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Home By Christmas (In The Bleak Mid Winter)

from Still In The War, Boys! by The Crows Of Albion

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about

It was a common assumption in 1914 that the war would be 'over by Christmas' and that the British troops would be safely back at home by then. This belief was stupendously optimistic in the circumstances. The incident in this track is assumed to have occurred on 24th December 1914.
POETRY FORM: Villanelle

lyrics

Home By Christmas

I fear I let my feelings rule my head,
that you would have no trouble getting leave.
You would be home by Christmas as they said.

All through the Autumn, sleeping cold in bed,
I dreamt of all our marriage would achieve.
I fear I let my feelings rule my head.

Not since the day that both of us were wed
had we missed carols, sung that holy eve.
You would be home by Christmas as they said.

Yet, as the letters came, all proudly read,
your tales of valour soon made me believe.
I fear I let my feelings rule my head.

Friends home on leave said you had taken lead -
only wounded, it hardly tore your sleeve.
You would be home by Christmas as they said.

The truth was that my husband, dear, was dead -
His body boxed and sent back, I could grieve.
I fear I let my feelings rule my head,
you would be home by Christmas as they said.

-------------------------------

In the bleak mid winter, frosty winds made moan.
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone.
Snow had fallen snow on snow, snow upon snow
in the bleak mid winter - many years ago.

credits

from Still In The War, Boys!, released October 3, 2014
The lyrics to the popular Christmas Carol 'In The Bleak Mid Winter' used in this track, were written by Christina Rossetti

license

all rights reserved

tags

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