The Longest Night

"What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?

- Only the monstrous anger of the guns.

Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle

Can patter out their hasty orisons.

No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;

Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs, -

The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;

And bugles calling for them from sad shires."

[Wilfred Owen, 1918]

Now the day has run

When the cover comes

But any fool can see

Ahead

Silence is my friend

But it has to end

Any fool can see

Ahead

It's the longest night

It's the longest night

Cold winds may blow

On the longest night

So we write our letters

To those far away

Any fool can see

Ahead

The distant sound of thunder

A choir of wailing shells

Any fool can see

Ahead

It's the longest night

It's the longest night

Cold winds may blow

On the longest night

I don't want to fight

I don't know who's right

Cold winds they blow

On this longest night

It's the longest night

It's the longest night

Cold winds may blow

On this longest night