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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Jonah Lewis - Stop the Cavalry


Will O'Brien

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Hopefully some forumites of a similar age to myself will remember the one hit wonder Jonah Lewis & his song Stop the Cavalry. It was a semi pseudo anti war type song with Great War overtones & is usually repeated around Christmas. This is in part I guess because of the line 'Wish I was at home for Christmas' which appears within it. As much as I admire Mr Lewis (pronounced Lewie) & his musical efforts the reason for the post is more to do with sleeve the record came in. I admit to once owning a vinyl copy which I stupidly gave away to a friend. I have a vivid memory of the record sleeve having two photograph's on it. One of two young looking Great War soldiers on horseback & the second of another even younger looking soldier wearing full kit & a goat skin jacket but minus the horse.

Firstly can anyone here verify this recollection (will anyone else admit to once buying this record) of what was on the record sleeve.

Secondly if I am correct & if anyone still has the record, can someone verify whether the photos look authentic or mocked up. The reason I ask is that my memory of the second photo is of a soldier so young he could be barely a teenager let alone a man.

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I think you will find the second photo was of a young boy who i believe was an orphan and adopted by a canadian Regiment ? i have seen quite afew photos of this boy over the years at postcard fairs etc, perhaps somebody can tell us more? P.s I have and like the record !!! will try to post other photo tomorrow.

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I was on early Xmas leave when this record was released, which I quite like, and I wasn't too fussed about spending watch on board ship-I was only eighteen. More to the point, what about 'Pipes of Peace', the record Paul McCartney released some three years later--is there any accuracy in the uniforms he was wearing, or his depiction of the Christmas Truce?

Regards,

Dave

PS: I've a feeling I'll be humming these tunes all day now [along with the 'Birdie Song', Rene and Renate, and that b****y 'Whaling Song', or whatever they called it [?]

PPS: I'm still fuming after 25 years that Ultravox was denied the No. 1 spot by Joe Dolce

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Bought it, liked it, still got it somewhere!

Arm

Ps Might have Rene and Renata somewhere too :ph34r:

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There's no accounting for taste. We'll have to get together and form a cheesy 80s disco--complete with strobe lighting. Coincidently, I'm just on my way out, and Chico's on GMTV plugging 'D.I.S.C.O.', or as we used to sing to our mam, 'B.I.N.G.O.' Now that is a classic.

Keep on Grooving,

Dave

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one hit wonder

You`ll always find me in the kitchen at parties !

Roland. ;)

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Two pints of lager and a packet of crisps please.

Wrong group Bep that was Splodgenessabounds... :rolleyes: Do try and keep up with me.

Nice avatar by the way. Mods are going to have a busy day today methinks !

Roland.

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I always thought I was the same age as madonna but just heard on the news she's 2 years older..thats cheered me up.

Mick

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Wrong group Bep that was Splodgenessabounds... :rolleyes: Do try and keep up with me.

Roland.

I thought it was 'One Hit Wonders'?

'Shaddup You Face' Rolando :rolleyes:

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Call me a softie, but Rolf Harris's 'Two Little Boys' always brings a lump to my throat. And another with military overtones which I've always liked is Roger Whittaker's 'The Last Farewell'. Anyone know if either is supposed to refer to the Great War?

One hit wonders? 'Don't Worry - Be Happy.'

Ciao,

GAC

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ever listened to the words of "all together now" by "the farm"?

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Call me a softie, but Rolf Harris's 'Two Little Boys' always brings a lump to my throat. And another with military overtones which I've always liked is Roger Whittaker's 'The Last Farewell'. Anyone know if either is supposed to refer to the Great War?

One hit wonders? 'Don't Worry - Be Happy.'

Ciao,

GAC

I don't think "The Last Farewell" is Great War related. Aren't the lyrics something like :

There's a ship lies rigged and ready in the harbour

Next evening for old England she sails

Far away from your land of endless sunshine

To my land full of rainy skies and gales

Land of endless sunshine? Doesn't sound much like France & Flanders to me...

(I got those lyrics off the top of my head. Did I hear the word 'sad'? :) )

P.S. That's 'sad', not SAD, by the way, just to keep the mods at bay :ph34r:

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As montbrehain says, All Together Now is Great War related as well, though I wonder how many people who have heard the song actually know that...

