Our little Army Boy
Is coming home from B.F.P.O.
I'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.
Tears o'er a tin box,
Oh, Jesus Christ, he wasn't to know,
Like a chicken with a fox,
He cannot 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?
Is coming home from B.F.P.O.
I'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.
Tears o'er a tin box,
Oh, Jesus Christ, he wasn't to know,
Like a chicken with a fox,
He cannot 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?
Contributed by Riccardo Venturi
Language: Italian
Versione italiana di Tigerlily
SOGNATORI DELL'ESERCITO
Il nostro piccolo Ragazzo nell'Esercito
Sta tornando a casa dall' Ufficio Postale delle Forze Britanniche (BPFO)
Ho un mazzo di fiori viola
Per decorare l'eroe di mamma.
Lutto nell'aerodromo,
Il tempo più caldo, lui è più freddo.
Quattro uomini in uniforme
Per portare a casa il mio piccolo soldato.
Cosa poteva fare?
Avrebbe dovuto essere una rock star,
Ma non aveva i soldi per una chitarra.
Cosa poteva fare?
Avrebbe dovuto essere un politico,
Ma non aveva mai avuto un'educazione adeguata.
Cosa poteva fare?
Avrebbe dovuto essere un padre.
Ma non arriverà mai _ nemmeno ai vent'anni.
Che spreco.
dell'esercito Sognatori.
Lacrime là sopra una scatola di latta,
Oh, Gesù Cristo, lui non doveva sapere
Come un pollo con una volpe,
Non può vincere la guerra con l'ego.
Date al bambino le migliori delle stellette,
E dategli tutte le vostra strisce e i vostri nastri.
Ora è seduto nel suo buco,
Potrebbe anche avere bottoni e inchini.
Cosa poteva fare?
Avrebbe dovuto essere una rock star,
Ma non aveva i soldi per una chitarra.
Cosa poteva fare?
Il nostro piccolo Ragazzo nell'Esercito
Sta tornando a casa dall' Ufficio Postale delle Forze Britanniche (BPFO)
Ho un mazzo di fiori viola
Per decorare l'eroe di mamma.
Lutto nell'aerodromo,
Il tempo più caldo, lui è più freddo.
Quattro uomini in uniforme
Per portare a casa il mio piccolo soldato.
Cosa poteva fare?
Avrebbe dovuto essere una rock star,
Ma non aveva i soldi per una chitarra.
Cosa poteva fare?
Avrebbe dovuto essere un politico,
Ma non aveva mai avuto un'educazione adeguata.
Cosa poteva fare?
Avrebbe dovuto essere un padre.
Ma non arriverà mai _ nemmeno ai vent'anni.
Che spreco.
dell'esercito Sognatori.
Lacrime là sopra una scatola di latta,
Oh, Gesù Cristo, lui non doveva sapere
Come un pollo con una volpe,
Non può vincere la guerra con l'ego.
Date al bambino le migliori delle stellette,
E dategli tutte le vostra strisce e i vostri nastri.
Ora è seduto nel suo buco,
Potrebbe anche avere bottoni e inchini.
Cosa poteva fare?
Avrebbe dovuto essere una rock star,
Ma non aveva i soldi per una chitarra.
Cosa poteva fare?
Contributed by Tigerlily - 2012/7/25 - 00:17
Language: Irish
Irish transcreation by Gabriel Rosenstock
BRIONGLÓID AIRM
Saighdiúir thar lear
Brionglóid Airm
Laoch do mháthar
Saighdiúir thar lear
Laoch do mháthar
Ár mbuachaillín san arm
Ag teacht abhaile ó bheith thar lear
Tá bláthanna corcra
Mar mhaisiú ort, a laoch do mháthar.
Caoineadh ar fud an aeradróim
An aimsir meirbh is eisean righin
Ceathrar fear faoi éide
A iompróidh chugainn an t-iar-shaighdiúirín.
Cén leigheas bhí air? Saol ceoil in áit an áir?
Ach níor tháinig sé ar airgead an ghiotáir
Cén leigheas ’bhí air? Cén fáth nach polaiteoir ’bhí ann?
Ach ar oiliúint an fhir ghaimbín bhí sé an-ghann
Cén leigheas ’bhí air? ’Cheart dó bheith ’na athair
Ach ní fhaca sé an fiche bliain slán.
Cur amú
Brionglóid Airm
Ó, cur amú ceart
Brionglóid Airm
Is deora amú
Ó, Íosa Críost, níorbh eol dó siúd
Mar chearc le maidrín rua
Nach mbuafadh sé an cogadh arú.
