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In a station in the city a British soldier stood 
Talking to the people there if the people would 
Some just stared in hatred, and others turned in pain 
And the lonely British soldier wished he was back home again 

Come join the British Army! said the posters in his town 
See the world and have your fun come serve before the Crown 
The jobs were hard to come by and he could not face the dole 
So he took his country's shilling and enlisted on the roll 

For there was no fear of fighting, the Empire long was lost 
Just ten years in the army getting paid for being bossed 
Then leave a man experienced a man who's made the grade 
A medal and a pension some mem'ries and a trade 

Then came the call for Ireland as the call had come before 
Another bloody chapter in an endless civil war 
The priests they stood on both sides the priests they stood behind 
Another fight in Jesus's name the blind against the blind 

The soldier stood between them between the whistling stones 
And then the broken bottles that led to broken bones 
The petrol bombs that burnt his hands the nails that pierced his skin 
And wished that he had stayed at home surrounded by his kin 

The station filled with people the soldier soon was bored 
But better in the station than where the people warred 
The room filled up with mothers with daughters and with sons 
Who stared with itchy fingers at the soldier and his gun 

A yell of fear a screech of brakes the shattering of glass 
The window of the station broke to let the package pass 
A scream came from the mothers as they ran towards the door 
Dragging their children crying from the bomb upon the floor 

The soldier stood and could not move his gun he could not use 
He knew the bomb had seconds and not minutes on the fuse 
He could not run and pick it up and throw it in the street 
There were far too many people there too many running feet 

Take cover! yelled the soldier, Take cover for your lives 
And the Irishmen threw down their young and stood before their wives 
They turned towards the soldier their eyes alive with fear 
For God's sake save our children or they'll end their short lives here 

The soldier moved towards the bomb his stomach like a stone 
Why was this his battle God why was he alone 
He lay down on the package and he murmured one farewell 
To those at home in England to those he loved so well 

He saw the sights of summer felt the wind upon his brow 
The young girls in the city parks how precious were they now 
The soaring of the swallow the beauty of the swan 
The music of the turning world so soon would it be gone 

A muffled soft explosion and the room began to quake 
The soldier blown across the floor his blood a crimson lake 
There was no time to cry or shout there was no time to moan 
And they turned their children's faces from the blood and from the bones 

The crowd outside soon gathered and the ambulances came 
To carry off the body of a pawn lost in the game 
And the crowd they clapped and cheered and they sang their rebel song 
One soldier less to interfere where he did not belong 

And will the children growing up learn at their mothers' knees 
The story of the soldier who bought their liberty 
Who used his youthful body as a means towards an end 
Who gave his life to those who called him murderer not friend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=MYGXFmq7Kck