Remember boy that your forefathers died

Lost in their millions for their country's pride

Never mention the trenches of Belgium

etc

I'm going to stop now before I am confirmed as a total sad case...

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I don't think "The Last Farewell" is Great War related. Aren't the lyrics something like :

There's a ship lies rigged and ready in the harbour

Next evening for old England she sails

Far away from your land of endless sunshine

To my land full of rainy skies and gales

Land of endless sunshine? Doesn't sound much like France & Flanders to me...

I get the impression that it is a song being sung by a sailor returning to Europe for a war, which might have been WW1. He is leaving someone behind on a tropical island.

Roger Whittaker

The Last Farewell

There's a ship lies rigged and ready in the harbour

Tomorrow for old England she sails

Far away from your land of endless sunshine

To my land full of rainy skies and gales

And I shall be on board that ship tomorrow

Though my heart is full of tears at this farewell

For you are beautiful und I have loved you dearly

More dearly than the spoken word can tell

For you are beautiful und I have loved you dearly

More dearly than the spoken word can tell.

I heard there's a wicked war ablazing

And the taste of war I know so very well

Even now I see the foreign flag araising

Their guns on fire as we sailed into hell

I have no fear of death it brings no sorrow

But how bitter will be this last farewell

For you are beautiful and I have loved you dearly .

Though death and darkness gather all about me

And my ship be torn apart upon the sea

I shall smell again the fragrance of these islands

In the heaving waves that brought me once to thee

And should I return safe home again to England

I shall watch the English mist roll through the dell

For you are beautiful and I have loved you dearly

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'All Together Now' by the Farm was the England 'team song' for Euro 2004:

'The members of FA are saying that "All together now", which was originally written about the Christmas Day truce during the First World War when British and German soldiers played football on No Man's Land, has what it takes to earn a place in footballing history.'

Roxy

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Does anyone know the B-side of 'Two Pint of Lager and a Packet of Crisps'. I'm almost sure it was a tribute-and I use the term loosely-to Albert Tatlock of Coronation Street, but my mates say I'm making it up.

Just to keep the Mods happy, I believe that the character who played 'Uncle Albert, served in the Lancashire Fusiliers.

While I'm on the subject, has anyone noticed the picture which hangs behind Ken Barlow's front door. It looks like an angel of sorts looking down on a Boy Scout. . Also, does anyone know who the portrait of the soldier is who hangs in the 'Greengrass House' in Heartbeat?

I must get out more!

Dave

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ever listened to the words of "all together now" by "the farm"?

All Together Now -The Farm

Remember boy that your forefather's died

Lost in millions for a country's pride

Never mention the trenches of Belgium

When they stopped fighting and they were one

A spirit stronger than war was at work that night

December 1914 cold, clear and bright

Countries' borders were right out of sight

They joined together and decided not to fight

All together now, all together now

All together now in no man's land (together)

All together now (all together), all together now (all together)

All together now (together, together)

In no man's land (together, together)

The same old story again

All those tears shed in vain

Nothing learnt and nothing gained

Only hope remains

All together now, all together now

All together now in no man's land (together)

All together now (all together), all together now (all together)

All together now in no man's land (together)

All together now (all together now), all together now (all together now)

All together now (together, together)

In no man's land (together, together)

The boys had their say, they said no (all together now)

Stop the slaughter, let's go home

Let's go, let's go (all together now)

Let's go (all together now), let's go home

All together now (together, together)

In no man's land (together, together)

All together now (all together now), all together now (all together)

All together now (together, together)

In no man's land (together, together

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Does anyone know the B-side of 'Two Pint of Lager and a Packet of Crisps'. I'm almost sure it was a tribute-and I use the term loosely-to Albert Tatlock of Coronation Street, but my mates say I'm making it up.

It was called " Simon Templar " a tribute to The Saint.

Make your mates some tea !

Roland

ps there was a third track called Michael Booths talking bum.......didn`t know that did you JC...!!

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There was a B-side of a 70's record mentioning Albert Tatlock - I can't recall the name but IIRC it was the B-side to 'Into the Valley' by The Skids.

Ah the 70's!

Roxy

Just googled - TV Stars by The Skids

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ps there was a third track called Michael Booths talking bum.......didn`t know that did you JC...!!

No I didn't Roland - I'm a bit sorry to know it now to be honest :o

Jim :P

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