Thin Red Line

“It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.” ― Voltaire

I’ve been listening to a lot of 80’s music lately. The 80’s were happening during my formative years and I have a special place in my spirit for the music of that time.

Some of that music was silly. Some of it was dreary. Some of it had messages that should have reached more people.

I feel this song is one of the latter examples.

In case you aren’t familiar with it, the song is about the battle of Balaclava, in 1854, during the Crimean War.

Here are the lyrics –
The hands of time have spoken for the chosen ones
Cold steel glistens in the dawning sun
Destiny and claidemaugh that embraces me
All here to sacrifice for victory
Hidden in the shadows where the cold wind comes
A mist queen dances for her fallen sons
Over and over
Her shadow falls over me
Remember no retreat, for here you die where you stand
It’s chance that brings the Rory’s to this foreign land
The crimson and the claidemaugh make you strangers to fear
A thin red streak tipped with a line of steel
Shadows fall over me
All for the thin red line
All for the thin red line
Now the battles over, Kedikoi can cry
For all the gallant hillmen she’s seen fought and die
Red is for the heroes green is for the brave
Soldiers would you leave me with no souls to save
Shadows fall over me
All for the thin red line
All for the thin red line
All for the thin red line
Oh oh oh oh oh
(Songwriters: Al Connelly / Alan Graham Frew / Sam Reid)
That thin red line may have changed and altered over the years, but it’s still there…
I wonder, sometimes, if that line will ever disappear…

Glass Tiger – Thin Red Line