My grandfather was raised in the mountains of British Columbia during the gold rush at the turn of the twentieth century. When I was a boy, I used to try to get him to talk about his experience in World War 1. Like many veterans, he didn't want talk about it. Mostly he would just say that he hoped I would never have to go to war.
Players: Rick Garvin - vocals, guitars, bass
Wendell Ferguson - guitar
Alexia Melnychuk - vocals
My Grandfather © 2008 Rick Garvin
1. My grandfather was born a gold rush miner’s son
A Kootenay mountain boy, volunteered for world war one
He went to France at 18 years old
was poisoned by chlorine gas and then came home
2. When I was small, I asked him about the war
why were you there, who did you kill what did you see
He said I don’t want to frighten you
But those stories would be hell if they weren’t true
Chorus:
I pray , I hope, my child you’ll never learn what I know
I pray , with luck, my child you’ll never have to go
3. He said “war is cruel even when its won.
Everyone dies, even those who live on.
Like every man I made my choices,
Some of them are worth the haunted voices now.”
4. My grandfather died some time ago
When I think back, now I know
why he thought his sacrifice was worth it
to give his children a future without war
Chorus:
I pray , I hope, my child you’ll never learn what I know
I pray , with luck, my child you’ll never have to go
I pray you’ll never have to go