A Song for Grace by Ted Egan and sung by Nerys Evans

A Song for Grace by Ted Egan and sung by Nerys Evans. I always choke up. It is written by Ted Egan, the Australian folksinger, about his mother Grace and her three brothers who all fought in World War I. It captures the tragedy of all families everywhere touched by war.


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A Song for Grace
by Ted Egan

I was a girl of thirteen when my three brothers went to the war;
Martin, (and) Robert and Jack, and as I waved from the door
I thought: 'Who in the world could have brothers as handsome as they?'
Three Australian Light Horsemen, I see their proud figures today.

Our parents were Irish, with no love for England at all,
But their sons were Australians, and each bravely answered the call,
In their turned-up slouch hats, and their feathers, and leggings, and spurs,
The Empire, as much as their [my] mother, knew these sons were hers.
CHORUS: And at the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We will (we'll) remember them
Lest we forget.

The mailman brought cards from Colombo, (and) then from Port Said.
Here's a photo of Jack, in Egypt his first camel ride
And look at young Bobby, in London here, crossing The Strand
And Martin writes: 'Mum and Dad, life in the army is grand'.

The same mailman brought us the news about our darling Jack,
'Regret to inform you your son John will never come back.
He died of his wounds at Gallipoli, so brave was he
He's awarded the Military Medal posthumously.'
CHORUS: And at the going down of the sun etc.

When the telegram came, my mother collapsed, and I had
The terrible task of breaking the news to my Dad.
With our old draught-horse, Punch, my father was ploughing the land
[When] I ran to the paddock, the telegram clutched in my hand.

The Irishman read it, said: 'Thank you, now leave me alone,
'Go on back to the house, help your mother, she's there on her own'
He called: 'Stand up, Punch; we have to get on with this job'
But I saw his slumped shoulders, and I heard his heart-rending sob.
CHORUS: And at the going down of the sun etc.

Well, Robert was gassed, and he always had pains in his head
(And) Martin was shell-shocked and he'd have been better off dead
And I - I'm just an old lady who watched them all go,
But I am the one you should ask about war for I know.
(That) All of these years have gone by, and I know the grief yet
Yes I will remember them - I can't forget
FINAL CHORUS: And at the going down of the sun
And in the morning ?

(Bugle Call: The Last Post)