Fantastic Big Country

Big country for ever 😘

Big country had their own sound, original

Hello Matt from Dunfermline 😀 The reference here is a quintessential anti war song inspired by WW1 stories at first but applying to all and any wars in general. I was glad you noticed Stuart's "shout" in the break, that is a thing as Scottish as whisky an shortbread. It comes from traditional Scottish folk music, party music or ceilidh (kay-lee) music. It is always exciting up tempo music designed to get you dancing and stamping your feet. These affairs always included a lot of drinking, because Scotland lol, and the shouts were general noises of excitement and encouragement and inclusion. They aren't words really, purely sounds. The cool guitar tone you heard was the e-bow being overdubbed i think with a huge dollop of reverb.

This was written around the time of the Falklands war between the UK and Argentina which happened in 1982. Though it is also just basically an anti war song.

@roddymorrison1437

Жыл бұрын

Also the last shout he does is actually the word F*ck. You hear it clearly in the 12" version. Pretty much sums up how the general person would feel being put into a war.

The song is almost a two parter (Come Back To Me is the other one). I assume this is about WWI.

Just came back to this, maybe the novel type you were thinking of is Steinbeck? This is what I think of.

We're at war All the papers say We will win I read today We are strong It wasn't us We are right Who started this? Leave your work I just left school Leave your home I am no fool Take up arms It left me strong Sound alarms The school bell rings Sons of men who stand like gods We give life to feed the cause And run to ground our heathen foe Our name will never die This time will be forever Join up here I wave goodbye We need you Oh my breast sighs Have no fear Now I must try God will be with braver men Take the vow I know its right Praise the flag The good fight We're at war I'm on my way We will win Why do I pray? Sons of men who stand like gods We give life to feed the cause And run to ground our heathen foe Our name will never die This time will be forever I wait here in this hole Playing poker with my soul I hold the rifle close to me It lights the way to keep me free If I die in a combat zone Box me up and ship me home If I die and still come home Lay me where the rose is sown Sons of men who stand like gods We give life to feed the cause And run to ground our heathen foe Our name will never die This time will be forever

I suppose a rose can be "sown" as opposed to "sewn" figuratively speaking. "You've reaped what you've sown", but I'm no horticulturalist. BTW, Don't forget "The Seer" featuring Kate Bush. That came a little later, so patiently I'll wait.

@mattsnider2667

Жыл бұрын

Oh for sure, it took me most of the song, but I started to understand the imagery of the title just before the end. Amazing song, love these guys.

@warrenbridges1891

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@@mattsnider2667 Apparently, she spent 5 hours in the studio rearranging their lyrics. A band member said it was fascinating to watch her work and felt a little guilty that her voice was not as prominent as he would have liked in the final mix.

@warrenbridges1891

Жыл бұрын

@@mattsnider2667 I've thankfully just stumbled over a superior mix (duet mix) which is the restored original.

There is no Ebow on this song. Its delay and a lot of reverb. The start of The Storm is an Ebow. Its very difficult to play the Ebow quickly. That is just sheer talent from Stuart and Bruce with the aid of some effects. The Ebow is vastly over played by many. They really didnt use it that much