Today is Remembrance Day, and we’re sharing the story of Roland’s Brenda Major who has written a song inspired by her late grandfather’s service during The Great War. It's called "In the Field" and poignantly reflects on the importance of remembering those who served and gave their lives for our freedoms, especially as time continues to blur those battles of the past.
"I've been writing songs for a number of years, probably started around 2007, and I've been writing poetry a lot as a kid." she explained. "In 2014 it was the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I, and so my grandfather was a soldier in World War I. I kind of had the inspiration from his experiences, and I wanted to write something to dedicate the anniversary of the War, and the fact that we're still at war, war is ongoing."
Major wrote the lyrics for the song, with Ernie Enns co-writing the music.
"As a kid, I spent a lot of time with him (my grandfather) and my grandmother, so we were very close," she reflected. "He did tell me a number of stories, and at one time I wanted to record those stories and use them in a speech for 4H. That's when he told me. 'No, he didn't want that.' He made me destroy the recording. He didn't like to talk about the War, and like many vets, did not like to tell their stories. But I do remember, so I wrote everything down I could remember from his experiences. I'm very fortunate I did have a chance to speak with him about what he did go through, (at least) some of it."
He found himself on the front lines at the age of 16
Major's grandfather was born in 1898, and when WWI broke out he was just 16 years old.
"He actually ran away to join the army for a better life, because he was poor," she explained. "He was from the poor class in England, and the army was a place for him to have a warm bed, boots and a uniform. Who knew war was going to break out."
"I know a lot of people have trouble thinking about that, so for me, because he didn't want his stories heard, I honoured that while he was still alive, but then I feel it's really important for people to hear the stories," added Major. "My song is a way of keeping that memory alive, and making sure people don't forget."
The context of "In the Field" is from a third-person perspective watching children playing in a field, appearing to take everything in their lives for granted, not knowing why in the same field there is a cross and grave of a solider who fought and died for their freedom.
"As a storyteller, I always imagine what would it have been like," said Major. "So, just seeing kids playing outside, playing the field, and just taking everything for granted, the freedom to go out and play in the field. They have no idea who these soldiers were that gave their lives, that they had so many injuries for the freedom of the next generation."
A time to reflect and remember
"Remembrance Day is a time for me to reflect and to remember all of the experiences my grandpa told me about," she started. "But also Remembrance Day is a time to wonder why we're still at war? There's been so many wars since the Great War. World War I was supposed to be the war to end all wars, and clearly it wasn't. It's really a time to wonder why can't we have peace, and why can't we all get along and not have war?"
Major strongly believes if we don't continue making an effort to remember, we'll lose the true meaning of our freedom.
"We have freedom for a reason," she said. "There are still people fighting for their own freedom. We need to reflect on how lucky we actually are with all the conflict going on. Especially here where we live, I feel we're very fortunate, and I think if we forget that, all is lost, what those people fought for and the idea of freedom."
You can listen the conversation with Brenda Major below the lyrics to her song.
In The Field
In the field-where children play
In the field-they spend their day
Running free, hide and seek, feel the grass under feet
In the field-where children play
In the field-there is a grave
With a cross-that bears the name
Of a soldier who fought, for their freedom he sought
In the field-where children play
Instrumental
Chorus:
They don’t know how he died or where he came from
He laid down his life in order to save them
Their freedom came with a price and all that he gave them
In the field-where children play
In the field-a gentle breeze
Carries laughter-out to the sea
No more signs of the war, that’s what memories are for
In the field-where children play
Chorus:
They don’t know how he died or where he came from
He laid down his life in order to save them
Their freedom came with a price and all that he gave them
In the field-where children play
Lyrics: Brenda Major
Written: June 8, 2014
Music: Brenda Major/Ernie Enns