Is Green Fields of France a Scottish song?
"No Man's Land" (also known as "The Green Fields of France" or "Willie McBride") is a song written in 1976 by Scottish-born Australian folk singer-songwriter Eric Bogle, reflecting on the grave of a young man who died in World War I.
Is The Green Fields of France a rebel song?
Author Eric Bogle says the song was 'subtle reminder' of Irish war dead. Singer-songwriter Eric Bogle said he wrote The Green Fields of France as a response to the anti-Irish sentiment in Britain during the IRA bombing campaign of the 1970s.
Where is Willie McBride buried?
Authuile Military CemeteryThe glorious fallen in 1916 William McBride enlisted in the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in 1915. Just nine months later, on April 22, 1916, he fell on the field of battle. Private William McBride's grave is in Authuile Military Cemetery in northern France.
Where did Willie McBride live?
Initially he worked as an apprentice in Aitkens, Cootehill. He then went to Irvinestown for a short time before moving to work in Belfast. Eager to do his bit for the war effort, Willie enlisted in the army in Belfast just nine months before his death.
Who wrote Greenfields?
Frank MillerTerry GilkysonRichard DehrGreenfields/Composers
Who wrote Waltzing Matilda?
Eric BogleThe Band Played Waltzing Matilda / ComposerEric Bogle is a Scottish-born Australian folk singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Scotland, he emigrated to Australia at the age of 25, to settle near Adelaide, South Australia. Bogle's songs have covered a variety of topics, and have been performed by many artists. Wikipedia
What age was Willie McBride?
Willie was, in fact, 21 at the time of his death. "The song's writer, Eric Bogle, has admitted he used a bit of poetic licence with the age," Trevor said. "Willie was 21, but so were the other William McBrides in Authuile [military cemetery near the Somme].
Who sings green fields of France?
Dropkick MurphysThe Green Fields of France (No Man's Land) / ArtistDropkick Murphys are an American Celtic punk band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. Singer and bassist Ken Casey has been the band's only constant member. Wikipedia
What nationality is Eric Bogle?
ScottishEric Bogle / NationalityEric Bogle is an Australian Scottish-born folk singer/songwriter who emigrated to Australia at the age of 25 in 1969. He became one of Australia's best-known war-themed peace activists and eventually channeled his passion for activism through music.
Origin
The song is widely considered to be a traditional ballad. It was first published in 1910 in John Lomax 's Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads.
Recorded versions
Recordings of the song have been made by Vernon Dalhart, Eddy Arnold, Johnny Cash, Johnny Western, Joan Baez, Burl Ives, Jim Reeves, Roy Rogers, Marty Robbins, Chet Atkins, Arlo Guthrie, Norman Luboff Choir, Rex Allen, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and many country and western singers, as well as avant garde rocker John Cale, the British pop group Prefab Sprout, Snakefarm, Mercury Rev, Jane Siberry, Suzanne Vega, Paul Westerberg, and The Stone Coyotes.
Other versions
The Kingston Trio performed this comedy version as "Laredo?" on their 1961 album College Concert :
Derivative musical works
Billy Bragg has cited this ballad as the musical inspiration for his version of Woody Guthrie 's "The Unwelcome Guest".
Television & cinema
Two verses of this song are sung by a character during a wake in the "Snow White, Blood Red" episode of Murder, she wrote (1988-1989).
External links
Walker, Rob, Linkage with St. James Infirmary Blues (historical investigation).
Historical Background
When cowboys finally reached town after months on the trail, they were eager to shake off the dust and spend their pay. They would get haircuts, take showers, polish their boots, put on fancy shirts, and head for a saloon to drink, play billiards, and gamble. Generally, they were just looking to have a good time in these railhead towns.
Song History
The story of one unfortunate cowboy who met a violent end in one of these towns is told in the song "Streets of Laredo." Laredo is located in Southern Texas and was not one of the early railheads, but there are over a hundred different versions of this ballad set in almost as many towns across the West.
Lyrics
As I walked out in the streets of Laredo As I walked out in Laredo one day I spied a dear cowboy wrapped up in white linen Wrapped up in white linen and cold as the clay
