I had never seen this before and a relative in Australia just sent it to me. I watched it with tears streaming down my face. My father was one of those shot down. His Lancaster was shot down South of Hamburg on the edge of a small town called Beckdorf, on November 11 1944 . After much searching I was finally able to track down the crash site and with help from local officials excavated the site and recovered hundreds of pieces in 2008. Those pieces are now on display in the Museum at the airfield he took off from (East Kirkby Lincs). Thank you so much for this post Like many others it means so much to me, THANK YOU!
I saw him live at Buxton years ago, he was all fun and jokes and everyone was laughing and enjoying the fun then suddenly he sang this. The place went absolutely quiet, the atmosphere changed and people were actually shedding tears. An amazing emotional and touching experience and performance. Whatever happened to this incredibly talented man, we never hear of him anymore?.
I last saw Mike at the Bradford Alhambra and he came on stage to resounding applause and cheers, he started to introduce his next song and strummed the first bar of the song. The theatre fell silent as he sang the song, until he finished when the audience once again erupted into applause and cheers. The song was called “Christmas Eve 1914”. Again a bit of a protest song against warfare but also a memorial for a generation lost.
The crew member referred to as "Curly Thompson" was actually Mike´s own father. Mike wrote the song eventually as a tribute to his father but also as a hymn against the utter stupidity of war.
Politicians everywhere should be made to listen to this, and the poetry of Owen and Sassoon, and to read Remarque. Only then, when they understand, should they be seen fit for office. Even then maybe we should think twice about voting for them.
They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning. We will remember them.
This is a beautiful, deeply personal song that I do not wish to detract from at all. However - there seems to be a good deal of artistic licence. I did a little research. The mission in question was not flown in bright moonlight, but a waxing crescent. They did not dare to fly in moonlight as it meant they were easy prey for the nightfighters. It is also unlikely the bombs were dropped low - this mission used Tallboys and they worked best from high altitude, not to mention the risk from flak if they did bomb from low altitude. Having said that - such s moving song and my nit-picking is not meant as criticism. Just to help people understand. If I'm incorrect at all - please put me right.
@Only Me To be honest everyone should be anti-war. It is a shocking loss of life. And that's from a veteran. I am a Bomber Command researcher, and what these guys did night after night beggars belief. They need to be commemorated, not forgotten or belittled. So should everyone who dies in war. Mike Harding is a legend of mine back when I was a kid, as my dad loved him. Napolean's retreat from Wigan is epic. It was only years later I found out about his dad. I get his message, being anti-war, but back then, Bomber Command aircrew were all volunteers, not a single one of the 125,000 who flew in Bomber Command was conscripted into the job. Louis, or Curly, knew what he was getting into, and went for it. The song is a great memorial to his dad.
the bombers moon although a wonderful tribute is also realistically nonsense....the reason i say that and i quote this from guy gibsons briefing to 617 squadron the night of the dams raid.....gibson said at the briefing that night he said....its a full moon tonight so normal ops are out....we will be the only ones flying so although a wonderful tribute its not realistically accurate
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Not just a great comedian a.great musician a power song will the world ever live in peace?
Beautiful song in memory of his Dad and the young who sacrificed themselves. The one thumbs down did not understand the meaning of this song
I had never seen this before and a relative in Australia just sent it to me. I watched it with tears streaming down my face. My father was one of those shot down. His Lancaster was shot down South of Hamburg on the edge of a small town called Beckdorf, on November 11 1944 . After much searching I was finally able to track down the crash site and with help from local officials excavated the site and recovered hundreds of pieces in 2008. Those pieces are now on display in the Museum at the airfield he took off from (East Kirkby Lincs). Thank you so much for this post Like many others it means so much to me, THANK YOU!
I presume you've been to the memorial outside LIncoln where the names of the KIA crew are displayed. The engraved stones are particularly poignant.
I saw him live at Buxton years ago, he was all fun and jokes and everyone was laughing and enjoying the fun then suddenly he sang this. The place went absolutely quiet, the atmosphere changed and people were actually shedding tears. An amazing emotional and touching experience and performance.
Whatever happened to this incredibly talented man, we never hear of him anymore?.
I spoke to him last week in Settle where he was doing a folk weekend for Ukraine. Never met him before but what a nice genuine guy.
@@johnofypres My wife & I met him in his early years on the folk scene in Lincolnshire a few times.
I last saw Mike at the Bradford Alhambra and he came on stage to resounding applause and cheers, he started to introduce his next song and strummed the first bar of the song. The theatre fell silent as he sang the song, until he finished when the audience once again erupted into applause and cheers. The song was called “Christmas Eve 1914”. Again a bit of a protest song against warfare but also a memorial for a generation lost.
I saw him perform this at Edinburgh playhouse. It reduced a lot of the older audience members to tears. I lost an uncle over Cologne in a Lancaster.
Made me, a 77 year old cry, as it does bring home what my father did in his short time as RNAF bomber pilot. He dies just before I was born.
The crew member referred to as "Curly Thompson" was actually Mike´s own father. Mike wrote the song eventually as a tribute to his father but also as a hymn against the utter stupidity of war.
Song means a lot to me, my Dad was shot down 1944 in a Lancaster. He survived thankfully but two of his crew were lost.
@@Bigmussie1 Your Dad had some good luck, bless him.
Mike harding should run the country what an improvement life would be for those of us in tricky jobs respect to mike a brilliant gent cheers pal
Politicians everywhere should be made to listen to this, and the poetry of Owen and Sassoon, and to read Remarque. Only then, when they understand, should they be seen fit for office. Even then maybe we should think twice about voting for them.
Lovely but tinged with sadness,Lest we forget💙
Wow !! simply Wow
They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning. We will remember them.
Beautiful
let the snow flakes of today melt away. Are bomber boys were so brave.😪
Well that's were they say they want us to go so that's exactly where we are going. Nothing personal gerry.
This is a beautiful, deeply personal song that I do not wish to detract from at all.
However - there seems to be a good deal of artistic licence. I did a little research. The mission in question was not flown in bright moonlight, but a waxing crescent. They did not dare to fly in moonlight as it meant they were easy prey for the nightfighters. It is also unlikely the bombs were dropped low - this mission used Tallboys and they worked best from high altitude, not to mention the risk from flak if they did bomb from low altitude.
Having said that - such s moving song and my nit-picking is not meant as criticism. Just to help people understand. If I'm incorrect at all - please put me right.
@Only Me To be honest everyone should be anti-war. It is a shocking loss of life. And that's from a veteran. I am a Bomber Command researcher, and what these guys did night after night beggars belief. They need to be commemorated, not forgotten or belittled. So should everyone who dies in war. Mike Harding is a legend of mine back when I was a kid, as my dad loved him. Napolean's retreat from Wigan is epic. It was only years later I found out about his dad. I get his message, being anti-war, but back then, Bomber Command aircrew were all volunteers, not a single one of the 125,000 who flew in Bomber Command was conscripted into the job. Louis, or Curly, knew what he was getting into, and went for it. The song is a great memorial to his dad.
1:01
the bombers moon although a wonderful tribute is also realistically nonsense....the reason i say that and i quote this from guy gibsons briefing to 617 squadron the night of the dams raid.....gibson said at the briefing that night he said....its a full moon tonight so normal ops are out....we will be the only ones flying so although a wonderful tribute its not realistically accurate
Yawn.. there's always one...
still listening this this ought to be played msm