When We Danced To An Old Fashioned Tune Johnny McEvoy lyrics
The chords are the work of Bob Sharpe in the key of C. Thanks Bob. [ The songs of Johnny McEvoy ] The song is set in the time of the Boer War in South Africa. It's a story of love between a young soldier and a girl who meet at a dance , which is being held in a school hall for the poor people in some great city in the north of England.[ info. from Johnny McEvoy's book My Songs My Stories My Life In Music.]
When we danced to an old fashioned tune
In a dusty old schoolhouse on Saturday nights
How we laughed as we waltzed round the room
You came from the valleys, to the dark city alleys
To care for the young and the poor
And me a young soldier with medals galore
That I'd won in the African War
Chorus
How my heart filled with joy, as the others passed by
By the look in their eyes I well knew
That never before, as we swept round the floor
Had they seen someone lovely as you
Your hair shone like gold, a joy to behold
Your beauty was known far and wide
There was many a young lad, who'd lay down his life
For one moment to be by your side
But you gave them no glances, you gave them no dances
As you gracefully stepped on the floor
With me a young soldier with medals galore
That I'd won in the African War
When the morning had come, and the dancing all done
We would walk in the dawn of the day
I would tell you tall stories, of battles and glories
And comrades who fell in the fray
Now the years come and go, still the love that you show
Is as sweet and as warm as before
When I a young soldier with medals galore
That I'd won in the African War
In a dusty old schoolhouse on Saturday nights
How we laughed as we waltzed round the room
You came from the valleys, to the dark city alleys
To care for the young and the poor
And me a young soldier with medals galore
That I'd won in the African War
Chorus
How my heart filled with joy, as the others passed by
By the look in their eyes I well knew
That never before, as we swept round the floor
Had they seen someone lovely as you
Your hair shone like gold, a joy to behold
Your beauty was known far and wide
There was many a young lad, who'd lay down his life
For one moment to be by your side
But you gave them no glances, you gave them no dances
As you gracefully stepped on the floor
With me a young soldier with medals galore
That I'd won in the African War
When the morning had come, and the dancing all done
We would walk in the dawn of the day
I would tell you tall stories, of battles and glories
And comrades who fell in the fray
Now the years come and go, still the love that you show
Is as sweet and as warm as before
When I a young soldier with medals galore
That I'd won in the African War
The Chords, As Played By Bob Sharpe, Key Of C Major.
You're [C] eyes are as bright, as they were the first night
When we danced to an old fashioned [G] tune
In a dusty old schoolhouse on Saturday nights
How we laughed as we waltzed round the [C] room
You came from the valleys, to the dark city alleys
To care for the young and the [F] poor
And me a young soldier with [C] medals galore
That I'd [G] won in the African [C] War
.
Chorus
How my [F] heart filled with joy, as the [C] others passed by
By the[F] look in their eyes I well [G] knew
That [F] never before, as we [C] swept round the floor
Had they [G] seen someone lovely as [C] you
You're [C] eyes are as bright, as they were the first night
When we danced to an old fashioned [G] tune
In a dusty old schoolhouse on Saturday nights
How we laughed as we waltzed round the [C] room
You came from the valleys, to the dark city alleys
To care for the young and the [F] poor
And me a young soldier with [C] medals galore
That I'd [G] won in the African [C] War
.
Chorus
How my [F] heart filled with joy, as the [C] others passed by
By the[F] look in their eyes I well [G] knew
That [F] never before, as we [C] swept round the floor
Had they [G] seen someone lovely as [C] you
When We Danced To An Old Fashioned Tune
The British fought several wars in South Africa beginning in 1879 with the Zulus and ending with the 2nd Boer War (1899-1902), by far the most costly and least successful. Expected to be over in three months, the latter lasted nearly three years, costing 22,000 British, 25,000 Boer and 12,000 African lives while nearly wrecking the British financial system. Irishmen fought on both sides of the war: the Irish Brigade of 200 men fought for the Boers and the 4,000 strong British 5th Irish Brigade fought for the Crown. This song is about one soldier's return from the war and the warm welcome he received from people in the local communities who volunteered for the USO-type organizations of the day. Irish singer/songwriter Johnny McEvoy adds an extra dash of romanticism when he introduces the soldier to the volunteer he marries.
The British fought several wars in South Africa beginning in 1879 with the Zulus and ending with the 2nd Boer War (1899-1902), by far the most costly and least successful. Expected to be over in three months, the latter lasted nearly three years, costing 22,000 British, 25,000 Boer and 12,000 African lives while nearly wrecking the British financial system. Irishmen fought on both sides of the war: the Irish Brigade of 200 men fought for the Boers and the 4,000 strong British 5th Irish Brigade fought for the Crown. This song is about one soldier's return from the war and the warm welcome he received from people in the local communities who volunteered for the USO-type organizations of the day. Irish singer/songwriter Johnny McEvoy adds an extra dash of romanticism when he introduces the soldier to the volunteer he marries.
