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Madrid

from NO PASARAN! by Joe Solo

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This song tells the story of three comrades fighting with the XV International Brigade at the Battle of Jarama in February 1937. Jack Atkinson and Tommy James were both there and the details are mostly lifted from Tommy's account of the scene and Jack's death.

lyrics

Straight from the train we were rushed through the station
And out to the trenches on Suicide Hill
On the way Jack and Tommy had talked through the ethics
Of how to save lives sometimes you've got to kill
At our back fields of black and red poppies
Lined the wind of a white dusty road
And up there in front stood the Armies of Darkness
It was "keep your eyes open, boys, lock and load."

Remember
The hills of Jarama
Remember
The things that we did
And remember
That we fought for freedom here
And we died for Madrid

When it come, well it come down like thunder
I saw hell in the eyes of my friends
When Jack fell Tommy ran out to help him
And I knew that I'd not hear that laughter again

Remember
The hills of Jarama
Remember
The things that we did
And remember
That we fought for freedom here
And we died for Madrid

We fell back, we were battered and bleeding
Just a handful of what passed for men
Then somebody shouted out "SING FOR YOUR LIVES BOYS!"
We hollered 'The Red Flag' and rallied again.

Remember
The hills of Jarama
Remember
The things that we did
And remember
That we died for freedom here
And we died for Madrid

credits

from NO PASARAN!, released January 1, 2014
Joe Solo

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Joe Solo Scarborough, UK

Joe Solo is an award-winning musician, writer, poet, activist, broadcaster and washing machine engineer from Scarborough.

Live he has an ever growing reputation as both a performer and raconteur, being thought-provoking, comical and punch-the-air political often in the same breath.

He is not an artist you forget in a hurry. ... more

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