A Military Incident
Dawn heralded the coming sun
Fort Douglas was computing
The minutes-and the sunrise gun
Was manned for his saluting.
The gunner at that firearm stood,
The which he slowly loaded,
When, bang!-I know not how it could,
But sure the charge exploded!
Yes, to that veteran's surprise
The gun went off sublimely,
And both his busy arms likewise
Went off with it, untimely.
Then said that gunner to his mate
(He was from Ballyshannon):
'Bedad, the sun's a minute late,
Accardin' to this cannon!'
poem by Ambrose Bierce
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Related quotes
Alone Tonight
Here I am
I’m waiting for you
And I got nothing
Left to loose
Take my hand
I need to show
Who I am
And I‘ve got nothing left
To prove
Oooh
Your not gunner be alone
Tonight
And if it feels right
Then we just might, just might
Your not gunner be alone
Tonight
Let’s forget the fights
There you are
Sitting in the dark
Wish I could mend
Your broken heart
You look at the
Stars
And wish you could
Go that far
Away
From this place
Oooh
Your not gunner be alone
Tonight
And if it feels right
Then we just might, just might
Your not gunner be alone
Tonight
Let’s forget the fights
Your not gunna be alone tonight X 2
poem by Ashton Curtis
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K-Car
To the memory of the Rhodesian Helicopter Pilots and
the 20mm cannon Gunner.Two men one helicopter;
known as K-car…..Killer-car.
A formidable force in the Rhodesian Bush War.
RHODESIAN K-CAR
‘Chopper’ pilot calmness,
Cannon gunner’s skill,
Two minds in perfect harmony,
Flew in now for the kill,
Ten comrades in arms,
Pinned down by enemy fire,
Ambushed and compromised,
Their backs now to the wire.
One pilot and one gunner,
Men who knew no fear,
S.O.S. came through to them,
Urgent… but so clear,
“K-car, Call sign Bravo, ”
“Contact, contact, contact”!
Pilot with nerves of steel,
And veraciously exact,
“We have you visual, four o’clock”,
Crackled in the pilot’s ear
He responded calmly “Roger
Call sign Bravo… illuminate a flare”
Flare lit up and in they flew,
Oblivious of the danger;
Twas deaths turn to roll the dice,
With life their coin of wager.
Two hands upon the cannon grips,
One finger on the trigger,
Gunner’s eye took a site,
Through peep site to the jigger;
Bullets ripped into the cockpit,
Of that killer-car machine,
Barely two year out of school,
K-car gunner… aged nineteen
Fire Force airborne pilot,
Turned cannon to the smoke,
Gunner pressed the trigger,
And the dragon now awoke;
Twenty millimeter cannon,
Boomed forth volcanic life
Spewing deadly rounds,
Of instant death and strife.
No place for enemy to hide,
From this matchless opponent;
Terrorists now in full flight,
Were gunned down in a moment.
The Kill-car hovered overhead,
Just six foot off the ground,
Two enemy lay screaming,
But from thirty dead…no sound.
Most men of war, whom I knew then,
Have turned now to the Lord,
They have turned into plow shears,
Their weapons and their sword.
Lord please teach us here in Africa,
Love for one another;
Take xenophobic intolerance from us,
Teach us to love our brother.
poem by Alf Hutchison
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The Sunset Gun
Off Santa Cruz the western wave
Was crimson as with blood:
The sun was sinking to his grave
Beneath that angry flood.
Sir Walter Turnbull, brave and stout,
Then shouted, 'Ho! lads; run-
The powder and the ball bring out
To fire the sunset gun.
'That punctual orb did ne'er omit
To keep, by land or sea,
Its every engagement; it
Shall never wait for me.'
Behold the black-mouthed cannon stand,
Ready with charge and prime,
The lanyard in the gunner's hand.
Sir Walter waits the time.
The glowing orb sinks in the sea,
And clouds of steam aspire,
Then fade, and the horizon's free.
Sir Walter thunders: 'Fire!'
The gunner pulls-the lanyard parts
And not a sound ensues.
The beating of ten thousand hearts
Was heard at Santa Cruz!
