Radiohead has released a new song titled “Harry Patch (In Memory Of)” and is donating the proceeds to the British Legion (download it for £1.00).
The song is “a tribute to the memory of Harry Patch, the last surviving World War I combat soldier, who died at age 111 on July 25 and will be buried tomorrow” according to Pitchfork. Patch was known as “The Last Tommy,” and in his later years he “became a sharp critic of WWI, and war in general.”
Thom Yorke wrote about Harry on the band’s site, stating “the way he talked about war had a profound effect on me.” Yorke also posted the song’s lyrics, which “are, in fact, all quotes from Patch himself.”
“I am the only one that got through
the others died where ever they fell
it was an ambush
they came up from all sides
give your leaders each a gun and then let them fight it out themselves
i’ve seen devils coming up from the ground
i’ve seen hell upon this earth
the next will be chemical but they will never learn”
You can listen to “Harry Patch (In Memory Of),” which was recorded in an abbey, here.
