Schwaben Redoubt Songtext
von Ricky Warwick

Billy Drinnon lost his sash
In a house of ill repute
Liam Kelly found it three days later
With his flute
Billy, call me Billy
Liam, call me Liam
Just looking for some comfort
In the French midsummer′s rain
Billy, call me Billy
Liam, call me Liam
They'd taken their king′s shilling
And climbed aboard the train
They'd never tasted cognac
They'd never crossed the sea
They′d never left their money by
The gas lamp near the sea
It doesn′t look like Sligo
Or Belfast's Sandy Row
It looks like Hades, Billy Boy
It′s nearly time to go


I'm from Dublin′s Northside, Bill
And you're from Belfast′s South
If we were both back home, my lad
I'd smack you in the mouth
But I just can't stop the shaking
All I taste is beer
And if I′m being honest, Bill
I want my mother here
It doesn′t look like Sligo
Or Belfast's Sandy Row
It looks like Hades, Billy Boy
It′s nearly time to go
Billy, call me Billy
Liam, call me Liam
Stood upright both together
And stared across the plain
Down the line, the shouting
The panic and the prayers
Billy rolled his sash up
Kept safe between the layers
So Liam said the rosary
And shook young Billy's hand
And pushed the bayonet into place
Two men in no-man′s land
If we were both back home, Liam
I'd punch you in the nose
Stay close to me, mo chara
When our final whistle blows
It doesn′t look like Sligo
Or Belfast's Sandy Row
It looks like Hades, Billy Boy
It's nearly time to go
Billy Drinnon lost his life
In the foxholes of the Somme
Liam Kelly followed him
Cut down by a gun and bomb
Billy, call me Billy
Liam, call me Liam
Walked into death together
Ah, but sure, what′s in a name?
It doesn′t look like Sligo
Or Belfast's Sandy Row
It looks like Hades, Liam, lad
And now it′s time to go
It doesn't look like Sligo
Or Belfast′s Sandy Row
It looks like Hades, Billy Boy
And now it's time to go
Now it′s time to go