This is a song I improvised on Remembrance Sunday 2009 after reading for the first time the poem "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae (1872-1918). I posted my recording of the song briefly the same day, but wasn't sure if it worked or not, so I almost immediately deleted the post. Now however, I think perhaps I should be suitably brave and post it for Armistice Day/Veteran's Day itself regardless of my personal thoughts. Whatever else, it is an instinctive reaction to an emotive poem, and valuable as a record of that moment.
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Note: I made a few edits to the original recording, a couple of which you can surely hear, but apart from that the song here is exactly as it was improvised and recorded in one take on the day. My thanks to the wonderful Amélie Carter for posting the link which inspired me to improvised the song:
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/flanders.htm
and for the photo of the poppies. :)
