The Lancashire Lad 1914-18 War

THE LANCASHIRE LAD 1914-18 Hello Mother, a nurse is writing this for me, I’ve lost my arm and a bit of my leg you see, But I’m up on crutches and hobbling about, So this afternoon, they’re shipping me out! Please tell Maud next door ‘bout Tommy and Joe and the butcher’s lad Jack, I’m very sorry but they’re not coming back; Tommy died at my feet choking in trench, amongst all’ rats, an the stench, And me an Joe went over the top, they told us to run an we hadn’t to stop, When a bullet blew up his face, I didn’t stop mother, I still had to race; Young Jack were frightened an shaking, an he wouldn’t go, So a bloke told him to shoot off his toe But the officer heard him when he let out a loud screaming moan An they took him away mother, an they shot him at dawn. I’m on the ship now mother, I can see the white cliffs of Dover Eeeh, but I’m glad it’s all over. Ay, this ship’s silent mother, it’s as quiet as the grave, We’re all just looking at England, knowing we’ve been saved, And now, I’m standing an looking at that green painted, cracked door An I’m staring, trying to knock but it opens and there you are mother, With your best paisley-pinny, over your frock. An your cheeks have lines like trenches, that I’ve never seen before, An your eyes are wet for every year and more An my dads behind you with a big wet grin, And then mother, my bloody wonderful mother grabbed me by shoulders and said, Where av you bin, get in!”