Scott and Sean are joined by Andrew in third chair. We discuss The Pogues' 1985 cover of And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda. The song while fictional, details the horrific slaughter wreaked upon ANZAC soldiers during the WWI Gallipoli Campaign in 1915. The song begs the question of a soldier's sacrifice and what was it all for? Originally written during the Vietnam War but set during The Great War, Eric Bogle's 1971 ballad treating the ultimate sacrifices paid by Australia's young men, was movingly covered by The Pogues (and many others), is anti-war but not anti-soldier. Heartbreaking in its realism and portrayal of lost and wasted youth, this is definitely a piece that will stick with you for a long time. Give it a listen!

Link to the song:

Link to the original by Eric Bogle:

Link to Waltzing Matilda (sung by Slim Dusty):

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Derek joins Scott and Sean to discuss Young the Giant's 2010 song Garands (formerly called Garands at Normandie). While the song itself only vaguely references a soldier searching the woods during WWII, the lyrics inspire a larger discussion on the everyman placed in extraordinary situations. Derek enlightens us on Christopher R. Browning's 1992 book Ordinary Men and it's expose on the "ordinary men" of the German Reserve Police Battalion 101 in German-occupied Poland during WWII. A good thought exercise ensues. Give it a listen!

Link to the song:

Link to the original song (when Young the Giant was called The Jakes, and the song title was Garands at Normandie):

Link to Christopher R. Browning's book Ordinary Men:

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In this episode Scott and Sean are joined by esteemed podcast guest and published author Nim, in third chair. Spirited discussions ensue addressing Karl Freiherr von Manteuffel-Katzdangen's moving poem Die Grenzwacht hielt im Osten (AKA Die Baltenfahne) which was later set to music. Nim enlightens us on the Interwar period of Germany, Baltic Germans, and the Freikorps. Baltic Germans-where are they now? What's a Freikorps? Where is Courland? Why is there such a dirth of German Interwar folk songs in my Spotify playlist? Why am I crying in the club rn? Listen and find out.

Follow Nim on Twitter: @AnchorStill

YouTube Link for the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3iDCBQgvHQ

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Matt Wilson joins us to discuss the Screeching Weasel deep track "El Mozote." We expound on the El Mozote Massacre from the El Salvadoran Civil War and the My Lai Massacre from the Vietnam War. Matt imparts his knowledge on the song he picked and the band that inspired so many more well-known punk bands. Join us as we delve deeper into this unknown (and horrific) chapter in El Salvadoran history.

Link to the song on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ucCjy82c0KA

Matt Wilson is the singer and lyricist for the bands Near Dark and Set Your Goals. Check them out:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Ivw6FhAZpa7kiAXWztCq5?si=8VrKRZQhQWCTxzk7LNvckA

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In this episode Scott and Sean are joined by the great Brett Cain. We discuss Gordon Lightfoot's ballad (and his magnum opus) The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and the maritime disaster that inspired it. Brett is a published author, artist, boxer, and huge Gordon Lightfoot fan. Think you know everything about Lightfoot's most popular song? Give this episode a listen, you may be surprised...

Follow Brett on Twitter: @brettwcain

Link to song: https://open.spotify.com/track/536L9C0N7vhYdibCJx3cI2?si=0e39e449b0c14a88

Have a song you want to talk with us about? Feel free to reach out to us:

Scott: @dotgiff

Scott and Sean do a deep dive into 2003's "Fields of Athenry" by Dropkick Murphys. The song is a cover of an Irish folk song from 1979 discussing a fictional man who is sent to an Australian penal colony for stealing during the potato famine of the late 1840's. What do potatoes, corn, and libertarianism have to do with Celtic punk? Listen and find out!

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Song:

Paddy Reilly Version:

Email:

Sean and Scott discuss Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner, written by Warren Zevon and David Lindell. A song about a talented European mercenary who fought for The Congo in a civil war during the 60's... or did he?

Links:

The song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRWCK9zGynA

Cover (with war footage): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDGDw4GWcf4

Last performance on Letterman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhRRWwH3Fro

Troy and Scott discuss American Pie by Don McLean. A description of the transition between the innocence of the 50's to the unrestrained 60's follows. McLean pinpoints a specific tragedy as "the day the music died" or the beginning of this transition. Listen in to find out what he thought and how a horrific plane crash prompted one of the most recognizable songs ever.

Links:

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yHTpGog0IY

Tour schedule picture (mentioned): https://imgur.com/a/AA4gpPG