Midlothian
This haunting meditation has been in my consciousness for the last five days.
All the way from Broughton fkn tears in my eyes listening to a genuine classic I'm privileged to have heard this man live and Scotland's loss is Australia's gain
Beautiful harmonies.
I saw Eric Bogle perform this at the Queen's Hall in Edinburgh.
My grandfather died on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. RIP those who died to protect us.
The psychopaths who rule over us, Fleece us and slaughter us like sheep, causing untold misery and pain yet they never loose a moments sleep.
All wars are Bankers Wars, they loan money to both sides with cross guarantees all debts will be paid, enslaving future generations to pay of the debts.
We get our Sons and Fathers killed or broken and our Daughters raped, our children grandchildren and even great grandchildren get to pay off the bill for their entire lives.
They can only do this to us because we let them, we just can't believe they knew exactly what they were doing, when will we never learn, when will we ever learn.
Did they die to protect us??
@@bobapbob5812 They believed they were giving their lives to protect us, they believed they were fighting the forces of tyranny, they believed they were fighting for freedom. The sad tragic truth is they were fighting for our slave masters and for the forces of evil.
@@MegaDavyk Straight up, solid gold truth right there, mate.
It both saddens me and angers me when I hear folk talk of how those young boys dying in misery with their guts hanging out crying for their mothers in a stinking shit infested hole, men turned into raging killers, Men turned into bone-shaking wrecks, Men turned into vacuous eyed nothing.... dead and brutalised so we can be here today! The same goes for the Sons of the first war that were butchered in the Second. And Churchill, that Cunt, that vile drunkard bastard lapped it up, reveled in every mad bastard moment of his Glorious Wars. Paid to the hilt, the fucking stooge he was.
And I got no truck for Red Poppy, or the White Poppy that gets flashed about, or those so called anti-war protesters that defile monuments, and I care nothing for the monuments them selves, really, I am very indifferent to it all. It all makes me rather solemn and pensive. The whole fucking sorry lot of it, this obsequious Festival of Remembrance, that gets more and more expansive and manipulative the further we get in time from the actual events.... and on top of the popcorn emotion, pride of place is given to the bastards that cause, profit and gain from the death, butchery, and brutality wrought upon my Kin. No more brothers Wars! Though is that an empty determined wish, cos we both know if they want another war on this scale, every one will go marching again.
It bewilders me how so many good solid people are so intrinsically naive and easily fooled to swallow the most blatant lies and deceit. See, I can't help but understand that the problem isn't the 1%, but the large portion of the 99% that dance to the tune these parasites sing.... Left Wing, Right Wing are both sides of the same coin tossed by the same hand of control.
It would seem that, I have come to think that, every one is predicated towards an intrinsic naive, gullible, ignorant disposition, a disposition that our masters understand implicitly, and have studied microscopically, and play us all... tune perfect. Though we do have, if we allow our selves, the opportunity to understand this natural disposition, and some of the 99% can see the world for the insufferable truth that it is, folk like you and I. But once, in the past I believed, and fell for lies of the Glorious Wars to save us all.
@@TheGeezer30 You have to understand we were bred to be this way. For countless generations the psychopaths who farm us like stupid sheep have culled out the mavericks who opened their eyes and tried to warm their community, horrible fates befell them as the crowd cheered..
I don't know when I first heard Eric sing this song, but it seems like a lifetime ago now and I have loved it from that day to this. It stirs up a lot of images of someone walking through a war graves cemetery, which is something everyone should have to do. This song turned me against wars when I was a teenager and am still anti war to this day. The sentiments he expresses in this song remind me of some of the old women I knew as a child, who kept a photo of some long lost soul who was taken during that conflict, and we forget that some of them were underage soldiers who ran off to war thinking it was the right thing to do. They were 14 and 15 year olds, and what do we hear now on the news? Boy soldiers in war zones
I went through the same experience as a child when I first watched All Quiet On The Western Front.
Any thinking person and most particularly soldier/veterans are 'anti-war'. Sadly though, as recent events have proven, you only need one totalitarian scumbag like Vladimir Putin in a position of power with no moral compass to start a war and then folks' 'anti war' stance is irrelevant. Ordinary people have to pick up a rifle and fight tyranny or succumb to it. Don't get too bent out of shape about 'rich old men' - it's usually about psychopaths. We see them coming but they get away with until it's too late.
