Tank Park Salute Lyrics
Leave the light on at the top of the stairs
Tell me the names of the stars up in the sky
A tree taps on the window pane
That feeling smothers me again
Daddy is it true that we all have to die
Is darkness
Your name was in the memorial book
And what had become of all the things we planned
I accepted the commiserations
Of all your friends and your relations
But there’s some things I still don’t understand
How could you fall?
A little boy’s lifetime away
Is all I’ve left of everything we’ve done
Like a pale moon in a sunny sky
Death gazes down as I pass by
To remind me that I’m but my father’s son
This tribute
I offer up to you
This tank park salute
I've loved this song since I first heard it 20+ years ago. Now that I'm the father of a 7 year-old, it's even more poignant. I always imagine the now-grown Billy looking at childhood photos of he and his dad taken at a war memorial. Perhaps in one of the photos, he and dad were giving each other silly salutes, goofing off the way kids and dads do. And I'd imagine, since photos weren't nearly as common back then as now, that they are among the most cherished memories of the dad he lost too soon.
Why the hell would anybody flag this? I really don't understand people.
Why the hell would anybody flag this? I really don't understand people.
I've loved this song since the day Don't Try This At Home came out, too, meahern.
I've loved this song since the day Don't Try This At Home came out, too, meahern.
"You were so tall How could you fall?"
Brings a lump to my throat every time I listen to it.
Billy is a true lyrical legend and is totally engaging when he speaks, I love him!
Yeah, me too.
Yeah, me too.
The Tank Park is the Bovington Tank Museum near Wareham in Dorset, UK, and I believe the title of the song refers to a visit Billy and his dad made there. It is a moving song, especially if you have lost your dad, and moves me to tears, But of course, Mr Bragg is near genius in touching home truths. KC
Spose this song is about a kid having that horrible realisation of ones own mortality and then experiencing the death we have without dying which is the death of our mum or dad. I only came here to work out what Tank Park Salute meant, but if it is something personal between Billy and his dad then that just makes the song more beautiful.
Hands down my favourite song by Billy Bragg. What does the title Tank Park Salute refer to though?
Did Billy Bragg's father die in the war possibly?
This song is actually a reference to his father dying. You'd need a copy of Billy's Back to Basics to understand the tank park salute!
"Did Billy Bragg's father die in the war possibly?"
Hehe...strewth...the bard ain't that old.
Bragg's father died of lung cancer when he was 18. Wikipedia said it so it must be true :p
No point debating what it's about. I think we've found the most beautiful song ever written.