more from
Whippet Records
We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

The Durham Light Infantry [Single]

by Gary Miller & Ferryhill Town Band

/
  • Streaming + Download

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

      £1.99 GBP  or more

     

  • Limited Edition Compact Disc
    Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Comes in a beautifully designed card wallet with artwork by Helen Temperley at Winkin' Bitsy www.winkinbitsy.com

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Durham Light Infantry [Single] via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

1.
THE DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY When I was but a young lad, I hewed coal below this land, With a pick across me shoulder or a shovel in me hand; But then the Great War came and a spirit of adventure grew, While the posters in the street said, "Your Country Needs You!” Your country needs you! I knew then what I must do. I lined up to volunteer for a soldier's bloody wage, I strode up to the desk and boldly lied about my age; They gave me a serge uniform of ‘Kitchener Blue’, Flags waved, brass bands played and huge crowds cheered too, But no-one really knew just what we’d gotten ourselves into. So we're off me boys, through the hell and the noise, to die for our country, And they’ll raise a cross, to remember the loss of the Durham Light Infantry. In the muddy fields of Flanders, we fought like men from Hell, As the ground itself was ripped apart where all me best mates fell; The lad right next to me took a bullet to the head And in all that hell and madness I wished that I was dead, As the sky wept tears of lead, while the ‘Faithful Durhams’ bled. We buried all our dead, at least those that could be found, As well as bits of bodies that were scattered all around; And it made me sick with anger at the things the War had done, But when one campaign was over they gave us another one, So I still kept marching on, though all me mates were dead and gone. So we're off me boys, through the hell and the noise, to die for our country, And they’ll raise a cross, to remember the loss of the Durham Light Infantry. Let there be no songs of victory upon Armistice Day, For the pathos of the poets can never wash the stains away; And with the Pawns of War, the Masters never will be done, So the ‘Dirty Little Imps’ will still be called upon, Once this ‘War To End All Wars’ is won, to fight on, and on, and on. So we're off me boys, through the hell and the noise, to die for our country, And they’ll raise a cross, to remember the loss of the Durham Light Infantry. (Gary Miller)
2.
[Instrumental] (Composed by Gary Miller / Arranged by Iain Petrie)

about

Commissioned by the DLI Research and Study Centre and Durham County Council for the 12-month DLI Collection travelling exhibition ‘When the Bugle Calls’, launched at Bishop Auckland Town Hall, County Durham, England, on 5th December 2017.

Taken from the forthcoming album ‘From Coalfield to Battlefield’.

credits

released December 8, 2017

When I was but a young lad, I hewed coal below this land,
With a pick across me shoulder or a shovel in me hand;
But then the Great War came and a spirit of adventure grew,
While the posters in the street said, "Your Country Needs You!”
Your country needs you! I knew then what I must do.

I lined up to volunteer for a soldier's bloody wage,
I strode up to the desk and boldly lied about my age;
They gave me a serge uniform of ‘Kitchener Blue’,
Flags waved, brass bands played and huge crowds cheered too,
But no-one really knew just what we’d gotten ourselves into.

So we're off me boys, through the hell and the noise,
To die for our country,
And they’ll raise a cross, to remember the loss
Of the Durham Light Infantry.

In the muddy fields of Flanders, we fought like men from Hell,
As the ground itself was ripped apart where all me best mates fell;
The lad right next to me took a bullet to the head
And in all that hell and madness I wished that I was dead,
As the sky wept tears of lead, while the ‘Faithful Durhams’ bled.

We buried all our dead, at least those that could be found,
As well as bits of bodies that were scattered all around;
And it made me sick with anger at the things the War had done,
But when one campaign was over they gave us another one,
So I still kept marching on, though all me mates were dead and gone.

So we're off me boys, through the hell and the noise,
To die for our country,
And they’ll raise a cross, to remember the loss
Of the Durham Light Infantry.

Let there be no songs of victory upon Armistice Day,
For the pathos of the poets can never wash the stains away;
And with the Pawns of War, the Masters never will be done,
So the ‘Dirty Little Imps’ will still be called upon,
Once this ‘War To End All Wars’ is won, to fight on, and on, and on.

So we're off me boys, through the hell and the noise,
To die for our country,
And they’ll raise a cross, to remember the loss
Of the Durham Light Infantry.

(Gary Miller)


Gary Miller - Vocals
Ferryhill Town Band - Instruments

Band recorded at Mainsforth and District Institute, Ferryhill, 28.11.17.
Vocals recorded at Awake Music, 30.11.17.

Written and Composed by Gary Miller - www.garymillersongs.com
Arranged, Produced and Engineered by Iain Petrie - www.awakemusic.co.uk
Scored by Sam Lord & Iain Petrie
Band Conducted by Gareth Sykes - www.ferryhilltownband.org.uk
Front Cover Illustration, Design & Layout by Helen Temperley - www.winkinbitsy.com

Thanks to: - Peter Atkinson; Andrew Potts of The Ferryhill Town Band; Gillian Kirkbride, Charlie Barron, Debbie Connell; Willie Holdsworth at Mainsforth and District Institute, Ferryhill, County Durham, England.

℗ & © 2017 Whippet Records

WPTCD26

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

contact / help

Contact Gary Miller

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

Gary Miller recommends:

If you like The Durham Light Infantry [Single], you may also like: