Lyr Add: The Green Fields of France

Subject: The Green Fields of France
From: GUEST,Sean Dolan
Date: 13 May 00 - 11:48 PM

Just thought i'd make a small contribution to you all...I've heard the song, "No Man's Land", or the "Ballad of Willie McBride" also called, "The Green Fields of France"... It should be added as an alternate title to the song...

Great site by the way....

-Sean Dolan ShannonBreeze.com the Shannon Breeze Band [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Green Fields of France
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 14 May 00 - 05:14 PM

Sean; Great to hear from you. I believe "The Green Fields of France" is the original title for that song. Although allow me to qualify that by saying although I collect songs about war, I am no expert. I do have a version by the Irish Rovers titled "Willie McBride" (Note the third alternate title.) and a version by June Tabor Titled "The Green Fields of France. It is in either case a very moving song. reguards, Neil

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Green Fields of France
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 14 May 00 - 06:10 PM

"No Man's Land" is definitely Eric Bogle's preferred title, and it's probably the title he first gave it as well.

Mind you, I don't think I've ever heard anyone else call it that. "Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command" - and that goes for the titles of songs you write as well. And the words. And the tunes.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Green Fields of France
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 14 May 00 - 07:44 PM

Well, I call it No Man's Land, and you can tell Eric that for me. And amen to the rest!

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Green Fields of France
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 14 May 00 - 11:43 PM

G'day All,

No Man's Land is the name by which it was called when I first heard it here in Australia, long before the Irish (et al) started doing funny versions and changing the name. As far as I know it is wee Eric's original name for his song.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Green Fields of France
From: GUEST,Bex McK
Date: 15 May 00 - 12:23 AM

Apparently No Man's Land is Tony Blair's favourite song. After the 1997 general election, a wee girl from Belfast wrote to Blair and asked him to bring peace to Northern ireland. Blair then invited her to number 10 and presented her with a recording of the song-- as his favourite anti-war song. According to Tony Blair, No Man's Land was written by Eric Bogle, a Scotsman who died in 1916....(this related by Bogle himself in introduction to the song at Celtic Connections in Glasgow this year)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Green Fields of France
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jul 00 - 05:11 PM

i recently went on a trip to the battlefields of the first world war, and we were told by the professional guides that the song was called 'The Green Fields Of France' .

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Green Fields of France
From: BK
Date: 02 Jul 00 - 12:22 AM

I learned it as GFF, from, as I recall, hearing it in Dublin, by both street singers & The Furies. I've also heard it called "Flowers Of The Forest," so perhaps that also should be added to the list of additional/alternative titles tho I think it's also the name of another tune? Fantastic song, in any case..

Cheers, BK

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Green Fields of France
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Jul 00 - 12:38 AM

Well, I thought I'd send this suggestion in a personal message to Dick Greenhaus, curator of the Digital Tradition:

Hi, Dick - In this thread, somebody suggested that we add "Green Fields of France" as an alternate title for Eric Bogle's song "No Man's Land." Fully aware of your contention that titles are poor tools for finding songs, I call this idea to your attention with some trepidation....
But it seems to me that a whole lot of people primarily use titles for finding songs, so maybe it's an idea to help them out and cross-index, at least when the secondary titles are very common, like in this situation.
-Joe Offer-

I'm sure Dick will come back with an entertaining response...
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Green Fields of France
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 02 Jul 00 - 12:57 AM

The "Digitrad and Forum Search" facility already finds No Man's Land when searching for Green Fields of France, Willie McBride and Flowers Of The Forest, so cross-referencing would seem unnecessary if we can get people used to actually using it, and then looking at the results they get.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Green Fields of France
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Jul 00 - 01:22 AM

Well, Malcom, I forgot that the phrase was part of the song, so you should be right. I don't understand why I get no results when I put green fields of France in the DigiTrad search box. Do you get results?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Green Fields of France
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 02 Jul 00 - 01:58 AM

It works in the new Search box, but not the old one!