Emmylou Harris - 1917 Lyrics
The strange young man who comes to me
A soldier on a three day spree
He needs one night's cheap ecstasy
And a woman's arms to hide him
He greets me with a courtly bow
He drinks too much and he laughs too loud
How can I deny him.
Let us dance beneath the moon
I'll sing to you 'Claire de Lune'
The morning always comes too soon
But tonight the war is over
He speaks to me in schoolboy French
Of a soldiers life inside a trench
Of the look of death and the ghastly stench
He puts two roses in a vase
Two roses sadly out of place
Like the gallant smile on his haggard face
Playfully I tease him
Hold me neath the Paris skies
Let's not talk of how or why
Tomorrow's soon enough to die
But tonight the war is over
We make love too hard too fast
He falls asleep his face a mask
He wakes with the shakes and he drinks from his flask
I put my arms around him
They die in the trenches and they die in the air
In Belguim and France the dead are everywhere
They die so so fast there's no time to prepare
A decent grave to surround them
Old world glory old world fame
The old worlds gone gone up in flames
Nothing will ever be the same
And nothing lasts forever
Oh I'd pray for him but I've forgotten how
And there's nothing nothing that can save him now
There's always another with the same funny bow
And who am I to deny them
Lux aeterna Luce-at e-is
Domine cum sanctic tu-is in aeternum
Qui-a pius es
Requiem aeternaum dona e-is Domine
Qui-a pius es
Requiem aeternaum dona e-is Domine
Qui-a pius es
Et lux perpetua luce-at- e-is Cum sancris tu-is in
Aeternum qui-api-us es
Tonight the war is over
Other Lyrics by Artist
- Emmylou Harris - High Powered Love
- Emmylou Harris - Wrecking Ball
- Emmylou Harris - Goin' Back To Harlan
- Emmylou Harris - Deeper Well
- Emmylou Harris - Every Grain Of Sand
- Emmylou Harris - Sweet Old World
- Emmylou Harris - May This Be Love
- Emmylou Harris - Orphan Girl
- Emmylou Harris - Blackhawk
- Emmylou Harris - All My Tears
- Emmylou Harris - Goodbye
- Emmylou Harris - Where Will I Be
- Emmylou Harris - You Don't Know Me
- Emmylou Harris - Prayer In Open D
- Emmylou Harris - Crescent City
- Emmylou Harris - Lovin' You Again
- Emmylou Harris - Jersusalem Tomorrow
- Emmylou Harris - Thanks To You
Rand Lyrics
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Emmylou Harris 1917 Comments
Many gems of humanity are to be found on YouTube. I found I had missed the wonderful words and music of David Olney all my life. Belatedly I discovered a "Robert Frost" caliber songwriter had afforded me solace and wisdom which I could have used in my youth. But, as I confront my last years (days? hours?) I have never witnessed a more nobler passing. David Olney paused and apologized mid song, guitar in hand, at the moment he was aware of his spirit moving on. He left an incredible legacy for all of us to enjoy...and pause to think of the many meanings a life has to offer. For the remainder of my days I will enjoy David Olney's gifts: humor, heart, soul, and song delivered in his hearty voice for generations to come. God Bless you sir!
RIP Dave Olney
RIP David Olney, who wrote this song and passed away this evening.
David Olney, the composer of "1917", died of a heart attack during a performance onstage at the 30A Songwriter Festival in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, on January 18th, 2019...
He was 71 years old...
May he R.I.P.
I've always loved this song and the story it tells...never forget the ravages of war.
They should have used this song for the ending of the movie 1917......but they probably did not. This song is so beautiful I listen to this when I feel sad.and depresed...somehow it makes me feel God is present. Latin is such a beautiful language... glad I learned it in Italy as a kid.
God, this is a powerful song.
David sang this song in our backyard (AUSTRALIA) I still cry, my Grandfather fought in this war, beautiful song thank you David thank you Ladies
Two best friends, two great singers, a sad, brutal, beautiful song.
So underrated! The funereal Latin at the final verse and theway Emmylou and Linda's voices blend so effortlessly and Ronstadt leaping to one of her thrilling high notes at song's end are highlightsfor certain, but the whole sad story of a soldier making tender love to a frenchwoman before his battle death is moving and soaked in history and draws you in well before the song's quietly spectacular conclusion.
Except it isn't really love and it isn't tender. Read the lyrics.
J'écoute cette superbe chanson les yeux fermer, c'est tellement beau... Vraiment superbe :-)
This song... Proof that God exists!
Think about this - If god existed then we would not have wars.
@fathobbitss —or if God were good.
Has to be the stupidest ever post I have ever read!!!
You are and idiot and racist bastard
A very special album "Western Wall". Emmylou and Linda - totally, hauntingly beautiful. Very different from TRIO
This song so subtly captures the saga and feeling of despair back home for the women when she says “there’s always another with the same funny bow, and who am I to deny him” A lot of women probably lived like this then, doing what they could to help the soldiers while denying their own desires.
Très belle chanson ,très belle interprètation !
Très émouvant.
So here's the translation of the Latin sung so beautifully at the end.
"May everlasting light shine upon them, O Lord, with thy saints in eternity, for thou art merciful. Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and may everlasting light shine upon them."
Too bad The War To End All Wars didn't. Look out, here comes another one. Or more.
I would give anything to be on a porch on a warm summer night watching fireflies with Emmylou playing guitar and singing with Linda!
I'm speechless. This is ART
Супер.... Отличная композиция...
Very bad. It's gives me very bad feelings. I can't hear this recording
very good!!
an ineffable sadness comes over me...
Wonderful music, horrific war(s). Occupy Peace.
haunting
The G R E A T David Olney for sure.
David came to our house in Lincoln RI to court my sister in 1967...mismatched socks with penny loafers.
Mr. Olney died peacefully last night on stage during a performance. As difficult as it is for all who loved him and for those who witnessed it happening, I can't think of a more poignant way for a man who loved music to depart this world. He left this life singing.
beautiful
this is from the album "the Tucson Sessions" a very good album. Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris voices worked so well together. so sad that they won't be able to sing together again.
The very first picture ; to me is one of the most touching images to come from the Great War; three German soldiers pulling a French soldier from the mud. The picture typifies the tragedy of the war and shows that the men on both sides were human beings and that amidst all the tragedy and horror there was still occasions of humanity