Step forward two brothers in tunics of red
Polished buttons and boots, postman’s caps on their heads
Hard as nails, from the coalfields they came
Colliery bandsmen George and Joe Mains
Now step forward two soldiers, these khaki-clad sons
Sporting Durham Light Infantry tin hats and guns
Their music proved stronger than bullets or waves
As they played their hearts out while an army was saved
So strike up the band, let the D.L.I. play
The euphonium and cornet will each have their day
They’re shelling the beaches, while the boats fight the spray
And the band plays on, until the last boat sails away
George was proud of the medals he wore
In the street, in the pub, he would fist to the floor
Any man daring to mock the vain ways
Of this bold as brass bandsmen, fearless and brave
The Shakespeare’s finest, bandleader Joe
When his cornet blew all of Brandon would know
On the beach at Dunkirk it blew loud and shrill
That I bet back at home they could hear it still
So strike up the band, let the D.L.I. play
The euphonium and cornet will each have their day
They’re shelling the beaches, while the boats fight the spray
And the band plays on, until the last boat sails away
And step forward two fathers, back home from the War
Neither one spoke of the horrors they saw
As back to the coalfields they carried their fame
In two instrument cases, battered and stained
Now they’ve passed from this world and each note that they played
On euphonium and cornet has faded away
But the trumpets of Heaven resound to their name
Where the band plays on
The band struck up, the rearguard played
The euphonium and cornet each had their day
When the beaches were shelled and the boats fought the spray
Yet the band played on, until the last boat sailed away
Now step forward great-nephews, these two brothers too
Like their forebears, their music rings clear and true
They’re telling their stories and singing their songs
Ensuring the family tradition lives on
So strike up the band, let the instruments play
The guitar and accordion are now having their say
Until the next generation grasps the baton one day
Let the band play on, until the last note fades away
from DLI EP,
released August 5, 2019
Gary Miller - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Iain Petrie - Piano, Keyboards, Bass, Drums, Percussion, Brass Arrangement
Mick Tyas - Bouzouki, Backing Vocals
Glenn Miller - Accordion
Jake Lucas - Military Snare Drum
Andrew Potts - Cornet
Steven King - Euphonium
The Whisky Priests (1985-2002) was founded by twin brothers, Gary & Glenn Miller (“the Joe Strummer and Mick Jones of Folk
Music”). The band was internationally renowned for its energetic live shows, released a number of critically acclaimed albums, toured extensively and developed a worldwide cult following. The band reunited to tour in 2018 and release a 12-disc Complete Discography CD Box-set....more
Beautifully played and full of moving vocal performances, the Bay Area singer/songwriter's latest is a stellar work of art. Bandcamp Album of the Day Feb 3, 2023