Bernadette - “The Green Fields of France (No Man’s Land)” for accordion

On November 11, 1918, Germany signed an armistice with the Allies, marking the end of World War I. It was known as ‘the war to end all wars’ because of the great slaughter and destruction it caused. In 1976, the Scottish-born Australian folk singer-songwriter Eric Bogle composed this beautiful memorial to those who gave their lives. Its melody, its refrain, and elements of its subject matter are similar to those of “The Streets of Laredo,” a North American cowboy ballad. I had the pleasure of hearing Eric Bogle sing this haunting song at the Port Fairy Folk Festival in Australia as a young teenager.