June Tabor - Rumours of War lyrics

There are soldiers marching on
The common today
They were there again this evening
They paced up and down like sea birds
On the groundBefore the
Storm clouds gathering
I must buy whatever tinned food is left on
The shelvesThey are testing the
Air raid sirens
They've filled up the blood banks and emptied
The bedsAt the hospital and the asylum
I saw a man build a
Shelter in his garden today
As we stood there idly chatting
He said "nono I don't think was will come"
Yet still he carried on digging
Everything in my life that I love
Could be swept away without warning
Yet the birds still sing and
The church bells ring
And the sun came up this morning
Life goes on as it did beforeAs
The country drifts slowly to war