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Cold February Lyrics
As I beside some winter's fire
Sat writing words strange and steady
Amongst my own internal choir
Came voices to my mind unready
Of those who died on either side
While friends cry o're their bones unburied
Go sighing through the north east winds
These cold days of February
Some clerk with papers and his pen
Some banker with his poison pity
Some captain careless of his men
These fan the flames that maim the cities
And bigots in the name of Christ
By thorny paths obscure and muddy
Can fear to roam through years of cold
Bewailing how their hands are bloody
Whether they were from here or there
Their race and place I would not be heeding
The men who caused such bitterness
If hearts they have let their hearts be bleeding
Who neither for age nor the young child
Would turn the shot of the arms they carried
Go bear the guilt a weary ways
For the cold days of February
Song Info
Submitted by
mrtrout On May 23, 2002
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I always associated Cold Days of February with the first World War. I don't know why. Robin Williamson, who sings the song, lost his dad to WWII (Murmansk Run) and the reference flames that maim the cities also seems to point at WWII. The song reminds us of the contrast between they who do the warring and they who cause and drive it.
I think he wrote this about Northern Ireland and at one time had a reference to Derry. A beautiful song.
benheideveld I think you might be right. In any case, Darling Belle is also a war song, and judging by the train and the gas light I'm guessing is about WWI