Off Santa Cruz the western wave
Was crimson as with blood;
The sun, with visage stern and grave,
Came back from out the flood.
poem by Ambrose Bierce
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A Letter From the Front
I was out early to-day, spying about
From the top of a haystack -- such a lovely morning --
And when I mounted again to canter back
I saw across a field in the broad sunlight
A young Gunner Subaltern, stalking along
With a rook-rifle held at the read, and -- would you believe it? --
A domestic cat, soberly marching beside him.
So I laughed, and felt quite well disposed to the youngster,
And shouted out "the top of the morning" to him,
And wished him "Good sport!" -- and then I remembered
My rank, and his, and what I ought to be doing:
And I rode nearer, and added, "I can only suppose
You have not seen the Commander-in-Chief's order
Forbidding English officers to annoy their Allies
By hunting and shooting."
But he stood and saluted
And said earnestly, "I beg your pardon, Sir,
I was only going out to shoot a sparrow
To feed my cat with."
So there was the whole picture,
The lovely early morning, the occasional shell
Screeching and scattering past us, the empty landscape, --
Empty, except for the young Gunner saluting,
And the cat, anxiously watching his every movement.
I may be wrong, or I may have told it badly,
But it struck me as being extremely ludicrous.
poem by Sir Henry Newbolt
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The gunner's mate came up and started breaking the locks on the ammunition. Everything was locked up for fear that someone might go in there with a cigarette or something.
quote by Barney Ross
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Fighting Téméraire
It was eight bells ringing,
For the morning watch was done,
And the gunner's lads were singing
As they polished every gun.
It was eight bells ringing,
And the gunner's lads were singing,
For the ship she rode a-swinging,
As they polished every gun.
Oh! to see the linstock lighting,
Téméraire! Téméraire!
Oh! to hear the round shot biting,
Téméraire! Téméraire!
Oh! to see the linstock lighting,
And to hear the round shot biting,
For we're all in love with fighting
On the fighting Téméraire.
It was noontide ringing,
And the battle just begun,
When the ship her way was winging,
As they loaded every gun.
It was noontide ringing,
When the ship her way was winging,
And the gunner's lads were singing
As they loaded every gun.
There'll be many grim and gory,
Téméraire! Téméraire!
There'll be few to tell the story,
Téméraire! Téméraire!
There'll be many grim and gory,
There'll be few to tell the story,
But we'll all be one in glory
With the Fighting Téméraire.
There's a far bell ringing
At the setting of the sun,
And a phantom voice is singing
Of the great days done.
There's a far bell ringing,
And a phantom voice is singing
Of renown for ever clinging
To the great days done.
Now the sunset breezes shiver,
Téméraire! Téméraire!
And she's fading down the river,
Téméraire! Téméraire!
Now the sunset's breezes shiver,
And she's fading down the river,
But in England's song for ever
She's the Fighting Téméraire.
poem by Sir Henry Newbolt
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Living After Midnight
Living after midnight, rockin to the dawn
Lovin til the morning, then Im gone, Im gone
I took the city bout one a.m, loaded, loaded
Im all geared up to score again, loaded, loaded
I come alive in the neon light
Thats when I make my moves right
Living after midnight, rockin to the dawn
Lovin til the morning, then Im gone, Im gone
Got gleaming chrome, reflecting steel, loaded, loaded
Ready to take on every deal, loaded, loaded
My pulse is racing, Im hot to take
This motors revved up, fit to break
Living after midnight, rockin to the dawn
Lovin til the morning, then Im gone, Im gone
Im aiming for ya
Im gonna floor ya
My bodys coming
All night long
The airs electric, sparkin power, loaded, loaded
Im getting hotter by the hour, loaded, loaded
I set my sights and then home in
The joint starts flying when I begin
Living after midnight, rockin to the dawn
Lovin til the morning, then Im gone, Im gone
(repeat and fade)
song performed by by Judas Priest
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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My lord, I will tell you what the case was. I was coming up within a league of the Dutchman, and some of my men were making a mutiny about taking her, and my gunner told the people he could put the captain in a way to take the ship, and be safe.
quote by William Kidd
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Lost In The Flood
The ragamuffin gunner is returnin home like a hungry runaway
He walks through town all alone
He must be from the fort he hears the high school girls say
His countrysides burnin with wolfman fairies dressed in drag for homicide
The hit and run, plead sanctuary, 'neath a holy stone they hide
Theyre breakin beams and crosses with a spastics reelin perfection
Nuns run bald through vatican halls pregnant, pleadin immaculate conception
And everybodys wrecked on main street from drinking unholy blood
Sticker smiles sweet as gunner breathes deep, his ankles caked in mud
And I said hey gunner man thats quicksand, thats quicksand that aint mud
Have you thrown your senses to the war or did you lose them in the flood?
