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Please Remember Me

by Chris Albery-Jones

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about

Inspired by the personal stories of WW1, I wrote this song with my wife for Remembrance Day and marking 100 years since the end of the war.

We started writing on the night of Friday 9th November 2018 and finished this rough recording at 5am Sunday 11th. We were tired, but at least we weren’t in the trenches.

Any money paid will be donated to The Royal British Legion. But they will receive more if you donate directly, so please download for free and give what you can here:

www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-give/make-a-donation

lyrics

Elsie loved the music hall
‘Til it took her boy away
The place where she first kissed him
Now sent him to his grave

And it wasn’t the fault
of the artiste of the day
Whose duty was, twice nightly
to stand on the stage and play

“We don’t want to lose you but
We think you ought to go”
And a hand upon his shoulder
Softly stole him from her so

And she’s so very proud of him
But late at night, alone
She whispers to herself “Oh god,
oh please don’t let him go”

But before he could return
He was blistered, he was burned
It was a field hospital nurse
Who strained to hear his final words

Please tell my Elsie and my unborn little one:
I fought this war for you my darlings
So you might be free to run
So please remember me
And remember I love you
Remember what we fought for here
So you may never have to

The officer asked Charlie
To say what his birth year is
He’d worked out the arithmetic
And said “eighteen ninety… six”

The sergeant looked him in the eye
Then wrote it on the form
Our Pals’ Brigade needs men like you
No matter when you’re born

Soon he was in the trenches
With Carrot Stanley from next door
Side by side with Raj and
Kishan all the way from Bangalore

And in no time at all
These friends began to fall
And they’d whisper their last words
To whomever heard them call

Please tell my family and my girl
I fought this war for you my darlings
So you might be free in this world
Please remember me
And remember I love you
Remember what we fought for here
So you may never have to
Mary would have shipped out
With them if they’d let her sign
Instead she worked munitions
Which was safe, unlike the front line

And Georgie fought his way back to her
all though Paschendale
Came all the way back home
Only to hear this bitter tale

That Mary had been packing
Shells in Woolwich factory
And she had died on Tuesday
Yellowed by the TNT

And his best friend “Lucky” Thompson
Who got back with scarce a scratch
Was dead a fortnight later
Spanish Flu had turned him black

On wards, home and abroad
From the mouths of broken men
The sisters heard their final words
Time and time again

Please tell your daughters and your sons
We fought this war for you, my darlings
So you might be free to run
So please remember us
And what we gave for you
Remember what we fought for and
Remember we love you

credits

released November 11, 2018
Performed by Chris Albery-Jones
Written by Chris & Charlotte Albery-Jones

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about

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Chris Albery-Jones England, UK

Multi-instrumentalist singer songwriter, born in London, now based in Hampshire.

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