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Rebel Soldier

from Love and War by The Four Fathers

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    With full colour 8-page booklet by The Four Fathers' drummer Bren Horstead.
    The two bonus tracks are covers of Bob Dylan's 'Masters of War' and a groovy, folky version of Gloria Gaynor's 'I Will Survive.'
    For a live video of 'Masters of War', recorded in January 2023, see: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt3F-Zqm3Cs

    Includes unlimited streaming of Love and War via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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      £0.60 GBP  or more

     

about

An old folk song given a new tune and a roots reggae rhythm in 1986 by The Four fathers' lead singer Andy Worthington, when he lived in Brixton. The photo (almost certainly taken in 1987) is the only surviving photo of Andy rehearsing, as The Rebel Soldier, with Glyn Andrews (on the left), who sadly died many years ago. Another occasional musician in the band - and the man who taught Andy most of what he knows about reggae bass - was Vivian Weathers, who played bass with Linton Kwesi Johnson on his first three albums and also had a solo album released by Island Records.

See here for a live video recorded at Vinyl Deptford on April 28, 2017: youtu.be/fu5r6-pXhEA

lyrics

Rebel Soldier (traditional)

One morning one morning one morning in May
I heard a poor soldier lamenting and say
I heard a poor soldier lamenting and mourn
I am a rebel soldier and far from my home

It's grapeshot and musket and the cannons lumber loud
There's many a mangled body, a blanket for their shroud
There's many a mangled body left on the field alone
I am a rebel soldier and far from my home

I'll build me a castle on some green mountain high
Where the wild geese can see me as they do pass by
Where the wild geese can see me and hear my sad mourn
I am a rebel soldier and far from my home

credits

from Love and War, released September 21, 2015
Lyrics: traditional/music by Andy Worthington

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all rights reserved

tags

about

The Four Fathers London, UK

Militant, melodic rock & roots reggae band, based in SE London, mostly playing original protest music. Journalist and activist Andy Worthington (lead vocals, electro-acoustic guitar), Richard Clare (electric guitar, vocals), Bren Horstead (drums, percussion), Andrew Fifield (flute, harmonica), Paul Rooke (bass). ... more

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