That pure american brother, dull-eyed and empty-faced
Races sundays in jersey in a chevy stock super eight
He rides 'er low on the hip, on the side hes got bound for glory in red, white and blue flash paint
He leans on the hood telling racing stories, the kids call him jimmy the
Saint
Well the blaze and noise boy, hes gunnin that bitch loaded to blastin point
He rides head first into a hurricane and disappears into a point
And theres nothin left but some blood where the body fell
That is, nothin left that you could sell
Just junk all across the horizon, a real highwaymans farewell
And he said hey kid, you think thats oil? man, that aint oil thats blood
I wonder what he was thinking when he hit that storm
Or was he just lost in the flood?
Eighth avenue sailors in satin shirts whisper in the air
Some storefront incarnation of maria, shes puttin on me the stare
And bronxs best apostle stands with his hand on his own hard ware
Everything stops, you hear five, quick shots, the cops come up for air
And now the whiz-bang gang from uptown, theyre shootin up the street
And that cat from the bronx starts lettin loose but he gets blown right off his feet
And some kid comes blastin round the corner but a cop puts him right away
He lays on the street holding his leg screaming something in spanish
Still breathing when I walked away
And somebody said hey man did you see that? his body hit the street with
Such a beautiful thud
I wonder what the dude was sayin or was he just lost in the flood?
Hey man, did you see that, those poor cats are sure messed up
I wonder what they were gettin into, or were they just lost in the flood?
song performed by by Bruce Springsteen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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God is Computing the Time
god is busy computing
in you to make sure each
your cell works, your heart
pumps, and your ears hear
god is too busy computing
and installing the right time
and manner your physique
would give up on itself
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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What Have the Cavalry Done?
What have the cavalry done?
Cantered and trotted about,
Routin' the enemy out,
Causin' the beggars to run!
And we tramped along in the blazin' heat,
Over the veldt on our weary feet.
Tramp, tramp, tramp
Under the blazin' sun,
With never the sight of a bloomin' Boer,
'Cause they'd hunted 'em long before --
That's what the cavalry done!
What have the gunners done
Battlin' every day,
Battlin' any way.
Boers outranged 'em, but what cared they?
"Shoot and be damned," said the R.H.A.!
See! when the fight grows hot,
Under the rifles or not,
Always the order runs,
"Fetch up the bloomin' guns!"
And you'd see them great gun horses spring
To the "action front" -- and around they'd swing.
Find the range with some queer machine
"At four thousand with fuse fourteen.
Ready! Fire number one!"
Handled the battery neat and quick!
Stick to it, too! How did they stick!
Never a gunner was seen to run!
Never a gunner would leave his gun!
Not though his mates dropped all around!
Always a gunner would stand his ground.
Take the army -- the infantry,
Mounted rifles, and cavalry,
Twice the numbers I'd give away,
And I'd fight the lot with the R.H.A.,
For they showed us how a corps should be run,
That's what the gunners done!
poem by Andrew Barton Paterson
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Bang Bang Lulu
Bang bang lulu
Lulus going away
Lu is going to bang bang
Now lulus going away
Lulu had a boyfriend
He could not get enough
She could never stop him
He was hooked on makin
Bang bang lulu
Lulus going away
Lu is going to bang bang
Now lulus going away
Bang bang lulu
Lulus going away
Lu is going to bang bang
Now lulus going away
Lulu had a red dress
When she put it on
Every man that she passed by
Thought she must be
Bang bang lulu
Lulus going away
Lu is going to bang bang
Now lulus going away
Lulu joined the army
She was fighting in a war
Stood in front of the enemy
Their weapons hit them
Bang bang lulu
Lulus going away
Lu is going to bang bang
Now lulus going away
Bang bang lulu
Lulus going away
Lu is going to bang bang
Now lulus going away
Lulu knew a singer
He had so many hits
She loved his voice
But she hated the way
He kept grabbin her
Bang bang lulu
Lulus going away
Lu is going to bang bang
Now lulus going away
Bang bang lulu
Lulus going away
Lu is going to bang bang
Now lulus going away
Lulu had a boyfriend
He just couldnt get enough
She could never stop him
He was hooked on makin
Bang bang lulu
Lulus going away
Lu is going to bang bang
Now lulus going away
Bang bang lulu
Lulus going away
Lu is going to bang bang
Now lulus going away
Bang bang lulu
Lulus going away
Lu is going to bang bang
Now lulus going away
song performed by by Boney M.
