I don’t know how widely known it is that some very popular and excellent folk songs were written about The First World War long after the event – poetry often overlooked.
One of the most popular is the lament for the death of Willie McBride, but its meaning is wider that just that.
I have heard it sung with great feeling many many times at folk clubs. There are several versions on YouTube but I think some of these make the song too sentimental.
Here’s one version
Eric Bogle
The picture above the video is of Eric Bogle who wrote the song in 1975 and returned to the grave of Willie McBride in 2018.
More on my war poetry website at https://www.warpoetry.uk/willie-mcbride-folk-song
More on my war poetry website at https://www.warpoetry.uk/willie-mcbride-folk-song
I’d be interested to hear of other folk songs about the First World War that you might recommend.
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