Let Them In

[The Colonel]

https://soundcloud.com/da-colonel/let-them-in

For Memorial Day -- during WW2, a nurse found a poem on a hospital bed in the Philippines, and in 1990 John Gorka turned it into a song. Thanks to all who served and still serve.

Let them in, Peter
They are very tired
Give them couches where the angels sleep
And light those fires

Let them wake whole again
To brand new dawns
Fired by the sun not wartime's
Bloody guns

May their peace be deep
Remember where the broken bodies lie
God knows how young they were
To have to die
God knows how young they were
To have to die

So give them things they like
Let them make some noise
Give dance hall bands not golden harps
To these our boys

And let them love, Peter
For they've had no time
They should have trees and bird songs
And hills to climb

The taste of summer in a ripened pear
And girls sweet as meadow wind
With flowing hair

And tell them how they are missed
But say not to fear
It's gonna be alright
With us down here

Let them in, Peter
Let them in, Peter
Let them in, Peter

[JoeCharter]

Thanks for posting, Colonel. That was an emotional performance and I especially liked the guitar solo -- nice phrasing.

[The Colonel]

Thanks. I normally play this in CGCGCD (low to high). Would have been nicer than standard.

[BBWW]

A well played version, thanks for this. It was funny I think David Wilcox recorded this before John did. They both do it well too.

[The Colonel]

Thank you. I can do DW's arrangement -- I love the open tuning he uses -- CGCGCD.

[mesa]

Nicely done, Colonel. The poem/song is still fitting for today.

[bbrown]

What a great poem. Quite moving. Sensitively sung.