Fields Of Flanders

by K.T. Rouge

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about

The song that really got things rolling for me in Vancouver. I arrived there in late January of '83 with a 45 single and a song on a compilation LP, both courtesy of James McLennan. I had been recording with Marc McLennan as well as performing and touring with him throughout Alberta in "Winterhawk" and "Cryme". In the band's early days, K.T. Rouge was a near permanent fixture at Al Hyland's Waterfront Cabaret. Fields Of Flanders was first performed live there. It's such an honour that he chose the track to be first cut/first side on his double vinyl LP. The album would prove to be a who's who of that club and scene. Many of my colleagues there have gone on to bigger and brighter things. I think back to when I wrote this song. Not at my best, I'm afraid. I had the flu and bronchitis. The weakest I'd ever felt in my life. A very cold October band house on Venables Street. In and out of delirium. I had nurses. Band nurses, I guess. To this day I can't recall their faces, just voices. Then mended enough to go digging through my grandfather's old black satchel. The war satchel. Treasures. The wonders of the horrors that awaited men in the trenches and in no man's land itself. Photos blistered in time of comrades standing arm in arm. Medals long since tarnished. Letters from loved ones. Blesses to the Lord for bringing you safely home. Lest we forget ... RJ

lyrics

I woke up in the trenches with the smell of mustard gas
Stench of fallen comrades all around
Such a handsome price you pay for the real estate of war
Ten thousand die for one square foot of ground

And here I am ....
Dragging myself through the bodies
Here I am ....
Bleeding, hungry and cold

I don't mind fighting for home
And I don't mind dying alone
But do I have to die - on the fields of Flanders

Hut two three four - hut two three four ..
Hut two three four - hut two three four ..

Guns had started speaking when I heard somebody scream
“If the armour plate don't stop them we'll catch hell”
Some men started running and I guess I fell behind
'Cause the last thing I remember was the shell ...

Here I am ..
Dragging myself through the bodies
Here I am ..
Bleeding, hungry and cold

I don't mind fighting for home
And I don't mind dying alone
But do I have to die - on the fields of Flanders

Hut two three four - hut two three four ..
Hut two three four - hut two ..
Sound off!

And here I am ....
Dragging myself through the bodies
Here I am ....
Bleeding, hungry and cold

I don't mind fighting for home
And I don't mind dying alone
But do I have to die - on the fields of Flanders

On the fields of Flanders
On the fields of Flanders

credits

RJ: Lead & Backing Vocals, Electric Guitars
Dave Worthington: Electric Guitars & Backing Vocals
Charles Kane: Bass Guitar
Glenn (Sparky) Walker: Drums & Backing Vocals, Military Marching Snare

Lyrics & Music (c) 1983 Robert James
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