From Coalfield to Battlefield

Collaborative Project with Songwriter Gary Miller. 'From Coalfield to Battlefield' is a collection of songs based on true stories of The Durham Light Infantry. In October 2017, Gary was approached by the DLI Research and Study Centre at Seven Hills, Spennymoor, County Durham, England, asking for permission to use his song 'The Durham Light Infantry' in 'When the Bugle Calls', a travelling exhibition about the music of The Durham Light Infantry. ‘The Durham Light Infantry’ was only the second song Gary ever wrote for The Whisky Priests back in 1985 (it was eventually recorded and released as the final track on the band’s debut album ‘Nee Gud Luck’ in 1989). Gary made the important decision to revisit this old song and bring it more up-to-date with revised lyrics and a brand new arrangement for brass. Working with his regular producer Iain Petrie at Awake Music!, a brass arrangement was created and a complete score, written by Iain and professional music scorer Sam Lord was presented by Gary to Ferryhill Town Band, who took up the challenge of performing the piece specially for the project.

Field of Blood

Various images from 'From Coalfield to Battlefield'.

This is a new version of ‘The Durham Light Infantry’ by Gary Miller. It was originally only the second song he ever wrote for his band The Whisky Priests back in 1985, when he was 19 years old. the song was eventually recorded and released as the final track on the band’s debut album ‘Nee Gud Luck’ in 1989. Video by Gary Miller and Helen Temperley.

THE DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY

When I was but a young lad I hewed coal below this land

With a pick across me shoulder or a shovel in me hand

But then the Great War came and a spirit of adventure grew

While the posters in the street said "Your Country Needs You!”

Your country needs you!

I knew then what I must do

I lined up to volunteer for a soldier's bloody wage

I strode up to the desk and boldly lied about me age

They gave me a serge uniform of ‘Kitchener Blue’

Flags waved, brass bands played and huge crowds cheered too

But no-one really knew just what we’d gotten ourselves into

So we're off my boys through the hell and the noise

To die for our country

And they’ll raise a cross to remember the loss

Of the Durham Light Infantry

In the muddy fields of Flanders we fought like men from Hell

As the ground itself was ripped apart where all me best mates fell

The lad right next to me took a bullet to the head

And in all that hell and madness I wished that I was dead

As the sky wept tears of lead, while the ‘Faithful Durhams’ bled

We buried all our dead, at least those that could be found

As well as bits of bodies that were scattered all around

And it made me sick with anger at the things the War had done

But when one campaign was over they gave us another one

So I still kept marching on though all my mates were dead and gone

So we're off my boys through the hell and the noise

To die for our country

And they’ll raise a cross to remember the loss

Of the Durham Light Infantry

Let there be no songs of victory upon Armistice Day

For the pathos of the poets can never wash the stains away

And with the Pawns of War the Masters never will be done

So the ‘Dirty Little Imps’ will still be called upon

Once this ‘War To End All Wars’ is won, to fight on and on and on

So we're off my boys through the hell and the noise

To die for our country

And they’ll raise a cross to remember the loss

Of the Durham Light Infantry

Dedicated with respect to the memory of all the members of the Durham Light Infantry who appear in these accompanying images Performed by Gary Miller www.garymillersongs.com & Ferryhill Town Band www.ferryhilltownband.org.uk Written and Composed by Gary Miller www.garymillersongs.com Brass Arranegment by Iain Petrie Musical Score by Sam Lord & Iain Petire Produced and Engineered by Iain Petrie www.awakemusic.co.uk Illustrations by Helen Temperley. Gary Miller & Ferryhill Town Band 'The Durham Light Infantry' CD/Download Single (cat. no. WPTCD26) available now on Whippet Records www.whippetrecords.com Taken from the album 'From Coalfield to Battlefield' Coming soon on Whippet Records www.whippetrecords.com

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