PETE SEEGER ⑪ Where Have All The Flowers Gone (Live in Sweden 1968)
Lyrics:
Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls have picked them everyone.
Oh, when will we ever learn?
Oh, when will we ever learn?
Where have all the young girls gone, long time passing?
Where have all the young girls gone, long time ago?
Where have all the young girls gone?
Gone for husbands everyone.
Oh, when will we ever learn?
Oh, when will we ever learn?
Where have all the young men gone,long time passing,
Where have all the young men gone,long time ago,
Where have all the young men gone,
They are all in uniform,
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Today, is a day - to remember the fallen; "the BEST of us"; who have left this world - to be in a better place. WE must not forget, their example, to us.
Today, is a day - to remember the fallen; "the BEST of us"; who have left this world - to be in a better place. WE must not forget, their example, to us.
On a personal note, my Dad (Jack - now deceased) was a World War II veteran. A little history - Dad was one (1) of three brothers, born to a life on a dairy farm, near London, Ontario, Canada. When the war came, many young men, avoided enlisting - due to the "farm clause" i.e. if you owned a farm, you weren't expected to enlist. Many farmers would buy small acreages, in their sons name, for such purpose. My Dad felt, he should "sign-up", since his elder brother was too old; and his younger brother had a hernia (and was medically unfit). So Dad went to Chatham, Ontario to enlist. Dad enlisted with the army infantry; and trained in Woodstock, Ontario. During his training, Dad was moved into "Ordnance" - due to his farm experience & ability to fix things. They trained him in "diesel mechanics" and he became a tank expert. Overseas, Dad advanced with the tank corps - repairing/servicing/scavenging parts, etc; to keep the tanks in optimum, operating condition. Dad did not talk about these experiences - until the last years of his life.... He was glad, I didn't have to experience what he had. As a kid growing up, I was privileged to have a Dad, with such "character". One story that comes to mind, as a youngster; happened one evening, when we were in the barn doing chores (an aside - after the war dad became a dairy farmer - he loved farming; me, not so much). Anyways, I was about 9 or 10 at the time & Dad was letting cows out to pasture - after milking. He noticed a truck at our "line" fence (the fence marking the end of our property) with three men unloading garbage into the ditch. I remember Dad saying "Come-on; Get in the truck!" - I grabbed a "pitch fork" and dad & I hurried to where the guys were dumping, their truckload of junk. Once there, Dad grabbed the "pitch fork" and confronted the men; I stood "sheepishly" 10 feet behind Dad.... Dad said: "You guys would be wise to pick up the garbage and get the "**8%%=+" out of here!" They said: "You look pretty tough, with that fork!" ... Dad then threw the fork, several feet to his left, saying: " I don't need a "fork"". I quickly retrieved the fork. The men then realized Dad wasn't going to back down, & started to put the junk back in their truck. A lesson well learned, for me - "If you ignore it; you condone it!" I hope our leaders at all levels of government; take a moment on this day; to appreciate the lesson Dad taught me that evening - long ago. "IF YOU IGNORE IT; YOU CONDONE IT !" We can do much better!
No comments:
Post a Comment