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on remembrance day

from over here in the trees by vincent burke

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about

Last year slitting in Cub Church Parade with my children I felt that being one of those who had opposed recent wars had become an unacceptable position. I know that in the First World War a lot of young men were ordered to fight, and many of them died. Over the 100 years since then however Britain has been at war around the world every single year. A lot of these wars were not supported by most British people. Yet despite this, media comment around remembrance day has become a compulsory celebration of the military. At the BBC wearing a red poppy appears to be a requirement not a choice. The Church of England meanwhile has continued to support every single one of these wars.

So what should we do?
A red poppy feels like an endorsement of all the wars since 1914, a white poppy can look disrespectful to the dead, and no poppy at all may be avoiding the issue.

Last remembrance day when I brought the children home from church parade I wrote a song about the tension I felt seeing the army venerated in a Church.
It was played on Radio3 in the Spring and will be performed as part of a respectful but peaceful demonstration on remembrance day this year.

If you would like to see the accompanying video it is on Youtube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPLtSkILwvs

lyrics

on remembrance day:

on remembrance day
when the army prays
and the flags go up
to remind us that they do it for us

on remembrance day
by the flower display
where the church explains
how the heroes keep the villains away

there I’ll tell it to the careless wind
there I’ll tell you when the good guys win

on remembrance day
I should stay away
from the bbc
where they tell you what a real man should be
and the children watch
as the vicar walks around with a cross
‘cos to love is fine
if you do it at a sensible time

there I’ll tell it to the careless wind
there I’ll tell you when the good guys win

yes I’ll save it for the next of kin
on remembrance day
on remembrance day
on remembrance day.

credits

from over here in the trees, released January 17, 2019

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vincent burke UK

“So beautifully original..stunning songs” -Tom Robinson BBC6Music

‘‘You think how come everyone hasn’t heard this?” - Max Reinhardt Late Junction Radio 3

"Wonderful and dark…just as i like em!” - Chris Difford. Squeeze

"it jumps out of the speakers for sheer quality and sincerity’’ - Tom Robinson
... more

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