I’m not sure of the policy here about posting the complete lyrics to a song (fair use and that sort of thing), so here’s a link and they can worry about it.
The General of the Army was on Letterman Monday night and Dave asked him where the tradition of selling “poppies” on Veterans Day came from. The guy didn’t know either.
What a shame.
Next year is the 100th anniversary of the start of WWI. I can’t believe it was that long ago. Both of my grandfathers served in it.
In addition to In Flanders Field, anything by Kilmer evokes WWI to me.
The Dropkick Murphys make me sniffle when they sing a version of that.
“And a whole generation was butchered and damned…”
Well to be fair, it’s a Commonwealth thing to wear them on Nov 11, not an American thing (even though the poppy-wearing idea was an American idea).
They’re more appropriately worn on Memorial Day in May here in the US than on Veterans’ Day, which is probably why you don’t see them often in November and why the General didn’t really know where it came from.
Oakaly Doakaly, Neighboreinro! That was swell!
Don’t get me started on “The Band Played Waltzing Matilda”. John McDermott does good versions of both songs, albeit, IMO sometimes a bit too orchestrated. I like the Eric Bogle versions.