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The Road to La Coruna

from Kind Providence by Niamh Parsons and Graham Dunne

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The Road to La Coruña
Copyright © 2011 Maurice McGrath (PRS/MCPS)
Written by Dubliner Maurice McGrath
who tells us that along with other sources,
the song is based on a first-hand account
of a soldier in the 95th Rifles recounting
the disastrous retreat to La Coruña in Dec
1808-Jan 1809 when General Moore’s
large army made for the Spanish shore
to escape Napoleon’s greatly superior forces
during the Peninsular Wars. The human
cost and suffering of the soldiers and
their families during the march makes
heartbreaking reading. Thank you Maurice
for a wonderful song.

lyrics

The riflemen, we marched in line across the Spanish hills.
Our boots were gone, our feet were bled out in the winter chill.
From Napoleon’s men we beat a long retreat,
Through the frozen mountain snow, on to reach our fleet.
The women and the children trailed like shadows in behind.
Famished for the want of food and weakened by the miles,
With frost in their hair and only rags to wear,
The thought of their suffering was more than we could bear.
CHORUS
The road to La Coruña was harder than hell.
The weak and the wounded they died where they fell.
On each and every hill we climbed,
we strained to see the shore,
And longed to be sailing on homeward once more.
And when we reached Coruña, the French were close at hand.
General Moore he gave his life to make a final stand.
We buried him in Spain wrapped in his martial cloak,
And as Napoleon’s cannon roared they boarded us for home.
CHORUS
In Dublin, we were tempted by the Rifles’ uniform,
In Spain, our road to glory it was ragged and forlorn.
For battle we were primed but no one can prepare,
For the wicked ways of war for suffering and despair.
CHORUS

credits

from Kind Providence, released April 30, 2016
Niamh Parsons
Graham Dunne

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about

Niamh Parsons MH, Ireland

Niamh is a professional traditional and folk singer from Dublin. Influenced by the '60s folk revival, and learning songs from an early age, she turned professional in 1991. With 7 albums of songs, Niamh has toured the world, bringing her choice of songs to wider audiences and giving workshops throughout USA and Europe. Niamh also teachers online and mentors performers in singing and stagecraft. ... more

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