Prior to last week, over the last five years, I had written a series of songs based on Best Sellers that became Academy Award Winning movies. I had done songs for (Harper Lee's) “To Kill A Mockingbird”, (Ken Kesey's) “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, “Shane”, (Graham Greene’s) “This Gun for Hire”, and (Owen Lister’s) “The Virginian.”
It’s not a movie, but I had also written a song around the best selling nonfiction book, “Custer Died For Your Sins.”
Until now, a workable lyric for Remarque’s classic novel “Alls Quiet On the Western Front” had eluded me in spite of numerous false starts. This time, I think I’ve got it.
Please let me know whether this actually touches any emotions or not. Verlon Gates (HardTwistMusic).
The only song about this book I know of was by Elton John, but the connection to the book just wasn't there for me in the lyric.
All’s Quiet On The Western Front
Some say the first casualty of war is truth.
Others say it’s the innocence of a generation of youth.
I don’t know what’s first to die. And I don’t know what’s last.
But every day I live this Hell, my hope is fading fast.
Fear has numbed my soul at last. So oddly now relieved.
Thoughts of glory lost and gone. So long ago believed.
My sole, and last remaining dream - that my dear mother need not grieve.
line of music here without lyrics
For Honor, Country, God and King, our enemy I confront.
And as his bullet finds my heart, All’s Quiet On The Western Front.
Finally, sounds of war depart. All’s Quiet on the western front.
Shining hope and purity, relinquished and hopelessly lost.
Only half of my friends remain, and caring brings terrible cost.
I no longer know who’s right and wrong. In the present or the past.
But every day I live this Hell, my hope is fading fast.
There have been times I’ve dreamed of death as a merciful release.
But fear of death is a bodyguard whose vigilance won’t cease.
Where life is daily funerals and existing in a ditch.
We commemorate, and then force ourselves to move on and forget.
For Honor, Country, God and King, our enemy I confront.
And as his bullet finds my heart, All’s Quiet On The Western Front.
Finally after a deafening start, All’s Quiet on the western front.
So many times we’ve dared to hope that this might someday end.
So cruel to let us hope in vain, and dash our hopes again.
And today the hope is lingering as the rumours spread til when.
This bullet finds my hopeful heart, and it’s quiet only then.