Tugtar dó gach aon onóir
Is tabhair na boinn dó is an ribín
Tá sé ina luí sa chré
Tabhair na cuacha dó is na cnaipí
Cén leigheas ’bhí air? Saol ceoil in áit an áir?
Ach níor tháinig sé ar airgead an ghiotáir
Cén leigheas ’bhí air? Cén fáth nach polaiteoir ’bhí ann?
Ach ar oiliúint an fhir ghaimbín bhí sé an-ghann
Cén leigheas ’bhí air? ’Cheart dó bheith ’na athair
Ach ní fhaca sé an fiche bliain slán.
Cur amú
Brionglóid Airm
Ó, cur amú ceart
Brionglóid Airm
Ó, an cur amú go léir
Brionglóid Airm
Brionglóid Airm
Brionglóid Airm, ó
Did n, did n, did n, dum
(Saighdiúir thar lear)
Did n, did n, did n, dum
(Laoch do mháthar)
Did n, did n, did n, dum
(Saighdiúir thar lear)
(Brionglóid Airm)
Did n, did n, did n, dum
(Laoch do mháthar)
Saighdiúir thar lear
Laoch na laochra
(Laoch do mháthar)
Brionglóid Airm
(Laoch do mháthar)
Saighdiúir thar lear
Brionglóid Airm
Laoch do mháthar
Saighdiúir thar lear
Laoch do mháthar
Ár mbuachaillín san arm
Ag teacht abhaile ó bheith thar lear
Tá bláthanna corcra
Mar mhaisiú ort, a laoch do mháthar.
Caoineadh ar fud an aeradróim
An aimsir meirbh is eisean righin
Ceathrar fear faoi éide
A iompróidh chugainn an t-iar-shaighdiúirín.
Cén leigheas bhí air? Saol ceoil in áit an áir?
Ach níor tháinig sé ar airgead an ghiotáir
Cén leigheas ’bhí air? Cén fáth nach polaiteoir ’bhí ann?
Ach ar oiliúint an fhir ghaimbín bhí sé an-ghann
Cén leigheas ’bhí air? ’Cheart dó bheith ’na athair
Ach ní fhaca sé an fiche bliain slán.
Cur amú
Brionglóid Airm
Ó, cur amú ceart
Brionglóid Airm
Is deora amú
Ó, Íosa Críost, níorbh eol dó siúd
Mar chearc le maidrín rua
Nach mbuafadh sé an cogadh arú.
Tugtar dó gach aon onóir
Is tabhair na boinn dó is an ribín
Tá sé ina luí sa chré
Tabhair na cuacha dó is na cnaipí
Cén leigheas ’bhí air? Saol ceoil in áit an áir?
Ach níor tháinig sé ar airgead an ghiotáir
Cén leigheas ’bhí air? Cén fáth nach polaiteoir ’bhí ann?
Ach ar oiliúint an fhir ghaimbín bhí sé an-ghann
Cén leigheas ’bhí air? ’Cheart dó bheith ’na athair
Ach ní fhaca sé an fiche bliain slán.
Cur amú
Brionglóid Airm
Ó, cur amú ceart
Brionglóid Airm
Ó, an cur amú go léir
Brionglóid Airm
Brionglóid Airm
Brionglóid Airm, ó
Did n, did n, did n, dum
(Saighdiúir thar lear)
Did n, did n, did n, dum
(Laoch do mháthar)
Did n, did n, did n, dum
(Saighdiúir thar lear)
(Brionglóid Airm)
Did n, did n, did n, dum
(Laoch do mháthar)
Saighdiúir thar lear
Laoch na laochra
(Laoch do mháthar)
Brionglóid Airm
(Laoch do mháthar)
Contributed by Gabriel Rosenstock - 2018/7/28 - 18:25
Language: Hebrew
La versione ebraica di Mazi Cohen (1995): שם באבן
נוסח עברי של מזי כהן - 1995 -
Hebrew version by Mazi (Mazzie) Cohen (1995) : שם באבן
Version hébraïque de Mazi Cohen (1995) : שם באבן
Mazi Cohenin hepreankielinen versio (1995) : שם באבן
Šam baeven (“Qui nella pietra”) (1995) è la riscrittura in ebraico di “Army Dreamers” fatta dalla cantante gerosolimitana Mazi (Mazzie) Cohen. La canzone era stata inserita nel sito autonomamente fin dal 12 marzo 2007 (pagina n° 5590): ci sono voluti quasi dodici anni per accorgersi della sua derivazione, ma questi sono i tempi, spesso, del nostro sito. La vecchia pagina è stata eliminata.
