When the Battle is Over - Highland Bagpipes traditional tunes’ stories by Stephane BEGUINOT

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WHEN THE BATTLE IS OVER

"When the Battle is Over” is a suitable title for a retreat march as these were played for soldiers when returning to their barracks or camp at the end of the day.
It is a late 19th century composition by Pipe Major William Robb, of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, the tune entered piping repertoire between the Boer and First World Wars.
This march bears a strong resemblance to the melody "The Last Rose of Summer" of Thomas Moore (1779 – 1852) an Irish poet, singer, songwriter, and entertainer, now also remembered for the lyrics of The Minstrel Boy. He is considered Ireland’s National Bard and is to Ireland what Robert Burns is to Scotland.

WHEN THE BATTLE IS OVER LYRICS

The lyrics by Andy Stewart were written in 1961.

When the Battle’s Over
I returned to the fields of glory,
Where the green grasses and flowers grow.
And the wind softly tells the story,
Of the brave lads of long ago.

Chorus
March no more my soldier laddie,
There is peace where there once was war.
Sleep in peace my soldier laddie,
Sleep in peace, now the battle’s over.

In the great glen they lay a sleeping,
Where the cool waters gently flow.
And the gray mist is sadly weeping,
For those brave lads of long ago.

Chorus

See the tall grass is there awaiting,
As their banners of long ago.
With their heads high forward threading,
Stepping lightly to meet the foe.

Chorus

Some return from the fields of glory,
To their loved ones who held them dear.
But some fell in that hour of glory,
And were left to their resting here.

Chorus

  Lorsque la bataille cessa
  Je suis retourné au champ d’honneur
  Où les herbes vertes et les fleurs poussent
  et le vent raconte doucement l’histoire
  des braves montagnards d’autrefois.

  Refrain
  Cesse de marcher mon jeune soldat
  La paix a succédé à la guerre
  Dors en paix mon jeune soldat
  Dors en paix la bataille est finie.

  Dans les profondes vallées, ils dorment allongés
  là où l’eau fraiche coule doucement
  et la morne brume pleure tristement
  pour tous ces braves montagnards d’autrefois.

Refrain

  Regarde les hautes herbes qui attendent ici
  Comme leurs bannières d’autrefois
  avec leurs étendards hissés droit devant
  marchant d’un pas léger sus à l’ennemi.

Refrain

  Certains revinrent du chant d’honneur
  vers leurs bien-aimées qui attendaient leur amour.
  Mais certains sont tombés au champ d’honneur
  et y ont été abandonnés/laissés à leur repos.

Refrain

THE LAST ROSE OF SUMMER LYRICS

Left blooming alone;
All her lovely companions
Are faded and gone;
No flower of her kindred,
No rosebud is nigh,
To reflect back her blushes,
To give sigh for sigh.

I’ll not leave thee, thou lone one!
To pine on the stem;
Since the lovely are sleeping,
Go, sleep thou with them.
Thus kindly I scatter,
Thy leaves o’er the bed,
Where thy mates of the garden
Lie scentless and dead.

So soon may I follow,
When friendships decay,
From Love’s shining circle
The gems drop away.
When true hearts lie withered
And fond ones are flown,
Oh! who would inhabit,
This bleak world alone?

  Seule encore en fleur
  toutes ses jolies compagnes
  sont fanées et ont disparues ;
  aucune fleur de sa famille
  aucun bouton de rose n’est assez proche
  pour réfléchir sa couleur rose
  pour rendre un soupir au soupir

  Je ne la laisserai pas seule
  se languir sur sa tige !
  Depuis que la belle s’est endormie
  je dors près d’elle.
  Gentiment, je disperse
  ses pétales au-delà du lit
  où ses compagnons de jardin
  se couchent sans parfum et meurent.

  Bientôt mon tour viendra
  lorsque l’amitié flétrit
  dans le cercle radieux de l’amour
  les pétales tomberont.
  lorsque les coeurs sincères se faneront
  et que les meilleurs se seront envolés
  Oh ! Qui pourra encore habiter seul
  ce monde devenu sans espoir ?

VIDEO SUGGESTION(S)

Andy Stewart

The Last Rose of Summer

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