Inspired by hearing from my father, 65 years ago, of the sacrifice of the 51st Highlanders in 1940 to enable the Dunkirk ‘Miracle:
https://suno.com/s/gLe7NANJG8FK3AVr
Lyrics:
It was the winter of nineteen thirty-nine
When we arrived at France’s Maginot Line
We were more than fifteen thousand strong
Ready to stand our ground against the hun
From the Maginot Line we came late to Saint Valery
The panzers dashing to the coast were soon upon us
We paid a bloody price on Winston Churchill’s say
Marched ten thousand strong to years behind the wire
In the front line we were all fighting highlanders
The Seaforth, Cameron, Gordon and the Argylls
With the Black Watch, holders of the line at Arras
And gunners, medics and drivers from every part
From the Maginot Line we came late to Saint Valery
The panzers dashing to the coast were soon upon us
We paid a bloody price for a plan that could only fail
Marched ten thousand strong to years behind the wire
Every island, village and town felt the losses
Some lost every single young man they had
Left behind in France to face the blitzkrieg
It’s a betrayal that will never be forgotten
From the Maginot Line we came late to Saint Valery
The panzers dashing to the coast were soon upon us
We paid a bloody price for a plan that could only fail
Marched ten thousand strong to years behind the wire
When the blitzkrieg came, we were divided
The Germans dashed between us and the rest
The Brits headed fast for the coast to escape
But we were told to stay and hold the line
From the Maginot Line we came late to Saint Valery
The panzers dashing to the coast were soon upon us
We paid a bloody price for a plan that could only fail
Marched ten thousand strong to years behind the wire
For six months we fought a bloody rearguard
To protect the left flank of the weary French
Arriving in Saint Valery too late, far too late
And thick fog took away our very last chance
From the Maginot Line we came late to Saint Valery
The panzers dashing to the coast were soon upon us
We paid a bloody price for a plan that could only fail
Marched ten thousand strong to years behind the wire
Ten thousand and more of us forced to surrender
A long brutal march with damn little food or water
Twenty miles a day and murdered if you couldn’t
Five long years away from our homes and families
From the Maginot Line we came late to Saint Valery
The panzers dashing to the coast were soon upon us
We paid a bloody price for on Winston Churchill’s say
Marched ten thousand strong to years behind the wire
When we returned, many left behind in the ground
Churchill was the big hero who saved the country
But when it came to the next chance to vote
With our English pals we booted him right out
From the Maginot Line we came late to Saint Valery
The panzers dashing to the coast were soon upon us
We paid a bloody price for a plan that could only fail
Marched ten thousand strong to years behind the wire
From the Maginot Line we came late to Saint Valery
The panzers dashing to the coast were soon upon us
We paid a bloody price for a plan that could only fail
Marched ten thousand strong to years behind the wire
Background:
Singing Scotland's Future and Past 