Šam baeven (“Here in stone”) (1995) is the Hebrew rewriting of “Army Dreamers” made by the singer Mazi (Mazzie) Cohen from Jerusalem. The Hebrew song was included in the site on March 12, 2007 (page n. 5590): it has taken almost twelve years to notice where it came from, but these are, quite often, the time habits of our site. The old page has been removed. [RV]
נוסח עברי של מזי כהן - 1995 -
Hebrew version by Mazi (Mazzie) Cohen (1995) : שם באבן
Version hébraïque de Mazi Cohen (1995) : שם באבן
Mazi Cohenin hepreankielinen versio (1995) : שם באבן
Mazi Cohen
Šam baeven (“Qui nella pietra”) (1995) è la riscrittura in ebraico di “Army Dreamers” fatta dalla cantante gerosolimitana Mazi (Mazzie) Cohen. La canzone era stata inserita nel sito autonomamente fin dal 12 marzo 2007 (pagina n° 5590): ci sono voluti quasi dodici anni per accorgersi della sua derivazione, ma questi sono i tempi, spesso, del nostro sito. La vecchia pagina è stata eliminata.
Šam baeven (“Here in stone”) (1995) is the Hebrew rewriting of “Army Dreamers” made by the singer Mazi (Mazzie) Cohen from Jerusalem. The Hebrew song was included in the site on March 12, 2007 (page n. 5590): it has taken almost twelve years to notice where it came from, but these are, quite often, the time habits of our site. The old page has been removed. [RV]
שם באבן
מעשן התותחים
הוא שב אלי, נישא קדימה
מחכה עם זר פרחים
לקשט גיבור של אמא
קר לך, היום חמים
האבל נח בנמל הבית
ארבעה לובשי מדים
נושאים אותך, עלה של זית.
מי שהיה לא יהיה כוכב רוק,
עדיין לא למד לפרוט על הגיטרה.
מי שהיה לא יגיע רחוק,
ילד שאתמול נפרד מבית הספר.
מי שהיה לא ירגיע תינוק,
כי עשרים שנה עדיין לא מלאו לו.
ועכשיו הוא שם באבן
ועכשיו הוא שם באבן
שם באבן
קול דמעה על הארון
הוא לא יכול היה לדעת
את קולות הנצחון
האדמה תמיד בולעת
תנו לילד כאן לבחור
אותות גבורה, עיטור של ערך
שם באפילת הבור
איפה היא צידקת הדרך?!
מי שהיה לא יהיה כוכב רוק,
עדיין לא למד לפרוט על הגיטרה.
מי שהיה לא יגיע רחוק,
ילד שאתמול נפרד מבית הספר.
מי שהיה לא ירגיע תינוק,
כי עשרים שנה עדיין לא מלאו לו.
ועכשיו הוא שם באבן
ועכשיו הוא שם באבן
שם באבן
מעשן התותחים
הוא שב אלי, נישא קדימה
מחכה עם זר פרחים
לקשט גיבור של אמא
קר לך, היום חמים
האבל נח בנמל הבית
ארבעה לובשי מדים
נושאים אותך, עלה של זית.
מי שהיה לא יהיה כוכב רוק,
עדיין לא למד לפרוט על הגיטרה.
מי שהיה לא יגיע רחוק,
ילד שאתמול נפרד מבית הספר.
מי שהיה לא ירגיע תינוק,
כי עשרים שנה עדיין לא מלאו לו.
ועכשיו הוא שם באבן
ועכשיו הוא שם באבן
שם באבן
קול דמעה על הארון
הוא לא יכול היה לדעת
את קולות הנצחון
האדמה תמיד בולעת
תנו לילד כאן לבחור
אותות גבורה, עיטור של ערך
שם באפילת הבור
איפה היא צידקת הדרך?!
מי שהיה לא יהיה כוכב רוק,
עדיין לא למד לפרוט על הגיטרה.
מי שהיה לא יגיע רחוק,
ילד שאתמול נפרד מבית הספר.
מי שהיה לא ירגיע תינוק,
כי עשרים שנה עדיין לא מלאו לו.
