Born in Peebles, Scotland, and emigrating to Australia in 1969, he currently resides near Adelaide, South Australia. Written in 1972, And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda is perhaps his best-known song, being a haunting evocation of the ANZAC experience fighting in the Battle of Gallipoli. It has also been interpreted as a reaction to the Vietnam War.
Bogle's songs cover a wide range of subjects, including bright comic songs, satires, protest songs and other serious considerations of the human condition. Some idea of the breadth of his work can be gained from the differing subject matter, ranging from The Aussie Bar-B-Q to a homage to Stan Rogers, entitled Safe in the Harbour. One of his most popular songs, Katie and the Dreamtime Land, is a tribute to American folksinger Kate Wolf, following her untimely death from leukemia in 1986.
In a similar vein to And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda", his song, No Man's Land, refers to the old Scottish song, "Flowers of the Forest" being played over the grave of a World War I soldier. (Bogle has been known to call the song The Green Fields of France, a title it was first given by The Fureys and subsequently used by The Men They Couldn't Hang.) In 1997, British Prime Minister Tony Blair presented a Belfast girl who wrote to him about the Troubles with a framed copy of the lyrics to The Green Fields of France", calling it his favourite anti-war poem.
Other well-known songs, with lighter subject matter, include two homages to departed pets, Little Gomez" and Nobody's Moggy Now, and an acknowledgment of his folk music fans with Do You Sing Any Dylan?.
Many of his songs have been covered by other artists, particularly his anti-war songs. And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda and No Man's Land both gained fame in versions by June Tabor, The Men They Couldn't Hang and The Clancy Brothers. And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda was covered by John McDermott, Mike Harding and The Pogues, and "All the Fine Young Men" was recorded by De Dannan. Recently, the Dropkick Murphys covered "The Green Fields of France", and "Shelter" was covered by John Williamson on his album of great Australian anthems.
In 2000 a five CD collection was released called, Singing The Spirit Home. In 2006 he undertook a lengthy UK tour accompanied by long term friend and collaborator John Munro.
Future plans include recording a new CD for release in 2008.
What Kind Of Man
Eric Bogle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When he placed the bomb, when he set the fuse
Did he walk away crying "Liberty"
And if he did - what kind of man is he?
Did he sleep well that night deaf to the dying's last screams
Did no bloody ghosts walk through his dreams
Does he shed innocent blood as part of a grand strategy
And if he does - what kind of man is he?
For all the tears and mourning
For all those you've maimed and killed
For all the murdered children
God damn your soul to hell
Is he a family man, does he have any kids
Will they ever understand what their father did
Does he use noble words like 'freedom from tyranny'
And if he does - what kind of man is he?
Are you out there tonight wearing your every man's face
Do you still see yourself as part of the human race
In spite of the murder you've done and the killings you've yet to do
And that's why I ask - what kind of man are you?
From Gethsemane to Auschwitz the man with the gun
Has stood between us and what we could have become
Shall we be dragged back once again into barbarity
If we let them do that - what kind of men are we?
Eric Bogle's "What Kind of Man" is a powerful song that condemns violence and the individuals who commit unspeakable acts of terror. The song is thought-provoking and makes the listener question the motives of those who perpetrate such barbaric acts.
Bogle starts by asking the listener about the kind of man who places a bomb or sets a fuse, causing pandemonium and destruction. Such a person may proclaim "Liberty" as their reason for doing so, but what kind of man can resort to such excessive measures? The lyrics even ask whether or not such a person sleeps soundly at night, deaf to the last screams of the dying. The song forces the listener to ponder whether causing the loss of innocent life could ever be part of a grand strategy, and if so, what kind of man can justify it?
The chorus strongly rebukes those who engage in such bloodshed, condemning them not only to the wrath of humankind but to God's as well. Bogle goes on to ask whether such individuals are family men, fathers to their children, and whether one day their offspring shall comprehend their parent's actions. The lyrics query whether or not these men use noble words like freedom from tyranny to justify their deeds, leading the listener to question the morality of the language which may be bandied about to excuse unscrupulous behaviour.
The song further highlights that throughout history, men carrying guns have stood between humanity and its higher goals, and if we allow them to continue on this path, we will have dragged ourselves back into the savagery we once thought we had evolved beyond.
Line by Line Meaning
What kind of man is he, and which cause did he use
What are the true motives of this man who resorts to violent means and which ideology does he follow to justify his actions?
When he placed the bomb, when he set the fuse
What was going through his mind as he carried out the act of violence?
Did he walk away crying "Liberty"
Did he believe that his act of violence brought freedom to the oppressed?
And if he did - what kind of man is he?
Does his justification for violence make him a hero or a villain?
Did he sleep well that night deaf to the dying's last screams
Was he able to sleep peacefully despite causing pain and suffering to innocent people?
Did no bloody ghosts walk through his dreams
Did he not have any guilt or remorse over his actions?
Does he shed innocent blood as part of a grand strategy
Is he part of a bigger plan that justifies violence to achieve certain goals?
And if he does - what kind of man is he?
Does he see the bigger picture or is he just a pawn in someone else's agenda?
For all the tears and mourning
Acknowledging the pain and suffering caused by violent acts
For all those you've maimed and killed
Recognizing the harm caused to individuals and families affected by violence
For all the murdered children
Highlighting the innocence of victims and the senselessness of violent acts
God damn your soul to hell
Condemning the perpetrator for his actions
Is he a family man, does he have any kids
Trying to understand the humanity of the perpetrator and his personal life
Will they ever understand what their father did
Questioning the impact of the father's actions on his family
Does he use noble words like 'freedom from tyranny'
Evaluating if the perpetrator tries to justify his actions with grand words that seem noble in nature
And if he does - what kind of man is he?
Questioning if his grand words hold any merit, considering his violent deeds
Are you out there tonight wearing your every man's face
Asking if the perpetrator could be among us, disguised as a common man
Do you still see yourself as part of the human race
Questioning the morality and humanity of the perpetrator
In spite of the murder you've done and the killings you've yet to do
Highlighting the ongoing harm that the perpetrator can cause, and the need to stop him
And that's why I ask - what kind of man are you?
Trying to understand the true nature of the perpetrator and condemn him for his violent deeds
From Gethsemane to Auschwitz the man with the gun
Drawing parallels between violence in different contexts and questioning its effectiveness
Has stood between us and what we could have become
Highlighting the destructive nature of violence and how it hinders the progress of humanity
Shall we be dragged back once again into barbarity
Asking if humanity is still going down the path of violence, which is regressive in nature
If we let them do that - what kind of men are we?
Reflecting on the role of all individuals in preventing violence and the need to work towards a peaceful world
Contributed by Alaina G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bruce Laidlaw
on Aussie Bar-B-Q Song
The lyrics given here are for a different song