Songs with meanings
‘Oh What a Lovely War’
A musical
What does to
mean mean?
`
‘Lions led by donkeys’?
‘Lions led by donkeys’ is a phrase used by some
people to describe the leadership of British
soldiers by incompetent generals during World
War I
The TV series ‘Blackadder Goes Forth’
The works of poets
Wilfred Owen and Sigfried Sassoon
‘The General’ – Sigfried Sassoon
‘Good-morning, good-morning!’ the General said
When we met him last week on our way to the line.
Now the soldiers he smiled at are most of 'em dead,
And we're cursing his staff*1 for incompetent
swine.
‘He's a cheery old card,’ grunted Harry to Jack
As they slogged up to Arras*2 with rifle and pack.
But he did them both by his plan of attack.
•
•
*1 The general’s staff/officers at headquarters
*2 A place in France where a battle was fought in 1917
‘Oh What a Lovely War’
• Devised by theatre workshop in 1963
• An upbeat, nostalgic and humorous show
• Mixes elements of humour, with moving
moments of reflection on the loses of WWI
• Ties into the work of Bertolt Brecht, who
wanted his audiences to critically reflect on
performances
‘Oh It’s a Lovely War’
Oh, oh, oh, it's a lovely war,
Who wouldn't be a soldier, eh?
Oh, it's a shame to take the pay;
As soon as reveille is gone,
We feel just as heavy as lead,
But we never get up till the sergeant
Brings our breakfast up to bed.
Oh, oh, oh, it's a lovely war,
What do we want with eggs and ham,
When we've got plum and apple jam?
Form fours, right turn,
How shall we spend the money we earn?
Oh, oh, oh, it's a lovely war.
‘Goodbye-ee’
Brother Bertie went away
To do his bit the other day
With a smile on his lips
And his Lieutenant pips
Upon his shoulders bright and gay.
As the train moved out he said,
‘Remember me’ to all the birds!
And he wagg'd his paw
And went away to war
Shouting out these perverted words:
‘Goodbye-ee, goodbye-ee,
Wipe the tear, baby dear, from your eye-ee!
Tho' it's hard to part I know,
I'll be tickled to death to go.
Don't cry-ee, don't sigh-ee,
There's a silver lining in the sky-ee,
Bonsoir, old thing, cheer-i-o, chin, chin,
Nap-poo, too-dle-oo,
Goodbye-ee.’
Critiques of ‘Oh What a Lovely War’
• The show appealed to a varied cross section of
the country and was well received by most
• However, some people argue that it (and war
poetry) unfairly suggests that the generals
were incompetent and gives audiences an
inaccurate image of WWI
• Still divides opinion on it’s accuracy
The meaning of these songs…
• Nostalgia
• Acknowledging the sense of humour of the
soldiers
• To highlight the futility of WWI
• To encourage audiences to think/reflect on
people of all nationalities caught up in war
‘When this lousy war is over…’
‘When this lousy war is over,
No more soldiering for me,
When I get my civvy clothes on
Oh how happy I shall be’
‘Oh What a Lovely War’
Wilmslow High School
10th, 11th & 12th February 2015