We never feel anger, or even despair,
And they never know we are listening there.
Their words are like diesel, and lying congealed
Like blood on the cross on our old battlefield.
Oh listen, please listen. Can we have our say?
At the rise of the sun and the end of the day,
We sacrificed nothing; gave nothing away.
Old Ginger stood by me, 'til he lost his eyes –
When the gas hovers, half of the regiment dies –
And Albie got frightened and started to run;
The coup de grâce
Came from our own Captain's gun.
Oh listen, please listen. Can we have our say?
At the rise of the sun and the end of the day,
We sacrificed nothing; gave nothing away.
And some of you made it, like Willie John Moore –
A poor old man, there he still stands to be sure –
Alone with his memories, and Corporal Lee,
Remembering Ginger and Albie and me.
Oh listen, please listen. Can we have our say?
At the rise of the sun and the end of the day,
We sacrificed nothing; gave nothing away.
Now the crosses remain where the graves have been filled,
But none of us ever joined up to be k**ed.
We volunteered proudly and died in our hosts.
Now armies of ageless battalions of ghosts
Say listen, please listen. Can we have our say?
At the rise of the sun and the end of the day,
We sacrificed nothing; gave nothing away –
Oh listen, please listen. Can we have our say?
At the rise of the sun and the end of the day,
We sacrificed nothing; gave nothing away –
Gave nothing away –
At the end of the day.