Emily Feldberg's Music - The Three Tommies

THE THREE TOMMIES a setting from
Fragments: Voices from the First World War

DETAILS AND TEXTS.

Three Tommies (The Burning Question)
Composer's note: At first glance, this looks like a jaunty piece of nonsense. But when you read all the verses, you can see how humour was used to help deal with the enormous and constant fear in the trenches. I've tried to mirror and enhance the words with the orchestration, but I've kept it as a simple ballad. Really, the words are the most important thing here. The text is a poem originally published in the trench newspaper, The Wipers Times. ¹⁶

TEXTS:

Three Tommies ^[16]
Three Tommies sat in a trench one day
Discussing the war in the usual way
They talked of the mud and they talked of the Hun
Of what was to do, and what had been done -
They talked about rum
And though it is hard to believe
They even found time to talk about leave
But the point which they argued
from post back to pillar,
Was whether Notts County could beat Aston Villa

The night sped away and zero drew nigh
Equipment made ready, all lips getting dry
And watches consulted with each passing minute
Till five more to go, then 'twould find them all in it
The word came along down the line to "get ready!"
The sergeants admonishing all to keep steady
But out rang a voice getting shriller and shriller:
"I tell yer Notts County can beat Aston Villa!"

The Earth shook and swayed and the barrage was on
As they leapt o'er the top with a rush and were gone
Away into Hunland, through mud and through wire,
Stabbing and dragging themselves through the mire,
No time to heed those who are falling en route
Till, stopped by a strong point, they lay down to shoot,
Then, through the din came a voice: "Say, Jack Miller!
I tell yer Notts County can beat Aston Villa!"

The strong point has gone, and forwards they press
Towards their objective, in numbers growing less
They reach it at last, and prepare to resist
The counter-attack which will come through the mist
Of the rain falling steadily-
Dig and hang on
The word for support back to H.Q. has gone
The air, charged with moment, grows stiller and stiller
"Notts County's no earthly beside Aston Villa."

Two "Blighties", a struggle through mud to get back
To the old A.D.S. down a rough duck-board track
A hasty field dressing, a ride in a car
A wait in a C.C.S., then there they are:
Packed side by side in a clean Red Cross train
Happy in hopes to see Blighty again
Still, through the bandage, muffled, "Jack Miller
I bet you Notts County can beat Aston Villa!"

Three Tommies sat in a trench one day
Discussing the war in the usual way
They talked of the mud and they talked of the Hun
Of what was to do, and what had been done -
They talked about rum
And though it is hard to believe
They even found time to talk about leave
But the point which they argued over and over
Was whether Minehead Town -
could beat Bristol Rovers!

REFERENCES:

¹⁶ The Burning Question, Anon. From the facsimile edition of The Wipers Times (1973) introduced by Patrick Beaver & Peter Davies. Macmillan.

THE THREE TOMMIES a setting from Fragments: Voices from the First World War

THE THREE TOMMIES a setting from
Fragments: Voices from the First World War