Between The General & The Grave
from The Trick Is To Breathe by Sid Griffin
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lyrics
We settled down for evening, sleepin on our feet
Packed as close as if in moats, we shook before our leaving
No one slept a moment, the smoked what they had saved
Counting down the hours,
between the General & the grave
at 4am the cannon roared
awakening the Devil
at 6am dawn had come
the killing fields now level
I lit a final cigarette
our line stretched like a wave
listening for a whistle
'tween the General & the grave
one hand on the ladder the other on my gun
first we climb and then we charge
I prayed I would not run
fast & forward quickly as a soldier does behave
waiting for a moment
'tween the General & the grave
the General, he's behind the lines
scented down in the dew
in the rear where brass doth clang
far from cannon view
there they draw the master plan
here we stand as slaves
miles away this front line
'tween the General & the grave
in life I am courageous to take a patriot's stand
in death I am heroic and cradled in God's hand
but this dawn finds me lonely
as if sealed within a cave
surrounded by my comrades
'tween the General & the grave
over the top & out to run the razor wire is cut
I hear the click & then the crack
a warmth within my gut
blown into a shell hole
where I pray that I was brave
so far from my homeland
'tween the General & the grave
the Mayor speaks, a piper squeaks
the flag held in the wind
a bouquet lain for the newly slain
the Fallen without sin
I'd cry if I could manage
but no tears did I save
I wept them all the day I lay
'tween the General & the grave
Packed as close as if in moats, we shook before our leaving
No one slept a moment, the smoked what they had saved
Counting down the hours,
between the General & the grave
at 4am the cannon roared
awakening the Devil
at 6am dawn had come
the killing fields now level
I lit a final cigarette
our line stretched like a wave
listening for a whistle
'tween the General & the grave
one hand on the ladder the other on my gun
first we climb and then we charge
I prayed I would not run
fast & forward quickly as a soldier does behave
waiting for a moment
'tween the General & the grave
the General, he's behind the lines
scented down in the dew
in the rear where brass doth clang
far from cannon view
there they draw the master plan
here we stand as slaves
miles away this front line
'tween the General & the grave
in life I am courageous to take a patriot's stand
in death I am heroic and cradled in God's hand
but this dawn finds me lonely
as if sealed within a cave
surrounded by my comrades
'tween the General & the grave
over the top & out to run the razor wire is cut
I hear the click & then the crack
a warmth within my gut
blown into a shell hole
where I pray that I was brave
so far from my homeland
'tween the General & the grave
the Mayor speaks, a piper squeaks
the flag held in the wind
a bouquet lain for the newly slain
the Fallen without sin
I'd cry if I could manage
but no tears did I save
I wept them all the day I lay
'tween the General & the grave
credits
from The Trick Is To Breathe,
released July 2, 2020
license
all rights reserved
tags
about
Sid Griffin London, UK
Yep, I'm the guy from the Americana founders the Long Ryders in 1980s L.A. & the guy in the first ever alt-bluegrass act, the Coal Porters, recently out of London. You bet make solo albums & perform singer-songwriter gigs, I’ve toured solo from London to Los Angeles to Sydney to Hong Kong to Helsinki too. Million Dollar Bash is my well-received book on The Basement Tapes and I've never met Dylan. ... more
shows
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May 8Oslo, Norway
discography
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Jul 2020 -
Jul 2020 -
Jul 2020 -
Jul 2020 -
Jul 2020
contact / help
Sid Griffin recommends:
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This would be a fine time to check out the wonderful Tom Stevens’ solo album Home.
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The Third Mind
by The Third MindThe Third Mind are helmed by Dave Alvin, once of the Blasters and X, who is now a leading light in the Americana genre.
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THE UNCLAIMED-YOU NEVER COME EP
by THE UNCLAIMEDThe Unclaimed - You Never Come EP (forty years ago I was in this band!)
go to album
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supported by 4 fans who also own “Between The General & The Grave”
This is equally gorgeous and rocking - just a wonderful set of songs and great performances and arrangements (and the guitar solos are perfect). As one who was only familiar with the Long Ryders music, coming across this is ear-opening...akin to hearing Gene Clark solo stuff at the first time and marveling how it equaled/bested the Byrds.
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Points Revisited
by Tom Stevenssupported by 4 fans who also own “Between The General & The Grave”
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Hell on Church Street
by punchbrothersA re-envisioning of Tony Rice's classic album "Church Street Blues" from Brooklyn progressive bluegrass quartet Punch Brothers.
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