There is a tradition among Irish and Scottish people to remember, commemorate, and lament the times that the young men of a nation have been sent to fight and die to settle the disputes of old men.  

The tragedy is that no one really wins in war and the young men and the people who love them pay the price, sometimes for a cause they do not understand.

Of course, these songs have been sung by all cultures since wars began.  It seems that the Scots and Irish have developed this tradition into a recognizable art form.  Irish and Scottish immigrants brought these traditions to America and other British possessions including Australia, influencing the folk music of every country settled.  One of the best is by Scottish-Australian Eric Bogle, writing about the slaughter of troops by Turkey in the Gallopoli Peninsula in 1915.  Here are several versions of  

"And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda."

"Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over head
And when I awoke in me hospital bed
And saw what it had done, sure I wished I was dead.
I never knew there was worse things than dying."
-E. Bogle








 


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