Ian McCullough himself said that it's about beauty in the face of war, but also qualified that with, "I don't know what it's about."
There are some literary and historical call-outs:
"Road to Mandalay" is present in the opening of a 1890 poem by Rudyard Kipling about the British occupation of and wars in Burma.
"Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag" is a 1915 British WWI marching song.
"Bombers Bay" refers to the bomb bay of a plane; the UK had many bombing campaigns in World War Two, including one very unsuccessful one targeting Berlin.
Madrid last saw action by British forces during the Peninsula Campaign of the Napoleonic Wars.
A consistent theme here is the heroism of the British troops in various wars from 1808 to 1945. It certainly is beautiful, in lyrics and melody. For whatever McCullough finds vague about it, there is a recurring fond celebration of British forces throughout the years.
Ian McCullough himself said that it's about beauty in the face of war, but also qualified that with, "I don't know what it's about."
There are some literary and historical call-outs: "Road to Mandalay" is present in the opening of a 1890 poem by Rudyard Kipling about the British occupation of and wars in Burma. "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag" is a 1915 British WWI marching song. "Bombers Bay" refers to the bomb bay of a plane; the UK had many bombing campaigns in World War Two, including one very unsuccessful one targeting Berlin. Madrid last saw action by British forces during the Peninsula Campaign of the Napoleonic Wars.
A consistent theme here is the heroism of the British troops in various wars from 1808 to 1945. It certainly is beautiful, in lyrics and melody. For whatever McCullough finds vague about it, there is a recurring fond celebration of British forces throughout the years.