ועכשיו הוא שם באבן
ועכשיו הוא שם באבן
שם באבן
Contributed by Riccardo Venturi - 2018/11/2 - 09:50
This is one of my Kate Bush's favourite songs.. it may help thinking..on hard times like these.. ;)
shara - 2006/1/18 - 15:33
Versione inglese del cantante norvegese Moddi
da Unsongs (2014), compilation di canzoni censurate da tutto il mondo.
The English version recorded by Moddi in his album Unsongs (2014)
da Unsongs (2014), compilation di canzoni censurate da tutto il mondo.
The English version recorded by Moddi in his album Unsongs (2014)
Dq82 - 2021/3/27 - 12:22
La versione ebraica purtroppo non è contro ma al contrario è una celebrazione della guerra e dell'invasione autoindulgente. Mistifica e travia il senso originale della canzone.
Si tratta di una delle canzoni piu passate alla radio dell'IDF. Tristemente sta ritornando attuale piu che mai. Palestina libera.
Si tratta di una delle canzoni piu passate alla radio dell'IDF. Tristemente sta ritornando attuale piu che mai. Palestina libera.
Fra - 2024/6/11 - 04:22
Language: English
English translation of the Mazi Cohen version
Lyrics Translate
Lyrics Translate
NAME IN STONE
From the smoke of the canons
he returns to me, carried forward
i wait with a bouquet of flowers
to adorn mom's hero
you're cold, it's hot today
the mourning rests in the port of home
four wearing uniforms
bearing you, an olive leaf
One that was won't be a rock star
still didn't learn to strum a guitar
one that was will not go far
a child that just yesterday left school
one that was will not calm an infant
because he was not yet twenty years old
and now he is a name in stone
a name in stone
The sound of a tear on a coffin
he was not able to know
the sounds of victory
the earth always swallows
let the child here choose
signs of valor, a decoration of value
there in the darkness of the grave
where is the path of righteous ?!
From the smoke of the canons
he returns to me, carried forward
i wait with a bouquet of flowers
to adorn mom's hero
you're cold, it's hot today
the mourning rests in the port of home
four wearing uniforms
bearing you, an olive leaf
One that was won't be a rock star
still didn't learn to strum a guitar
one that was will not go far
a child that just yesterday left school
one that was will not calm an infant
because he was not yet twenty years old
and now he is a name in stone
a name in stone
The sound of a tear on a coffin
he was not able to know
the sounds of victory
the earth always swallows
let the child here choose
signs of valor, a decoration of value
there in the darkness of the grave
where is the path of righteous ?!
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Note for non-Italian users: Sorry, though the interface of this website is translated into English, most commentaries and biographies are in Italian and/or in other languages like French, German, Spanish, Russian etc.
Da / From "Never For Ever"
"Sognatori dell'Esercito" venne pubblicata il 22 settembre 1980 e ha raggiunto la posizione numero 16 nella UK Singles Chart. La canzone parla degli effetti della guerra e di una madre che piange il suo giovane figlio, ucciso durante manovre militari. Rattristata dalla sua morte inutile, lei combatte con il suo senso di colpa per quello che avrebbe potuto fare per impedirlo. Il brano rappresenta un cambiamento rispetto alle opere precedenti, in quanto è caratterizzato da un tempo di valzer.
(Tigerlily)
Actually,Addison,although it is true that I certainly am not right all of the time,I believe I am this time.In the web site Gaffaweb(the ultimate source for all things Kate)at the end of the lyrics for this song is a footnote denoting that B.F.P.O. stands for British Forces Posted Overseas.Also in the web site Cloudbusting:Kate Bush in her own words,Kate herself,when asked if the song is directed at Ireland,says it is more directed at Europe in general and that is why she chose B.F.P.O. In the video it shows soldiers in combat,not people delivering or receiving mail.
- Lee, Ottawa, Canada
Tali,both of Kate's brothers are alive and well.The song is about a fictitious mother whose son dies at war.Paddy Bush has played various instruments on albums after this song and John Carder Bush has taken photographs for albums that came after this.
- Lee, Ottawa, Canada
Actually written about Kate's brother who died oversees ("Four men in uniform to carry home my little soldier").
- Tali, Jerusalem, Israel
Actually, Lee, the BFPO is the British Forces Post Office. Sorry pal, we can't be right all the time....
- Addison, Swindon, England
In the song Army Dreamers,Kate mentions the soldier in the song coming home from B.F.P.O.This stands for British Forces Posted Overseas.
- Lee, Ottawa, Canada
songfacts.com