William

Verse 1

History lesson, Western Front, Owen and Sassoon

Raw emotions leave the page go soaring though the room

More than this my grandfather with stories of his own

Dawn attack, a direct hit, a shell that did explode

Avalanche, piles of earth trapped him deep below

The horror of a trench collapse buried like a stone

Beneath the mud they heard him shout, they rushed with spades to dig him out

The soldier breathing just survived, a miracle saved his life

Chorus 1

But there was hope, and there was grace

Stretching through the fields

And there was hope, and there was life

Floating on the breeze

Stretching to be free, helping him to breathe

Verse 2

Forever with a sadness that never seemed to fade

Things alone a soldier knows where memories remain

William was my father, William is his son

William was my grandfather, a name that keeps us strong

From grandfather to grandson, a name that brings relief

A family gift and heir loom, inherited grief

A schoolboy who is now a man struggles hard to understand

A century on we can’t withstand new trenches dug across the land

Chorus 2

But there is hope, there is grace,

Floating through the trees

There is hope, and there is life,

Stretching to be free,

Moving on the breeze, and it’s helping us to breathe

Finale

Hope that brings us gladness

Healing from the madness

Mercy spreading kindness

Ending years of sadness

Dona nobis, pacem