He stood in line to sign his name with all the others there,

The new recruits so young and keen to go and do their share.

To fight for King and country and the things that they held dear,

And to make the world a safer place so no-one lived in fear.

It would be the war to end all wars and they believed it true.

The posters told them come on lads your country's calling you.

We'll all be home by Christmas given half a chance.

So they proudly marched down to the docks and sailed across to France.

The propaganda stories told about the evil Hun,

to make young soldiers want to fight with bayonet and gun,

Were just another weapon used in this crazy game.

And on both sides of the wire the young men died the same.

Four long years the battles raged with ground being won and lost.

The endless shelling, gas and mud and never count the cost.

Their hopes all gone in dark despair no respite from the fire,

in this Hell on earth they called The Somme the death toll rose still higher.

When finally it ended and peace returned once more,

the tired and worn survivors returned to England's shore.

The wounds and scars of battle would heal and mend with time,

but the nightmares and the memories would stay locked inside their minds.

R. Langridge                           back to lyrics                © Langsongs 2001