The Durham Light Infantry
Original Lyrics
Revised Lyrics
When I was just a young lad I used to mine the land
With a pick across my shoulder or a shovel in my hand
But then the bloody war came and my hero's instincts grew
And the posters in the street said "Your country needs you"
"Your country needs you" and I knew then what I must do
So Billy signed up for a soldier's bloody wage
And Jimmy joined the navy so that he could rule the waves
And they stood so proud and smart in their uniforms so new
And the people lined the street with flags coloured red white and blue
Coloured red white and blue and you'll die for your country too
So we're off my boys through the hell and the noise
To die for our country
And they’ll raise a cross to remember the loss
Of the Durham Light Infantry
In the muddy fields of Flanders we fought like men from hell
And the ground itself was ripped apart where all my best mates fell
Jacky Cranston got his balls blown off and a shell took Chorley's leg
And in all that hell and madness I wished that I was dead
I wished that I was dead and all the sky was filled with lead
So we buried all our dead, at least those that could be found
As well as bits of bodies that were scattered all around
And it made me sick with anger at the things the war had done
But when it was all over we still kept marching on
We still kept marching on though all my mates are dead and gone
So we're off my boys through the hell and the noise
To die for our country
And they’ll raise a cross to remember the loss
Of the Durham Light Infantry
Now we'll sing a song of victory that was paid for with the brave
But we're left only with monuments and an unknown soldier's grave
And a special day once every year to remember them to God
And commemorate their bravery with a poppy the colour of blood
A poppy the colour of blood; we've paid too high a price with all that blood
So we're off my boys through the hell and the noise
To die for our country
And they’ll raise a cross to remember the loss
Of the Durham Light Infantry
(Gary Miller)
© 1989 Whippet Records
Copyright Control MCPS/PRS
When I was but a young lad I hewed coal below this land
With a pick across me shoulder or a shovel in me hand
But then the Great War came and a spirit of adventure grew
While the posters in the street said "Your Country Needs You!”
Your country needs you! I knew then what I must do
I lined up to volunteer for a soldier's bloody wage
I strode up to the desk and boldly lied about me age
They gave me a serge uniform of ‘Kitchener Blue’
Flags waved, brass bands played and huge crowds cheered too
But no-one really knew just what we’d gotten ourselves into
So we're off my boys through the hell and the noise
To die for our country
And they’ll raise a cross to remember the loss
Of the Durham Light Infantry
In the muddy fields of Flanders we fought like men from Hell
As the ground itself was ripped apart where all me best mates fell
The lad right next to me took a bullet to the head
And in all that hell and madness I wished that I was dead
As the sky wept tears of lead, while the ‘Faithful Durhams’ bled
We buried all our dead, at least those that could be found
As well as bits of bodies that were scattered all around
And it made me sick with anger at the things the War had done
But when one campaign was over they gave us another one
So I still kept marching on though all my mates were dead and gone
So we're off my boys through the hell and the noise
To die for our country
And they’ll raise a cross to remember the loss
Of the Durham Light Infantry
Let there be no songs of victory upon Armistice Day
For the pathos of the poets can never wash the stains away
And with the Pawns of War the Masters never will be done
So the ‘Dirty Little Imps’ will still be called upon
Once this ‘War To End All Wars’ is won, to fight on and on and on
So we're off my boys through the hell and the noise
To die for our country
And they’ll raise a cross to remember the loss
Of the Durham Light Infantry
(Gary Miller)
© 2017 Whippet Records
Copyright Control MCPS/PRS
Notes
‘The Durham Light Infantry’ was only the second song Gary ever wrote for The Whisky Priests back in 1985, when he was 19 years old. It was eventually recorded and released as the final track on the band’s debut album ‘Nee Gud Luck’ in 1989.
In October 2017, Gary was approached by the DLI Research and Study Centre at Seven Hills, Spennymoor, County Durham, England, asking for permission to use the Whisky Priests version of ‘The Durham Light Infantry’ in 'When the Bugle Calls', a travelling exhibition about the music of The Durham Light Infantry.
Gary made the important decision to revisit the song and bring it more up-to-date with revised lyrics and a brand new arrangement for brass. Working with his regular producer Iain Petrie at Awake Music!, a brass arrangement was created and a complete score, written by Iain and professional music scorer Sam Lord was presented by Gary to the Ferryhill Town Band, who took up the challenge of performing the piece specially for the project.
The new version of the song was then recorded as part of Gary's 'From Coalfield to Battlefield' project, which developed directly through the exhibition and was one of four songs from the project to be performed at the 'When the Bugle Calls' launch event at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on 5th December 2017.
Also as part of these respective linked projects, Gary's creative partner, artist, designer and illustrator Helen Temperley produced an illustrations to accompany the song (see opposite image).
Other songs from the project 'From Coalfield to Battlefield' include 'Ballad of Lance-Sergeant William Stones', 'Euphonium and Cornet', 'The Final Letter of Jimmy Durham', 'Miss Nightingale's Man'.
Releases (on Whippet Records unless otherwise stated)
Video Clips
Gary Miller & Ferryhill Town Band 'The Durham Light Infantry'
official promotional video with lyrics.
official promotional video with lyrics.
The original version of 'The Durham Light Infantry'
by The Whisky Priests from the band's debut album 'Nee Gud Luck' in 1989.
by The Whisky Priests from the band's debut album 'Nee Gud Luck' in 1989.
The Whisky Priests performing 'The Durham Light Infantry'
live at Monkeys Club, Hamburg on 3rd november 2018.
live at Monkeys Club, Hamburg on 3rd november 2018.
The Whisky Priests performing 'The Durham Light Infantry'
live at 't Beest, Goes, on 26th October 2018.
live at 't Beest, Goes, on 26th October 2018.
The Whisky Priests performing 'The Durham Light Infantry'
live at The Forum Music Centre, Darlington, on 13th October 2018.
live at The Forum Music Centre, Darlington, on 13th October 2018.
Mike McGrother with the Infant Hercules Choir
performing a cover version of 'The Durham Light Infantry'
live at The Arc, Stockton-on-Tees, on 28th July 2018.
performing a cover version of 'The Durham Light Infantry'
live at The Arc, Stockton-on-Tees, on 28th July 2018.
Ferryhill Town Band rehearsing 'The Durham Light Infantry',at the backing track recording session, at Mainsforth andDistrict Institute, Ferryhill, on 28th November 2017.
The Whisky Priests performing 'The Durham Light Infantry'
& 'Shut Doon the Waggon Works'
live at The Mean Fiddler, London, on 24th January 1991.
& 'Shut Doon the Waggon Works'
live at The Mean Fiddler, London, on 24th January 1991.