Princes in the Line
Words and Music: Tom Lewis ©2006
(Recorded by Tom
Lewis on Demand
Performance)
The heir to England's throne stood proud,
before a wall in France,
Once more unto the breach, dear friends!; he bid the troops
advance,
His armour, and his honour, bright; all men could see them
shine,
So they followed to the battle for their prince was in the
line.
When Charles's cavaliers were called to muster for the king,
The monarch's only nephew heard the call to duty ring,
Foremost in the fighting rode Rupert Of The Rhine,
There was honour in the battle when a prince was in the line.
Chorus:
(But/For) the children of our rulers will not join the fight
today,
(and) Kings of Commerce never send their sons into the fray,
The children of the poor will fight the wars that they design,
But what honour's in the battle with no princes in the line?
The South Pacific blazed, and rang with Freedom's fire-alarm,
The name of 'old Joe' Kennedy could keep his sons from harm,
But the Navy needed brave young men; this was the place and
time,
So a Once-And-Future President stepped up into the line.
Chorus
A bitter South Atlantic wind blew over icy sea,
The Queen of England's son flew out to face the enemy,
As target for the missiles, to protect the fleet so fine.
This argument's not: 'Right or wrong?' - but: 'Princes in the
line?'
Chorus
Prime Ministers and Presidents take us to war with lies,
In parliament and congress they wear flags for their disguise,
Their kids wear trendy camouflage while sipping vintage wine,
But they will not wear the uniform, and step into the line.
Chorus:
For the children of our rulers will not join the fight today,
(and) Kings of Commerce never send their sons into the fray,
The children of the poor will fight the wars that they design,
But what honour's in the battle with no princes in the line?
But what honour's in the battle with no princes in the line?
If there was honour in the battle... there'd be princes in the
line.
