Origins: William (Leon Rosselson)

Subject: Origins: leon rosselson : william
From: Mick O'Farrell
Date: 08 Dec 03 - 04:16 AM

Hi'
Does anybody know on which of his album's I can find Leon Rosselson's song "William", about a coward who wins the victoria cross ?

cheers
Mick

Subject: RE: Origins: leon rosselson : william
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 08 Dec 03 - 04:39 AM

"The Word Is - Hugga Mugga Chugga Lugga Humbugga Boom Chit" issued on Trailer 1971 (which means it's now probably locked in a Harrogate cupboad.

Words and music are in the songbook "That's not the way it's got to be" (Sing publications).

I wouldn't call William a 'coward' but a decent, gentle human being coerced into battle by his family:

William for his gallantry
Received the posthumous VC
Ma and Pa were overcome with pride
So we'll leave them there alone
Regard these words on Will's headstone
'William lived for love, for love he died'.

Subject: ADDPOP: William (Leon Rosselson)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Dec 03 - 04:53 PM

WILLIAM
(Leon Rosselson)

Now William is a little boy,
He is his parents' pride and joy,
They love him so as only parents can.
Teach him to be brave and strong,
Teach him to know right from wrong,
So he'll grow to be a fine man.
William was as good as gold,
Always did what he was told,
Though he was a child he understood,
Knew that good boys never lied,
Knew that big boys never cried,
Knew that he must do the best he could.

So William tried his best to be
A credit to the family,
Tried to drive away his shameful fears,
But sometimes when the light grows dim
Dreams and shadows frighten him,
And in his mother's arms he hides his tears.
His father took the boy aside,
Said "Son, there's nowhere you can hide,
You won't win Life's battles if you run,
So face your fears and stand and fight,
Dreams and shadows cannot bite,
And I won't have a coward for a son."

Now Will's a man, Pa tells his wife,
That boy must choose his path in life."
"An actor," William said, "I'd like to be."
His Pa said grimly he could do
Anything he wanted to.
"We'll love you still" said Ma reproachfully.
When he saw the grief he'd caused,
William turned and William paused,
Couldn't hurt them after all they'd done.
So with everyone's consent,
William joined the Regiment:
See him there with uniform and gun.

In distant lands, the final act
Begins when Will's patrol's attacked,
The cannons roar and terror chills the bone.
Outnumbered ten to one,
All the soldiers turn to run,
All except for William, turned to stone;
Felt the old familiar fears,
Heard his mother's grief and tears,
Saw his father overcome with shame,
Remembering what he'd been taught,
William stood and William fought,
Died to save the family name.

William, for his gallantry,
Received the posthumous VC,
Ma and Pa were overcome with pride,
So we'll leave them there alone,
Regard these words on Will's headstone,
'William lived for love, for love he died.'
When William was a little boy,
He was his parents' pride and joy,
They loved him so as only parents can.
Taught him to be brave and strong,
Taught him to know right from wrong,
So he'd grow to be a fine man.

from the Leon Rosselson songbook, Bringing the News from Nowhere.


If you want me to post the tune, send me a personal message.
Powerful song, isn't it?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Origins: leon rosselson : william
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 08 Dec 03 - 06:32 PM

Also recorded by Iain MacKintosh on 'Singing from the Inside' (1981).

Subject: RE: Origins: leon rosselson : william
From: GUEST,Kevin Wilson
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 11:53 AM

Would love a copy of the tune or even mp3. Excellent song. [e-mail]

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Answered by e-mail.
-Joe Offer-