My father was wounded in the Battle of the Somme. He died when I was a child. This song always reminds me of him. We think of those who died on the Somme, but none of those young men, some but boys, survived unscathed. Such a lovely song always brings tears to my eyes.
Have loved and cherished this song since hearing it in the early 80s. I will perform it in my neighborhood tomorrow on Memorial Day.
What a beautiful memorial song. Thank, Eric.
Eric is a public treasure. Trouble is no politician listens.
Brilliant!! So sad, the war to end all wars?Yea right.Beautiful violin
When I was a teenager, we had an alcoholic living with us whom my father had taken pity on - a Scotsman. We went on holiday and I was in a tent with him. One night he started shouting his head off - "Get down laddy, get down - Oh no, what can I tell your father?". I woke him, he was in a total sweat, shaking and very emotional. He told me he was landing in Normandy in 1944 and he had his best friend's son with him - he was "looking after him". The boy wanted to see where they were going and put his head up over the parapet of the landing craft - he took a round between the eyes. This has haunted him all his life!
What happened to him? And when did that holiday take place? And just because I want to tell it Here's a little story of my great great grandfather: He fought in the war from beginning to end in a special bavarian regiment and he told once that they always had to stuff their dead comrades back into the walls of the trenches in a artillery barrage because the bodies were blown out by shells time and time again. I think he carried some trauma with him too. Although he died sometime in the sixties he's still one of my greatest role models, not just because he survived the great war but also because he was able to keep on living normally afterwards without alcohol. And to the end of the second world War he saved some young boys by sending them away instead of training them, as the Nazis intended because of his military background.
@@durinderunsterbliche6472 It was in the late 1960's. [I think it was Southern-hemisphere Summer of 1966 or 67]. his name was Don Morrison. He was such a great guy when he was sober; he took me under his wing and was like a second father to me. We lost contact, I left home, went studying, flatting, drinking, wenching etc. When I was more mature, I asked dad whatever happened to Don and he told me that the last he had heard from Don was that he had returned to Scotland and apparently married his boyhood sweetheart. Sad, I wish I had been more mature and kept in touch with him - he will be long gone now.
@@Kysushanz At least he got a good end to his story. Thank you for the answer. And hopefully Don will be remembered for a long time.
I am glad it was a scotsman
As a Scot also
We sing this about anti war
And how nasty English where
So ta.
Eric is a legend, spot on lyrics. Should get higher recognition!
Absolutely Beautiful!!!✝️✝️🇱🇷🇱🇷👏👏👏👍👍🌹🌹❤️❤️💕💗💓
Heartfelt beautiful song wonderful
Every time I hear this song I've got tears in my eyes because I think of my great uncle who I found out about in the family bible he was killed in action aged 19 2 weeks before the war was finished his older brothers felt survivors guilt god bless all who serve their country's
Same for my grandmother's young cousin... 18 and gone right at the end of the war. People never learn, well, some of them usually those who make decisions for the rest of us.
My wife and I had breakfast with Eric and John in Rotherham the morning after seeing them live, what a surprise, we had booked into the B&B not knowing 🥰 and he signed The Dreamer album I bought. Fantastic artists and decent human beings 😎
Just beautiful - but it always makes me cry . .
FANTASTIC!!
Always brings a tear to my eyes
As an ex soldier this song hits like a sledge hammer. "My" war was nothing on this scale, but it was just as futile, wasteful and obscene.
These lyrics are the most powerful thing about this song. They should never be changed as other renditions do...this is perfection...
Its about hating u all!!-
A fantastic song, it will be analyzed for years to come. Does anyone else appreciate the intertextuality to Wilfred Owen as an example?
good to hear eric sing his own song.
How in holy hell can you write the most note perfect song about the horrors of war *ever* (Matilda) and then somehow do it again (green fields)?
Both songs brings chills to my spine!
Eric Bogle is an icon with a way of absoluteiy telling it how it really isThat said,Bob Dylan'sMasters of War is as stark,and well worth looking up.
I agree completely--well said. i'd hate to meet the 13 people that dislike this one or the 167 that didn't like "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda."
I have written the same sentiment, all require psychiatric help! and I'm not normally mean, served 21 years
absolutely agree with you
Exceptional
I reccomend you all, after listening to this wonderful song, to listen to Hannes Wader - Es ist an der Zeit - the German version. My granddad came though Palestine in 1917-1918, my daugheter's great-great uncle did not survive his first dy of action on the Somme...
This man is up there with the very top of this world's writers