Soldier Lyrics - Angelic Upstarts

In a station in the city a British soldier stood 

Talking to the people there if the people would 

Some just stared in hatred, and others turned in pain 

And the lonely British soldier wished he was back home again 

Come join the British Army! said the posters in his town 

See the world and have your fun, come serve before the Crown 

The jobs were hard to come by and he could not face the dole 

So he took his country's shilling and enlisted on the roll 

For there was no fear of fighting, the Empire long was lost 

Just ten years in the army getting paid for being bossed 

Then leave a man experienced a man who's made the grade 

A medal and a pension, some mem'ries and a trade 

Then came the call to Ireland as the call had came before 

Another bloody chapter in an endless civil war 

The priests they stood on both sides the priests they stood behind 

Another fight in Jesus's name the blind against the blind 

Related 

15 Huge Stars Who Were Backup Singers First 

Listen To Taylor Swift's New Song 'Call It What You Want' 

Watch Sam Smith And Fifth Harmony Join James Corden For Carpool Karaoke 

The soldier stood between them, between the whistling stones 

And then the broken bottles that led to broken bones 

The petrol bombs that burnt his hands the nails that pierced his skin 

And now wished that he'd stayed at home surrounded by his kin 

The station filled with people the soldier soon was bored 

But better in the station than where the people warred 

The room filled up with mothers with daughters and with sons 

Who stared with itchy fingers at the soldier and his gun 

A yell of fear a screech of brakes the shattering of glass 

The window of the station broke to let the package pass 

A scream came from the mothers as they ran towards the door 

Dragging children crying from the bomb upon the floor 

The soldier stood and could not move his gun he could not use 

He knew the bomb had seconds and not minutes on the fuse 

He could not run to pick it up and throw it in the street 

There were far too many people there, too many running feet 

Photos 

Take cover! yelled the soldier, Take cover for your lives 

And the Irishmen threw down their young and stood before their wives 

They turned towards the soldier, their eyes alive with fear 

For God's sake save our children or they'll end their short lives here 

The soldier moved towards the bomb his stomach like a stone 

Why was this his battle God why was he alone 

He lay down on the package and he murmured one farewell 

To those at home in England to those he loved so well 

He saw the sights of summer felt the wind upon his brow 

The young girls in the city parks how precious were they now 

The soaring of the swallow the beauty of the swan 

The music of the turning world so soon would it be gone 

A muffled soft explosion and the room began to quake 

The soldier blown across the floor his blood a crimson lake 

They never heard him cry or shout they never heard him moan 

And they turned their children's faces from the blood and from the bones 

The crowd outside soon gathered and the ambulances came 

To carry off the body of a pawn lost to the game 

And the crowd they clapped and cheered and they sang their rebel songs 

One soldier less to interfere where he did not belong 

But will the children growing up learn at their mothers' knees 

The story of that soldier who bought their liberty 

Who used his youthful body as a means towards the end 

Who gave his life to those who called him murderer not friend