So for my last song Im going totally off piste. Its a fairly long post but worth it. We recently commemorated Armistice Day - the day we reflect on all those lives wasted in conflict, noticeably the First World War where some 10 million lives were lost but other wars too over the last century. This year also marks the start of the First World War - some 100 years ago. No one who fought in that war is alive today. Im proud to be one of the 800,000 people who purchased one of the poppies that filled the moat at the Tower of London. This war had a big effect on me and this started whilst I was at school. I had a history teacher called Mr Corrigan and during his lessons on the First World War he didnt hold back on the horrors of trench warfare especially Ypres, the Somme and Passchendaele. So for my final song Im opting for not one but 3 tracks by Iron Maiden. You can take your pick which you select but each track highlights the utter futility of war over the last 100 years. I highly recommend you seek out the lyrics to each track because they will touch you. For a heavy metal band Iron Maidens lyrics are unique in that nearly all tracks have a strong link to some event in history. The attached videos all depict scenes of war most taken from either live footage or war films. Some dont hold back and they can be brutally graphic in places, but then so is war. If youre easily offended just search for the track on Youtube and watch a non video version. You need to copy the link and paste it Im afraid. The first track is Passchendaele - the lyrics describe the horrors of a young 18 year old soldier stuck in the trenches just before the whistle blows sending them over the top to their deaths. The music has video footage from the 2008 film of the same name. This track always brings a lump to my throat at the end because coupled with my understanding of the war no war has ever been so brutal with such carnage for essentially nothing. For the horse lovers amongst you did you know over 8 MILLION horses died on both sides in WW1 - on the Allies Side of over 3.5 Million horses that went to the western front only 62,500 returned alive. The rest were either killed or slaughtered for food (see War Horse). youtube/watch?v=7av6mgdeCkY The same track but with actual footage from WW1 is here youtube/watch?v=jW90MxnwL2U For the lyrics only with song try this youtube/watch?v=k0K8eaB_zis The second track is The Longest Day and describes the D Day landings as seen by the troops about to face what can only be described as hell on earth as they storm the Normandy beaches during WW2. The music is cut with scenes from the opening sequence of Saving Private Ryan a film that has been critically acclaimed as having one of the most realistic ans shockingly striking war scenes ever made. youtube/watch?v=BSJ8rDlBZ_I The third track is called The Greater Good of God. This track basically describes the utter futility of war as seen through the eyes of Jesus and God. The bridge and chorus on this track are particularly striking. Its been cut with actual footage from the Iraq War - hailed as one of the most ineffectual wars since Vietnam. NOTE TO THE EASILY UPSET - this video is actual war footage taken by the press and shows some very graphic images. DO NOT WATCH IF EASILY UPSET - all images have been broadcast on the news across the world though but I guarantee you from about 6 minutes 30 secs in to it unless you are warped in the head you will either cry or hang your head out of shame (no death just the expression of sheer terror on a young Iraqui families faces). youtube/watch?v=E3pxzZYXmaE All the videos have been produced by random people and are not official Iron Maiden Videos. The link below is the video from the film of the same name. It is somewhat brutal so dont watch if upset by war.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 00:38:20 +0000
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