The Women Were Watching - Anthony Phillips

They saw the flags, it didn’t look so bad

They heard the news and how we could not lose

And they sang with the marching band

The sailors' wives with anxious eyes

But it impressed them too

They even cheered up as the ships pulled clear

And though it was no-one's fault

That men went off to war

I saw a thousand faces all along the shore…

The women were watching

So no-one thought of turning back

He didn’t fight for his country’s pride

His life was sold cos it was better than the dole

He even waved as they sent him away

But something’s changed — no this is not a game

She held his hand and it was cold and damp

She couldn’t hide from the feelings inside

Cos in the storm the night before

She heard him calling… goodbye goodbye goodbye

Won’t you give me a smile

I could be gone for a long long while

And though it was no-one's fault

That he had to go to war

Among a thousand faces all along the shore

A woman was watching

He never thought of turning back