The Second Front Song-Ewan MacColl

[00:03.409]Now me boys if you will listen, now I'll sing you a little song, [00:07.197]So sit you down awhile here, I won't detain you long [00:10.175]I was serving in the infantry, was told I would receive [00:13.806]With all the other blokes a weekend's embarkation leave. [00:17.071]It's here chum, it's here chum, it's the Second Front for you, [00:20.467]In spite of their old Atlantic Wall, we're the boys to see it through' [00:23.863]It won't take long to finish it when we have got their range [00:27.285]And then we can all go home and live like humans for a change. [00:30.524]So I packed me bag at the double and I was ready soon [00:34.051]I took my place in an army truck with the rest of my platoon; [00:37.368]Nobody made much noise that trip, the driver he did blind [00:40.607]We were all too busy thinking of the ones we'd left behind. [00:44.082]It's here chum, it's here chum, it's the Second Front for you, [00:47.399]In spite of their old Atlantic Wall, we're the boys to see it through' [00:50.586]It won't take long to finish it when we have got their range [00:54.060]And then we can all go home and live like humans for a change. [00:57.378]When we reached the railway station the queue was three miles long [01:00.669]They'd have filled the Wembley Stadium and still left quite a throng. [01:04.274]"It's every man for himself, lads!" cried Corporal McShane [01:07.226]So we rushed that crowd with a roar , and tore our way onto the train. [01:10.883]It's here chum, it's here chum, it's the Second Front for you, [01:14.122]In spite of their old Atlantic Wall, we're the boys to see it through' [01:17.544]It won't take long to finish it when we have got their range [01:20.966]And then we can all go home and live like humans for a change. [01:24.206]We were all packed in the corridor, it was eighty in the shade, [01:27.575]The seats had all been taken by the chewing-gum brigade. [01:30.893]They smoked their Camel cigarettes and petted with their janes, [01:34.263]And looked at us as though we were something crept out of the drains. [01:37.659]It's here chum, it's here chum, it's the Second Front for you, [01:40.898]In spite of their old Atlantic Wall, we're the boys to see it through' [01:44.268]It won't take long to finish it when we have got their range [01:47.742]And then we can all go home and live like humans for a change. [01:50.903]For eleven long hours we stood there and watched the fields go by [01:54.194]We were packed so close we couldn't even smoke and that's no lie. [01:57.721]And all the time the Yanks talked big and boasted they were tops [02:00.986]And wrestled with their judies now and then between the stops. [02:04.330]It's here chum, it's here chum, it's the Second Front for you, [02:07.595]In spite of their old Atlantic Wall, we're the boys to see it through' [02:10.939]It won't take long to finish it when we have got their range [02:14.439]And then we can all go home and live like humans for a change. [02:17.652]At last the train reached Manchester, the station was Exchange [02:20.970]It was too late to get a car or bus to Whalley Range. [02:24.287]I tried to flag a taxi, but I didn't stand a chance [02:27.683]They'd all been commandeered to take the Yanks home from a dance. [02:31.001]It's here chum, it's here chum, it's the Second Front for you, [02:34.318]In spite of their old Atlantic Wall, we're the boys to see it through' [02:37.610]It won't take long to finish it when we have got their range [02:41.032]And then we can all go home and live like humans for a change. [02:44.297]So I humped me pack upon me back and made to cross the street [02:47.641]And just escaped a certain death from a madly driven jeep; [02:50.906]But the thought of Nellie waiting there made happiness arise [02:54.145]And my heart was beating pleasantly at the thought of her surprise, [02:57.724]It's here chum, it's here chum, it's the Second Front for you, [03:01.094]In spite of their old Atlantic Wall, we're the boys to see it through' [03:04.411]It won't take long to finish it when we have got their range [03:07.755]And then we can all go home and live like humans for a change. [03:11.125]I let myself in quietly and tiptoed up the stairs, [03:14.442]The thought of being home again had banished all my cares. [03:17.812]In the bedroom then I murmured, " Nell, your soldier boy has come!" [03:21.182]When a voice replied, in sharp surprise,Say"Nell, Who is this bum?" [03:24.578]It's here chum, it's here chum, it's the Second Front for you, [03:27.843]In spite of their old Atlantic Wall, we're the boys to see it through' [03:31.213]It won't take long to finish it when we have got their range [03:34.661]And then we can all go home and live like humans for a change. [03:37.848]For a moment I stood speechless, and rooted in the ground [03:41.427]And then I switched the light on, and what do you think I found [03:44.666]My little Nell was lying there, exposing all her charms [03:47.801]Like the famous Whore of Babylon---in a Yankee MP's arms! [03:51.353]It's here chum, it's here chum, it's the Second Front for you, [03:54.723]In spite of their old Atlantic Wall, we're the boys to see it through' [03:57.962]It won't take long to finish it when we have got their range [04:01.384]And then we can all go home and live like humans for a change. [04:04.676]The geezer looked me over and then sat bold upright; [04:08.046]He was wearing my pyjamas,the ones with the purple stripes [04:11.337]He made a sudden movement and tried to grab his gun [04:14.420]When I landed him a good straight left and stopped his bleeding fun. [04:18.181]It's here chum, it's here chum, it's the Second Front for you, [04:21.394]In spite of their old Atlantic Wall, we're the boys to see it through' [04:24.816]It won't take long to finish it when we have got their range [04:28.108]And then we can all go home and live like humans for a change. [04:31.347]My story's nearly over, there's little left to tell, [04:34.664]I wasn't wearing any overtures from little Nell, [04:37.904]But every time I think of her, with grief my body fills [04:41.143]But she will do all right as long as there's a Yank to pay the bills.