Army Dreamers
"Army Dreamers" is a music single, the third and final song to be released from the album Never For Ever by Kate Bush. It was a UK top 20 hit in October 1980.
Background
"Army Dreamers" was released on 22 September 1980 and peaked at number 16 in the UK Singles Chart. The song is about the effects of war and about a mother who grieves for her young adult son, who was killed on military manoeuvres. Saddened by his unnecessary death, she wrestles with her guilt over what she could have done to prevent it. The song's waltz tempo marks a change to Bush's previous singles. It is interesting to note that the version on the original single release is longer than on the LP/CD release. The LP version fades; the single release has a hard ending (the version of the single from The Single File, unfortunately, fades like the LP release).
The single includes two B-sides, "Delius" and "Passing Through Air". "Delius" is Bush’s tribute to English composer Frederick Delius. The subtitle, "Song of Summer", comes from one of Delius’ works, and from a BBC film Bush saw about the composer's life. Again, it's of note that the LP version is different in that the previous track "Babooshka" segues into it, whereas the single B-side version begins unobscured. "Passing Through Air" is one of Bush's earliest works—originally recorded in 1973 at David Gilmour's studio, a few weeks after her 15th birthday.
Army Dreamers (EP)
Army Dreamers is a digital-only EP by the Irish folk singer Mary Dillon.
Track listing
Personnel
Notes and references
Podcasts:
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by Kate Bush
Army Dreamers
by: Kate Bush"B.F.P.O."
Army dreamers
"Mammy's hero"
"B.F.P.O."
"Mammy's hero"
Our little army boy
Is coming home from B.F.P.O.
We've a bunch of purple flowers
To decorate a mammy's hero
Mourning in the aerodrome
The weather warmer, he is colder
Four men in uniform
To carry home my little soldier
(What could he do? Should have been a rock star)
But he didn't have the money for a guitar
(What could he do? Should have been a politician)
But he never had a proper education
(What could he do? Should have been a father)
But he never even made it to his twenties
What a waste
Army dreamers
Ooh, what a waste of
Army dreamers
Tears o'er a tin box
Oh, Jesus Christ, he wasn't to know
Like a chicken with a fox
He couldn't win the war with ego
Give the kid the pick of pips
And give him all your stripes and ribbons
Now he's sitting in his hole
He might as well have buttons and bows
(What could he do? Should have been a rock star)
But he didn't have the money for a guitar
(What could he do? Should have been a politician)
But he never had a proper education
(What could he do? Should have been a father)
But he never even made it to his twenties
What a waste
Army dreamers
Ooh, what a waste of
Army dreamers
Ooh, what a waste of all that
Army dreamers
Army dreamers
Army dreamers, oh
Did n, did n, did n, dum
(B.F.P.O.)
(Army dreamers)
Did n, did n, did n, dum
(Mammy's hero)
Did n, did n, did n, dum
(B.F.P.O.)
(Army dreamers)
Did n, did n, did n, dum
(Mammy's hero)
(B.F.P.O.)
No harm heroes
(Mammy's hero)
(B.F.P.O.)
Army dreamers