Radiohead have released a brand new song online. Entitled Harry Patch (In Memory Of) the track pays tribute to the late first world war veteran who died last month, aged 111.
The song recorded very recently sees Radiohead in understated mode, as Thom Yorke laments over a cyclical but serene string arrangement. The track contains lyrics inspired by Patch's own words from interviews, including the solemn final line which is a direct quote.
For over eighty years Patch would not talk about his experience at Passchendaele, one of the bloodiest battles of the first world war, where all sides suffered major casualties fighting in the marshy bog and muddy trenches in the Summer of 1917. In 1998, realising he was one of the last men left able to talk about the horrific experiences of the first world war he relented to participate in a BBC documentary.
Harry Patch (In Memory of) was made available today to listen to and download for £1.00 from Radiohead's website alongside a statement from Thom Yorke. All proceeds raised from the track will be donated to the Royal British Legion, the UK charity which provides help and assistance to current and ex-servicemen and their families.
Harry Patch (In Memory Of)
i am the only one that got through
the others died where ever they fell
it was an ambush
they came up from all sides
give your leaders each a gun and then let them fight it out themselves
i've seen devils coming up from the ground
i've seen hell upon this earth
the next will be chemical but they will never learn
3:30 PM | 05/08/2009
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this is a pathetic attempt at orchestral music. it’s as if Johnny Greenwood showed up for his 1st day of class for Music Composition 101. What a cheap use of a Glissando. It’s like it was cut and pasted. it’s so choppy .And thom yorke has no business singing this type of music. it reveals a weak, whiney, sound. He’s not bad with typical radiohead, but Pavarotti he isn’t. It’s just pretentious garbage. From a band that was great in the 1990s.
Posted by marcus at 1:09 AM | 18/08/2009 | Report Abuse
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