The Promotion Waltz
The futility of war, and the crazy mentality which is part and parcel of such madness.
Like some other of my poems, this is both a poem and a song, if you want it to be. If you prefer the musical over the spoken, then any basic waltz time melody should fit, bar a little fine-tuning.
The Promotion Waltz
The Captain he danced with his wife one night.
He said, ‘Oh my dear, it will be all right;
‘I’ll get promotion, I’ll cause a commotion;
I’ll send all the young lads to fight.’
‘Oh my dear, it’s a lovely war.
Who cares who we’re fighting, details are a bore.
I’ll get promotion, I’ll cause a commotion;
I’ll send all the young lads to war.’
The Colonel he danced with his wife one day.
He said, ‘Oh my dear, it will be ok;
I’ve got my Station in Administration;
I won’t have to go to the fray.’
‘Oh my dear, it’s a lovely war.
Who cares who we’re fighting, details are a bore.
I’ll get promotion, I’ll cause a commotion;
I’ll send all the young lads to war.’
The General he danced with his wife one morn’.
He said, ‘Oh my dear, I feel so forlorn;
No more promotion, without a commotion;
They’ve called a ceasefire in the war’
‘Oh my dear, it’s a lovely war.
Who cares who we’re fighting, details are a bore.
I’ll get promotion, I’ll cause a commotion;
I’ll send all the young lads to war’
The Field Marshall danced
With his wife one night.
He said, ‘Oh my dear, it will be all right;
I’ve still got promotion, without a commotion;
And the young lads do not have to fight.’
‘Oh my dear, please do take my hand;
We’ve waltzed round this evening, one more it is planned.
At a minute a time, now three they are done;
After the last waltz then we will be. . . . ’
