Continuing the First World War Armistice Day centenary, a trio of some of the finest songs about war from the British singer and composer from her acclaimed 2011 album Let England Shake.
The Words That Maketh Murder includes Harvey on the autoharp, as well as John Parish on guitar and former Nick Cave collaborator Mick Harvey on bass and drums. It’s a painfully beautiful protest against the horrors of war, and failed political actions that cause it, a visceral description of physical results, and also refers to other more contemporary conflicts as well at the Great War, such as in Afghanistan.
The heavily ironic The Glorious Land concentrates on the effects of war, with grisly images of deformed children. This one doesn’t use the autoharp, but electronic beats combined with the more ghostly sound of guitar played on the 8th fret, and a bugle call sampled from Regimental March performed by HM Irish Guards.
On Battleship Hill also featuring the autoharp and Harvey’s extraordinary high, soaring voice, refers to refers to The Battle of Sari Bair, the final attempt made by Allied troops in August 1915 to seize control of the Gallipoli peninsula from the Ottoman Empire. It led to an ill-fated campaign that included this vantage point, leading to heavy losses, including many Australian troops.
I've seen and done things I want to forget;
I've seen soldiers fall like lumps of meat
Blown and shot out beyond belief
Arms and legs were in the trees
I've seen and done things I want to forget;
Coming from an unearthly place
Longing to see a woman's face
Instead of the words that gather pace
The words that maketh murder
These, these, these are the words
The words that maketh murder
These, these, these are the words
The words that maketh murder
These, these, these are the words
The words that maketh murder
These, these, these are the words
Murder
(These, these, these are the words
The words that maketh murder
These, these, these are the words
The words that maketh murder)
I've seen and done things I want to forget;
(These, these, these are the words
The words that maketh murder)
I've seen a corporal whose nerves were shot
(These, these, these are the words
The words that maketh murder)
Climbing behind the fierce, gone sun
(These, these, these are the words
The words that maketh murder)
I've seen flies swarming everyone
(These, these, these are the words
The words that maketh murder)
Soldiers fell like lumps of meat
(These, these, these are the words
The words that maketh murder)
These are the words, the words are these
Death lingering, stunk
Flies swarming everyone
Over the whole summit peak
Flesh quivering in the heat
This was something else again
I fear it cannot explain
The words that make, the words that make
Murder
What if I take my problem to the United Nations?
What if I take my problem to the United Nations?
What if I take my problem to the United Nations?
What if I take my problem to the United Nations?
What if I take my problem to the United Nations?
What if I take my problem to the United Nations?
What if I take my problem to the United Nations?
What if I take my, what if I take my problem to the United Nations?
[Verse 1]
How is our glorious country ploughed?
Not by iron ploughs
How is our glorious country ploughed?
Not by iron ploughs
Our land is ploughed by tanks and feet
Feet marching
Our land is ploughed by tanks and feet
Feet marching
[Chorus]
Oh America, oh England
Oh America, oh England
[Verse 2]
How is our glorious country sown?
Not with wheat and corn
How is our glorious country sown?
Not with wheat and corn
How is our glorious land bestowed?
How is our glorious land bestowed?
[Chorus]
Oh America, oh England
Oh America, oh England
Oh America, oh England
Oh America, oh England
[Refrain]
What is the glorious fruit of our land?
Its fruit is deformed children
What is the glorious fruit of our land?
Its fruit is deformed children
What is the glorious fruit of our land?
Its fruit is orphaned children
What is the glorious fruit of our land?
Its fruit is deformed children
The scent of thyme carried on the wind
Stings my face into remembering
Cruel nature has won again
Cruel nature has won again
On Battleship Hill's caved in trenches
A hateful feeling still lingers
Even now, 80 years later
Cruel nature, cruel, cruel nature
The land returns to how it's always been
Thyme carried on the wind
Jagged mountains, jutting out
Cracked like teeth in a rotten mouth
On Battleship Hill I hear the wind
Say, "Cruel nature has won again"
Cruel nature has won again
Cruel nature has won again
Cruel nature has won again
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