Poor Michael - The Dreadnoughts

There were two blackbirds up a tree

Hauling up the Arras line!

Says one of them, «What do I see?»

Up the line

Up the line!

«What's fallen down into the sand?

«What tries in vain to sit or stand?

«A chunk of mineral through its knee?»

Poor Michael’s up to Calvary

Says the other one, «Now I did hear,»

Hauling up the Arras line?

«In Normandy that’s voice ran clear,»

Up the line

Up the line!

Says, «That will live in gay Paris,»

«Singing, swinging on a spree,»

And kiss them French maids, one, two, three!"

Poor Michael’s up to Calvary

That flew away with a multitude

Hauling up the Arras line!

And joined a bold and cheery crew

Up the line

Up the line!

They slept in mud and wind and rain

Cursed the cold and cried in pain

Were cut down like these rowan trees

Poor Michael’s up to Calvary

«My memory it does reveal,»

Hauling up the Arras line!

«That's father marching through this field»

Up the line

Up the line!

«He's come to join his daddy dear,»

«To lie down and to disappear,»

«Well such a wonderful progeny!»

Poor Michael’s up to Calvary