Are You All Cowards?
I was watching a video documentary of the first world war which contained various reminiscences from survivors. One story really seemed to sum up the tragedy and horror of the great war. The person being interviewed had been a sergeant who had broken his leg and so was unable to climb up the ladder and go over the top when the whistles blew. However, not only did he not go over the top, the rest of his squad also remained in the trench. The captain who was frantically blowing his whistle couldn't understand what was happening and he shouted at them "Why don't you go? are you all cowards?" to which the sergeant replied "They can't go, because they're all dead, Sir"
The posters were all over the station
As we climbed aboard the troop train
There were thousands and thousands all cheering
But only hundreds would come back again
On the train we were all singing
We were singing songs of the war
Until we heard the great guns in the distance
And we fell silent and sang them no more
Chorus
"Over the top, or are you all cowards?"
The captain gave his whistle a blow
"They're not cowards they are all dead sir"
Said the sergeant "that's why they won't go"
They never talked of the trenches
They'd kept all the details well hid
We we’re expecting fields of glory
We'd never expected to dig
And on the day the green gas came rolling
I watched my comrades all fall
They were coughing up blood and were retching
As the green gas blinded them all
chorus
My best pal was called Bertie Waltham
He shared all his photos with me
He had a wife and child waiting for him
Back home in old Blighty
But the crash of the shells got to him
And one day he couldn't stand any more
With his rifle and bayonet he ran for the wire
With a scream he escaped from the war
chorus
Years have passed and the war is long over
But there's been several more in between
But this was the war that really mattered
It was the war which ended our dreams
The great guns of France are now silent
But if you listen carefully you'll hear
The shrill sound of whistles still blowing
Echoing down through the years
chorus