As I said in other pages, I write songs in strokes of beautiful madness. This one is no exception as it stemmed from the thought “I should get into rapier fighting, or maybe heavy list. Oh, but I wouldn’t be very good. I’d just be another body on the field.”
And so a song was born.
- Now I was but a little child
- When the great war had begun
- I looked up at the fighters
- And I thought war must be fun
- I stole my father’s armor
- And I practiced every day
- And I dreamed I’d be somebody on the field, on the field
- And I dreamed I’d be somebody on the field
- And as the years passed onward
- I thought it might be grand
- To try my hand at fencing
- With a rapier in my hand
- But swords were too expensive
- So I fought with sticks instead
- And I hoped to be somebody on the field, on the field
- And I hoped to be somebody on the field
- I’d finally reached the right age
- I could go to fight the foe
- But although I’d thought I’d practiced
- There’s so much I did not know
- Now I am in the army
- Just a face amongst the crowd
- And I know I’m just a body on the field, on the field
- And I know I’m just a body on the field
- So I found myself a mentor
- To help improve my skills
- His orders kept me busy
- Running up and down these hills
- But I’m running further every day
- And I trust his word is true
- That I won’t be just a body on the field, on the field
- That I won’t be just a body on the field
- Now the bruises pile on
- As he shows me how to fight
- I hope to be like him someday
- My patient, fearsome knight
- He gives to me no quarter
- And I dread the word “again”
- But he’s making me somebody on the field, on the field
- But he’s making me somebody on the field
- Each fight I get much better
- I’m learning every day
- He’s teaching me of chivalry
- Which is the knightly way
- “Be courteous, fight with honor”
- I repeat with every breath
- And I’m glad to be a body on the field, on the field
- And I’m glad to be a body on the field
- So now I pass to new ones
- All the things I learned from him
- That practice and a stout heart’s
- What you truly need to win
- I’m glad to be a small part
- Of this Band of Brothers here
- I don’t need to be somebody on the field, on the field
- I don’t need to be somebody on the field
- A white belt I’ve been given
- And I stare in awe and tears
- I never thought I’d be here
- Even dreaming all these years
- I’m humbled and I’m grateful
- With my students at my side
- For now I am a knight upon the field, on the field
- A grateful, blessed knight upon the field