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Sister of Mercy

from Reflections on War by Gary Miller

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Comes in a gorgeous digipak with a highly attractive 16-page full colour booklet including lyrics to all songs, beautiful individual full-colour track artwork (original paintings, drawings and sketches) and photos courtesy of York Museums Trust, individual track descriptions, CD liner notes by Gary Miller and Gaby Lees (York Art Gallery), photographs from the recording sessions featuring each individual session artist, photographs from the York Art Gallery workshop sessions, credits, etc.

    Includes FREE Postage for a limited time.

    IMPORTANT MESSAGE for non-UK buyers:
    Please be aware that if you are ordering from outside the UK, due to reasons beyond our control, you may be liable for additional charges, e.g. customs tax. Please note: we will NOT refund payment for any items refused or returned to us due to non-payment of these charges at point of delivery.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Reflections on War via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ... more
    ships out within 7 days

      £6.99 GBP

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £0.69 GBP

     

about

Inspired by the War Diary of Miss Gwyneth Thomas S.R.N., R.F.N., S.C.M. (1908-2001) (“a simple, straightforward and immediate account of her experiences in London during the war years of 1939-45. During those years, she was first a ward sister at Highgate Hospital and then, later, an administrative sister at Lewisham Hospital”) and the writings of Susan Elizabeth Elliot (her niece).

lyrics

SISTER OF MERCY

A kind angel does her rounds
As the bombs fall all around
Never ceasing, never failing
Her young heart pounds
So very, very weary, constantly weary
Through eyes tired and bleary she smiles

She says, "God deems I will survive
I thank God that I'm alive
To comfort and to strive
Where but for the grace of God go I"

She calms the sobbing ones
Who quake in terror of the bombs
Brightened by a good sing-song
They pray their nightmare won't last long
Just to know that she was there to keep them from despair
Their need lends courage to keep her going strong

She says, "I live from day to day
I see each bombing raid's display
As the ack-acks strafe and stray
And the casualty list rises every day"

Like the Lady of the Lamp, burning bright
This Rose of Heaven brings comfort, love and light
While underneath the lamplight no nightingale sings
In Berkeley Square the sirens sing

While a city burns to the ward she returns
And the wild-eyed stares of those who need her care
She will constantly be there
The Sister of Mercy heeds their prayers

Hardly time for a cup of tea
Oh for a nice cup of tea!
In the cover point she sleeps
In slumber dead and deep
In her uniform she lies for two hours at a time
And then it's time to rise and start again

Like the Lady of the Lamp, burning bright
This Rose of Heaven brings comfort, love and light
While underneath the lamplight no nightingale sings
In Berkeley Square the sirens sing

While a city burns to the ward she returns
And the wild-eyed stares of those who need her care
She will constantly be there
The Sister of Mercy heeds their prayers

A kind angel does her rounds
As the bombs fall all around
Never ceasing, never failing
Her young heart pounds
While a city burns

(Gary Miller)

credits

from Reflections on War, released January 1, 2010
Gary Miller - vocals, guitar, percussion
Iain Petrie - electric guitar, bass, drums, percussion, backing vocals
Ali Petrie - keyboards

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Gary Miller Durham, UK

Gary Miller first rose to international prominence with folk-punk/rock pioneers The Whisky Priests (1985-2002), founded with his twin brother Glenn - “the Joe Strummer and Mick Jones of Folk Music". He now performs as a solo artist and with his new band 'Gary Miller's Big Picture' whose debut album is coming soon. ... more

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