We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

The Church of San Pedro, el Viejo

from Land and Sea (2017) by Bob Leslie

/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £0.50 GBP  or more

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

about

My Spanish Civil War love-song. This was inspired by a picture of the Republican Women's Militia patrolling Madrid during the siege by Franco's forces. There were 4 women carrying very obviously heavy carbines, and three of them were buckling a bit under the weight. However, the tallest one stood straight, and was laughing at the photographer. I invented a life-story for her - a piece of historical fiction - designed to personalise the situation of those left to defend Madrid when the government had fled to Barcelona.

lyrics

I look at your picture
You've a gun in your hand
You laugh with your girlfriends
You were beautiful then
The future was frightening
Wherever you ran
So you stayed in Madrid
And cried "No Pasarán"

Now for near forty years
You've tried to hold on
To the dream of a time
When the fachas had gone
And you light a candle
For Paco and Juan
In the Church of San Pedro, el Viejo

At the Casa de Campo
You held them at bay
While behind you the courtiers
Had all run away
And you and your friends
Fought the Moros that day
Side by side with the brave
Brigadistas

It was war and a lover
Did not seem so wrong
Paco was funny
And Paco was strong
And beneath a thin blanket
You made a sweet song
Till they sent him to die at Jarama

Days turned to months
And the city held on
All the cafés were crowded
In despite of the bombs
People talked of the world
And how it just looked on
Though the shells fell each night
On Gran Vía

And a young anarquista
Held you by his side
Down in the metro
While the bombers flew by
And you prayed to the Virgin
While he laughed and cried
That religion was just for the children

The day that Madrid fell
Juan told you to hide
In the house of your uncle
On the carlista side
And you never heard
If he lived or he died
It was as if he had
Never existed

Now there's some satisfaction
In the Transición
That his grandchildren know of
The Revolución
But the candle you light, you know,
He'd frown upon
In the Church of San Pedro, el Viejo

credits

from Land and Sea (2017), released August 1, 2017

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Bob Leslie image

Bob Leslie Glasgow, UK

Bob Leslie's music is now available on a "NAME YOUR OWN PRICE" basis!
****************
“I can think of no other songwriter who has mined this rich vein
with such lyrical ease and with no mean ear for melody. ”
Alan Reid, Battlefield Band ... more

contact / help

Contact Bob Leslie

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Bob Leslie, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featured guests are the golden-voiced Baby Rose and psyche soulsters Brainstory.
listen now