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A Deserter's Tale

by The Id

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picklechip3
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picklechip3 I am moved by this album. Not just by the musicality, concept or the fact that it is so captivating, but, that, having had the privilege to have nursed 'Old Souls' who saw action around the time the album is set...It speaks to the soul...Lest we forget...but still we do.
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1.
Village Life 05:12
Looking back  All those memories We made our way  To the stream that day Fun and dreams Blindly stumbling Lost for words  As my eyes gazed upon her face For the very first time Looking back  On yesterday We thought we'd be together Till we're old and grey But soon the fates tore us apart Whatever happens you're still in my heart Little did we know how things would change Clouds were gathering Clouds were gathering Blissful unawareness Immune to the world's unfairness Back then we couldn't care less If only we knew of the horrors to come I couldn't see what lay ahead of me I can't see what's ahead of me My destiny's unknown (Until fade)
2.
Battle Cry 05:30
They say it will last It'll last 'til Christmas  So if I go Then I'll be back soon When I'm not here May your thoughts be with me Although you hate this I can't change my tune They say it will last It'll last 'til Christmas  I feel that I need To do my best To take up the fight  For King and Country And with good fortune I hope I'll be blessed I know I have to go away But keep my love within your heart So I hold my head with dignity and hope In the days that we're apart And when the battle's been and gone When we've fought to right the wrong I'll look forward to you're open arms again To bring me back where I belong They say it will last It'll last 'til Christmas  A few meagre months  Will see this done I hope that my God Will venture with me And remains there 'Til the war is won And soon I march away To help to heal humanity To put an end to this insanity And bring a light to all this grey  And as I march away Forever and a day My love for you grows much more stronger than you know It's too deep for me to say They say it will last It'll last 'til Christmas  I hope that my heart Will stand the test To lay down my life For King and Country For all my misgivings  I hope I'll do my best  They say it will last It'll last 'til Christmas  All that I know is What will be will be I'm taking the fight  For King and Country Over the ocean And beyond the sea
3.
Left right Left right... Keep your shoulders back boy! Come on lads It's time to go Sign the form and Join the show Time to give The Hun what-for Come on boys  Let's go to war! Say hello to Discipline We've got a fight To go and win Come along Don't muck about Let's wave the flag And shout the shout With a call to arms  We'll fight the fight  We'll show the Hun who's  Wrong and right A bloody nose Will teach him well We'll deal it out With bomb and shell Left right left right... Claim your rations Be well-fed With bully beef And jam and bread Tommies know How to survive So join up now And feel alive! Come and face A few whizz-bangs Satisfy  Your hunger pangs For fisticuffs With n'er do wells Let's go and send The Hun to hell With a call to arms  We'll put things right We'll fly the flag And fight the fight  A bloody nose Will teach him good Intentions Will be understood Deserter's thoughts…. Am I right or am I wrong Will joining up  Mean that I belong? With my best friend here  Nothing can go wrong? Come on lads  Let's do what's right An end to this Is now in sight A chance for us to  Set things true  A peaceful end For me and you  So get yer rifle And tin hat Come along  Let's chew the fat All as one  Up to the front To deal a blow Both sharp and blunt But with a call to arms  We'll bash the Bosche  We'll put an end To all this tosh A bloody nose Will teach them right they'll  Learn the hell that Comes from Blighty Left right left right Chests out You're in the army boys Come on... Shoulder arms!
4.
It really comes as no surprise  As I look straight into his eyes Pointing finger beckons me "With your help we'll all be free" Soon I'd hear the battle cries  Fooled by Kitchener's haunting lies!
5.
Instrumental
6.
As I sit with thoughts of what might lay ahead I hold the memories of things we did and said And though my future may be cold and grey My thoughts wander back to yesterday Here behind the lines Behind the lines Here behind the lines Behind the lines
7.
The Front 05:24
My future beckons me And I feel quite alone A coldness enters me My heart feels like a stone The icy consequence Chills me to the bone If there's a God above me Please give your strength To me now Please give your comfort to me Now in my hour of need And Grace, I long to hold you in my arms again Your love Is always with me And Mum and Dad Please remember me Did I turn out right? Just how you hoped I'd be? In the time we had I'm sure you will agree That all the love we shared Will stay with you and me Now I'm faced with fear The future's clear Faith, love and hope Please don't abandon me Please don't go Not now Now that I'm here
8.
Grace 04:50