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The cobbler to his last and the gunner to his linstock.
Intro
Sunrise, sunrise
Looks like mornin' in your eyes
But the clocks held 9:15 for hours
Sunrise, sunrise
Couldn't tempt us if it tried
'Cause the afternoon's already come and gone
And I said hoo...
To you
Surprise, surprise
Couldn't find it in your eyes
But I'm sure it's written all over my face
Surprise, surprise
There was something I could hide
When I see we made it through another day
And I said hoo...
To you
Now good night
Throw its cover down
On me again
Ooh and if I'm right
It's the only way
To bring me back
Hoo...
To you
Hoo...
song performed by by Norah Jones
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Where Angels Play
Come with me to a place no likes Ive ever seen
A million miles from here where no one's ever been
God-given rays and a holy heaven phase [?]
I'm on the edge of something shadowy
I'm coming through
'Ok, let's fly,' she says, 'this carpet's made for two'
This room be [?] a little box, no place for me and you
Our carpet falls on a dew-fresh daffodil plain
Take a look around, there's something happening
All the colors fade
I don't want you now, bang bang bang gone
Ooh I don't need you now, the seeds are sown
Ooh bang bang pretty pretty, bang bang
I don't think so, no no
I don't think so, no no
Bang bang, bang bang
Out below the country rolls like a mighty boiling sea
The warm red sun gives up and sinks into the tree
But I've no pill [?] I can't stand here betrayed
Take a look around there's something happening
All the colors fade
I don't want you now, bang bang bang gone
Ooh I don't need you now, the seeds are sown
Ooh bang bang pretty pretty, bang bang
I don't think so, no no
I don't think so, no no
Bang bang, bang bang
song performed by by Stone Roses
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Gunner Joe
I'll tell you a seafaring story,
Of a lad who won honour and fame
Wi' Nelson at Battle 'Trafalgar,
Joe Moggeridge, that were his name.
He were one of the crew of the Victory,
His job when a battle begun
Was to take cannon balls out o' basket
And shove 'em down front end o' gun.
One day him and Nelson were boxing,
The compass, like sailor lads do.
When 'Ardy comes up wi' a spyglass,
And pointing, says "'Ere, take a screw!"
They looked to were 'Ardy were pointing,
And saw lots o' ships in a row.
Joe says abrupt like but respectful,
"'Oratio lad, yon's the foe."
'What say we attack 'em?' says Nelson,
Says Joe 'Nay lad, not today.'
And 'Ardy says, 'Aye, well let's toss up.'
'Oratio answers 'Okay.'
They tossed... it were heads for attacking,
And tails for t'other way 'bout.
Joe lent them his two-headed penny,
So the answer was never in doubt.
When penny came down 'ead side uppards,
They was in for a do it were plain,
And Joe murmered 'Shiver me timbers.'
And Nelson kissed 'Ardy again.
And then, taking flags out o' locker,
'E strung out a message on high.
'T were all about England and duty,
Crew thought they was 'ung out to dry.
They got the guns ready for action,
And that gave 'em trouble enough.
They 'adn't been fired all the summer,
And touch-holes were bunged up wi' fluff.
Joe's cannon, it weren't 'alf a corker,
The cannon balls went three foot round.
They wasn't no toy balloons either,
They weighed close on sixty-five pound.
Joe, selecting two of the largest,
Was going to load double for luck.
When a hot shot came in thro' the porthole,
And a gunpowder barrel got struck.
By gum! there weren't 'alf an explosion,
The gun crew were filled with alarm.
As out of the porthole went Joseph,
Wi' a cannon ball under each arm.
At that moment up came the 'Boat-swine'
He says 'Where's Joe?' Gunner replied...
'E's taken two cannon balls with 'im,
And gone for a breather outside.'
'Do y' think he'll be long?' said the 'Boat-swine'
The gunner replied, 'If as 'ow,
'E comes back as quick as 'e left us,
'E should be 'ere any time now.
