There’s been a lot in the media about WW1 as we’ve just had the centenary of the war’s end in 1918. Most striking for me was Peter Jackson’s film using old black and white clips of soldiers lives, mostly during trench warfare. At the folk club we sang mostly anti-war songs – but, as I often wonder, would I have had the courage to voice such sentiments at the time had I been around? Probably not. My Uncle Ralph (father’s older brother) was a conscientious objector and was first imprisoned and then sent to an asylum where he ended his days nearly fifty years later. The war may have been a case of mass insanity but individuals are likely to be sent insane standing up to the millions bent on destruction.
My song isn’t so original but a worth a go anyway.
WORLD WAR III IS OVER
World War Three is over, now I’m the last one here,
Everything’s radioactive and there’s a funny taste in the beer.
We’ve only got Pot Noodles to last for evermore,
Me and this one lousy cockroach – are fighting it out on the floor.
World War Three is over, like the Planet of the Apes,
Now could they do a better job? Why not for goodness sakes?
They may not use a knife and fork, or drink from a china cup,
But at least they won’t go and build a bomb to blow the whole lot up.
World War Three is over, and there’s no sign of a mate,
So the human race cannot start again, I guess we left it too late.
To talk of love and the Lord above while threatening nuclear war,
But at least over-population – will be a problem no more.
World War Three is over, there’s no one left here but me,
I guess with everybody gone, I may claim the victory.
From here in my concrete bunker, far from our green and pleasant land,
Never to view the sky so blue deep in my coffin so grand.
World War Three is over, it didn’t take very long,
One push of a little red button and the whole wide world was gone.
Gone all civilisation, and life as we know it today,
No more David Attenborough to remind us what we’ve thrown away.
World War Three is over, it’s the ending of all our dreams,
Or could it just be a nightmare and not the way it seems?
I guess I’ll never know for sure, it’s for all of us to decide,
Do we choose to live in peace or keep fighting till everyone’s died?