Songs from the Great War (First World War)

Songs from the Great War (First World War)

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If any ask us why we died
Tell them 'Because our fathers lied'.
- Kipling

20 million lives were lost in the First World War, and an entire generation of young people traumatised. It was known as the war of the trenches, and it was a war in which men from all social classes were involved, often fighting together in inhuman conditions. Most were not soldiers by choice or profession. Outside of the army, they were ordinary people. Some were well known writers and poets, like Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon. Their work can be found in the Oxford University Seminar on Trench Poetry and Songs. There is also a large online archive of photos, writings and historical record, which tell us something of that war which now seems so far away and long ago.

When this lousy war is over

Not all trench writers were famous. Not all were polite. So some very well known hymns took on very colourful lyrics. One was Joseph Scriven's What a friend we have in Jesus. From the trenches came When this lousy war is over:

     When this lousy war is over no more soldiering for me,
     When I get my civvy clothes on, oh how happy I shall be.
     No more church parades on Sunday, no more begging for a pass.
     You can tell the sergeant-major to stick his passes up his arse.

     (Repeat first two lines of first verse)
     No more NCOs to curse me, no more rotten army stew.
     You can tell the old cook-sergeant, to stick his stew right up his flue. 

     (Repeat first two lines of first verse)
     No more sergeants bawling, 'Pick it up' and 'Put it down'
     If I meet the ugly bastard I'll kick his arse all over town

At the Island School Christmas Concert (password required) the Senior Boys Choir performed a cleaner version, with much less strong language!

     When this lousy war is over,
     No more soldiering for me,
     When I get my civvy clothes on,
     Oh how happy I shall be,
     No more church parades on Sunday,
     No more putting in for leave,
     I will miss the Sergeant-Major,
     How he'll miss me how he'll grieve.

After all, they *were* doing it in the school hall, in front of young ears too...

We are Fred Karno's Army

Another very entertaining trench song was:

     We are Fred Karno's army, the ragtime infantry.
     We cannot fight, we cannot shoot, what bleeding use are we?
     And when we get to Berlin we'll hear the Kaiser say,
     'Hoch, hoch! Mein Gott, what a bloody rotten lot, are the ragtime infantry'

- Sung to the tune of "The Church's One Foundation".
Fred Karno was a comedian of the time, and this was probably a send-up of "Kitchener's Army".

"Oh! What a Lovely War!" (sent in by Arthur Kaff)

A point of interest - Many of these songs were used in the musical revue "Oh! What a Lovely War!"

Island School did a great production of this musical in 1979. Island School alumni who attended the school in the late 1970s may remember this. John Barham served as musical director. I am proud to say that I played the trombone in the orchestra for this show.

Oh! What A Lovely War! is a show that was originally produced in London, in the late 1960s or early 1970s, I believe. I think there was also a short run in New York. There is also a movie version. I have learned that the show is sometimes revived from time to time. On the surface it is an enjoyable comedy with some great musical numbers. Underneath this surface, however, is a biting satire on the horrors of war.

The book for "Oh What A Lovely War!" was written by Charles Chilton and members of the original London cast. The show uses a large number of World War I songs. The Island School production of the show in 1979 was produced by Joan Durr, choreographed by Linda Childs, with musical direction by John Barham.

Arthur Kaff, class of 1980

Trench Songs

In order of appearance, the songs chosen for the concert (probably by David James) were:

Oh it's a lovely war (lyrics)
Pack Up Your Troubles (lyrics)
We are Fred Karno's army (lyrics)
It's a long way to Tipperary (lyrics)
The bells of Hell (lyrics)
I want to go home (lyrics)
Bombed last night (lyrics)
Hush, here comes a Whizzbang (lyrics)
I don't want to join the Army (lyrics)
?
When this Lousy war is over (lyrics)

There are of course different versions for many of the songs. If you have any others please send the words in to info@ishk.org.

When this lousy war is over

We are Fred Karno's Army

Trench Songs

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