Oh, As I look upon your face You fill me with such grace All my nightmares crumble Under me Chorus ------- Our love is growing stronger I can't wait any longer I look to a lifetime Of being with you I long to be beside you Ask you to be my bride too No need to hide, my feelings Come into view Your face Makes it easy to erase All the darker days As your beauty washes over me A rose Now the summer has closed And an autumn wind blows Your petals falling over me Chorus -------- Now I am so far from you My half is not whole without you My heart explodes with tender Feelings for you Hope I'm not wrong to ask you Hope that you feel the same way too I want to hear you say those words "I do" It's plain What your photo retains Takes me back to that day Oh the first time i set eyes on you The stream Oh such a wonderful dream Cause these nightmarish scenes To slowly drift away from me Instrumental ----------- I pray That the time I am away Is as short as they say I long to be back with you I pray that my future is safe How I long for that day When I can be at home with you When I can be alone with you When I can be at home with you Grace….
9.
The Wait 00:23
Here I stand Rifle in hand Fearing what waits In no-man's land
10.
Over the Top 08:54
Come on now lads, there'll be no time for fear And you have to do your best My heart beats faster as his words ring in my ears A rolling volley in my chest My trigger finger now is numb with cold But not as numb As my soul All around me is the acrid scent of death I can smell it in the air Do I really have to take my final breath Or will my life be spared My trigger finger now is numb with cold But not as numb As my soul Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh Help me please Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh I'm on my knees My body caked with mud, and tears stream down my face Dear God, please, don't want to die I never wanted to be in this awful place I still don't know the reason why Lord Kitchener, he said he wanted me But I just want To be free Can't bear the thought of staying in this awful trench Thick with vermin, lice and mud But though I long to get away from this foul stench Don't make me pay with my own blood Lord Kitchener, he said he wanted me But I just want To be free Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh I'm on my knees Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh Help me please Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh I'm on my knees Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh Help me please I recall those words I can see what's ahead of me My destiny's now known I can see what's ahead of me My destiny's now known I can see what's ahead of me My destiny's now known I can see what's ahead of me My destiny's now known It was never part of my life's plan To take the life of any man And all I really want to be Is with my loving family No, it was never part of my life's plan To take the life of any man Please God, I beg you hear my plea I just want to be free Please find my loved ones And say I love them They're where I want to be And my darling Grace I long to see her face And hold her close to me Oh for one embrace In this wretched place cos I don't know what will be but Tell my Mum and Dad It is here That I'll find my destiny
11.
As I watch over them The paper in her hand I know my name lives on And hasn't turned to sand Place it so gently now There for all to see No more than broken trees The pardon they gave me Never too late No it's Never too late Too late to tell the truth And as they walk away Tears are in their eyes One last glance for me In the broken war-torn skies Mama I’m so afraid My best friend’s body Lying next to me Can’t take the pain That’s in my head Stay here and I’ll end up dead Help me Please help me I have to run It’s my only chance No place for me in this madman’s dance Must get home Where I’ll be free See my loved ones who care for me Gazing down to Where the poppies grow Like drops of blood Amongst the winter’s snow A hero’s send off For the fallen ones While three hundred die With bullets fired from ‘friendly’ guns War is not a game Home I’ve got to get home The mud The mire The flames the fire Please help me I hear them Their footsteps closing in on me These angry faces will be the last I’ll ever see And now the blindfold that is meant for me The air is thick with blood that’s laced with fear God help me! Please help me get away from here To you it’s just a game War is just a game The thoughts of home flood in To save me from the truth A thousand memories The bleeding bloom of youth And there before me My Mother beckons me To give me comfort for The day I will not see War is not a game War is not a game War is not a game
12.
Far and Away 04:57
I am...here Nothing Everything No one Someone All-seeing All-feeling I remember all Yet nothing The light So bright Grieving Receiving Believing Yes I am believing Being I am...home
13.
Lest we forget All the pain and regret They did not grow old Like those that were left At the setting of sun And the breaking of dawn Let our minds wander back To those times so forlorn Lest we forget All the pain and regret A clashing of sides A losing of lives Let us hope from now on No more nations collide It's important no more Come along for the ride

about

World War 1 saw the execution of 306 British and Commonwealth soldiers. The executions, of mainly non-commissioned ranks for crimes such as desertion and cowardice, remained a source of controversy with some believing that many of those executed should be pardoned as they were suffering from what is now known to be shell shock and post-traumatic stress disorder.

A Deserter's Tale pays tribute to the 306...

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released April 30, 2016

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The Id Maidstone, UK

The Id are a band who have never met.

We collaborate online as band members live in Canada, Norway, Japan and the U.K.

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