From the recording Trains


John Jenkins – Vocals, Keyboards
Vanessa Murray – Vocals
Jon Lawton – Guitars, Percussion
Amy Chalmers – Violin
Helen Maher – Accordion

About the Song

This was the other song I dreamt. I woke up in the middle of the night with the verse and chorus and sang it down the phone and went back to bed.
It’s another story song like “Sweet Delphine” and I’m not sure why I wrote about a relationship going back hundred years but that’s what I enjoy about songwriting, you should never limit yourself to any ideas.

About the Recording

I had a sound I wanted in my head and vocally I tried a few ideas out with a few other people but it wasn’t exactly what I wanted. I had a spell in hospital and Jon arranged for Vanessa to come in in my absence and do her shared vocal and this was exactly what I wanted. She’s brilliant.
Musically I also wanted to make it a bit of an epic track and hence there’s 3 solo’s, Jon, Amy and then Helen. I was absolutely made up with their contributions.
I released this as an EP and although it got a few plays which I’m grateful for, the length of the track may have been a bit intimidating.

Lyrics

Her Soldier Boy

So long ago – through the mists of time and days of old
A young girl once had a dream, to marry her sweetheart when she was 17

He was a grenadier
With his redcoat and musket she loved him dear
But Napoleon had other plans and off to war went her Man

She wore her mother’s wedding coat, with ribbons in her hair
And waited patiently for her soldier boy who said
“Please love me for who I am, please love me for who I am”

Well the war grew fierce and strong, and her soldier boy fought bravely on
News soon reached her ears
That the war had been won and her soldier boy would soon return

She wore her mother’s wedding coat
With ribbons in her hair
And waited patiently for her soldier boy who said
“Please love me for who I am, please love me for who I am”

A Hero he did return
Battle wounded he lasted less than one year
On the banks of the village river she was seen
A life of loneliness is not for me

She wore her mother’s wedding coat
With ribbons in her hair
And lies silently next to her soldier boy
“Love me for who I am, love me for who I am”