And all this time Joe, treading water,
Was trying 'is 'ardest to float.
'E shouted thro' turmoil of battle,
'Tell someone to lower a boat.'
'E'd come to the top for assistance,
Then down to the bottom he'd go;
This up and down kind of existence,
Made everyone laugh... except Joe.
At last 'e could stand it no longer,
And next time 'e came to the top.
'E said 'If you don't come and save me,
I'll let these 'ere cannon balls drop.'
'T were Nelson at finish who saved him,
And 'e said Joe deserved the V.C.
But finding 'e 'adn't one 'andy,
'E gave Joe an egg for 'is tea.
And after the battle was over,
And vessel was safely in dock.
The sailors all saved up their coupons,
And bought Joe a nice marble clock.
poem by Marriott Edgar
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I do not care so much for the death of my gunner, as for other passages of my voyage, for I have good friends in England that will bring me off for that.
quote by William Kidd
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Another Nine Minutes
(tim douglas/billy crain/tim beppert)
(track 2 - time 3:10)
Six thirty in the morning
Im in the middle of the sweetest dream
When I hear that clock calling me
I wrestle with the feeling
That the days starting way too soon
I hit the button just to buy a little time
To keep you in these arms of mine
For another nine minutes
Let the world stop
Steal a few moments from this old clock
cause this is my dream and I want to stay in it
For another nine minutes
I love the way the sunlight
Dances on your perfect skin
Girl, I wish this night would never end
But we gotta get moving
Cant eat if we dont get paid
But I got us a better idea
Lets pull up the covers and stay right here
For another nine minutes
Let the world stop
Steal a few moments from this old clock
cause this is my dream and I want to stay in it
For another nine minutes
I hit the button just one more time
To keep you in these arms of mine
For another nine minutes
Let the world stop
Steal a few moments from this old clock
cause this is my dream and I want to stay in it
For another nine minutes
Let the world wait
Whose gonan care if were a little bit late
This is my dream and I want to stay in it
song performed by by Yankee Grey
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Bang & Blame
If you could see yourself now, baby
Its not my fault
You used to be so in control
Youre going to roll right over this one
Just roll me over, let me go
Youre laying blame
Take this as no, no, no
You bang, bang, bang, bang and bang,
Blame, blame, blame
You bang, bang, bang, bang and bang,
Its not my thing so let it go.
If you could see yourself now baby,
The tables have turned
The whole world hinges on your swings
Your secret life of indiscreet discretions
Id turn the screw and leave the screen,
Dont point your finger,
You know thats not my thing
You came to bang, bang, bang, bang and bang,
Blame, blame, blame
You bang, bang, bang, bang and bang,
Its not my thing so let it go.
Youve got a little worry,
I know it all too well,
Ive got your number,
But so does every kiss-and-tell
Who dares to cross your threshold,
Or happens on your way,
Stop laying blame.
You know thats not my thing.
You know thats not my thing,
You came to bang, bang, bang, bang and bang,
Blame, blame, blame
You bang, bang, bang, bang and bang,
Its not my thing so let it go.
You bang, bang, bang, bang and bang,
Blame, blame, blame
You bang, bang, bang, bang and bang,
Its not my thing so let it go.
You kiss on me, tug on me, rub on me, jump on me,
You bang on me, beat on me, hit on me, let go on me,
You let go on me.
song performed by by REM
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Three Maidens
There were three maidens met on the highway;
The sun was down, the night was late:
And two sang loud with the birds of May,
O the nightingale is merry with its mate.
Said they to the youngest, Why walk you there so still?
The land is dark, the night is late:
O, but the heart in my side is ill,
And the nightingale will languish for its mate.
Said they to the youngest, Of lovers there is store;
The moon mounts up, the night is late:
O, I shall look on man no more,
And the nightingale is dumb without its mate.
Said they to the youngest, Uncross your arms and sing;
The moon mounts high, the night is late:
O my dear lover can hear no thing,
And the nightingale sings only to its mate.
They slew him in revenge, and his true-love was his lure;
The moon is pale, the night is late:
His grave is shallow on the moor;
O the nightingale is dying for its mate.
His blood is on his breast, and the moss-roots at his hair;
The moon is chill, the night is late:
But I will lie beside him there:
O the nightingale is dying for its mate.
poem by George Meredith
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