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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