Stop the Cavalry
The Cory Band with the Gwalia Singers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey, Mr. Churchill comes over here
To say we're doing splendidly
But it's very cold out here in the snow,
Marching to win from the enemy
Oh I say it's tough, I have had enough
Can you stop the cavalry?

I have had to fight, almost every night

Down throughout these centuries
That is when I say, oh yes yet again
Can you stop the cavalry?
Mary Bradley waits at home
In the nuclear fall-out zone
Wish I could be dancing now
In the arms of the girl I love

(Dub a dub a dumb dumb)
(Dub a dub dubadum dubadum dub a dub dubadum)

Wish I was at home for Christmas

Bang! That's another bomb on another town
While Luzar and Jim have tea
If I get home, live to tell the tale
I'll run for all presidencies
If I get elected I'll stop, I will stop the cavalry

Dub a dub a dumb dumb
Dub a dub dubadum dubadum dub a dub dubadum

Wish I was at home for Christmas

Wish I could be dancing now
In the arms of the girl I love
Mary Bradley waits at home

She has been waiting two years long
Wish I was at home for Christmas

Overall Meaning

The song "Stop the Cavalry" by Jona Lewie is a protest song that sheds light on the horrors of war, particularly during Christmas time. The opening lines of the song refer to the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who is portrayed as coming to visit the soldiers and telling them that they are winning the war. However, the soldiers are still out in the cold, marching to defeat the enemy. The main character in the song expresses his exhaustion from fighting and asks if someone can stop the cavalry, a metaphor for stopping war altogether.

The song then describes the loneliness and longing for home that soldiers feel while being away from their loved ones during the holiday season. Mary Bradley, who waits at home in a nuclear fallout zone, represents the innocent people who are affected by the war but are powerless to stop it. The chorus of the song repeats the desire to be at home for Christmas and to be able to dance with the person they love.

The last stanza of the song takes a political turn, as the main character talks about running for presidency with the promise of stopping the cavalry. The lyrics suggest that pol itical figures have the power to stop wars if they choose to. Overall, "Stop the Cavalry" is a poignant commentary on the human cost of war and the hope for peace.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey, Mr. Churchill comes over here
Mr. Churchill, a symbol of authority, visits us here on the battlefield.

To say we're doing splendidly
He congratulates us for our effort and progress in the war.

But it's very cold out here in the snow,
Despite the good news, the harsh weather condition of the battlefield is still a problem.

Marching to win from the enemy
We continue to advance forward to defeat the enemy and come out victorious.

Oh I say it's tough, I have had enough
Personally, the fight has been too demanding and difficult for me.

Can you stop the cavalry?
I long for an end to this war and an end to the battle we face as the cavalry.

I have had to fight, almost every night
I have been fighting every night, going through centuries of wars and conflicts.

Down throughout these centuries
This war is not a new experience for me, but a continuation of the conflicts I've experienced throughout history.

That is when I say, oh yes yet again
Once again, I find myself in the same situation and wishing for it to end.

Can you stop the cavalry?
I ask for an end to this persistent battle and conflict.

Mary Bradley waits at home
Mary Bradley, someone dear to me, is waiting for me at home.

In the nuclear fall-out zone
Unfortunately, Mary Bradley resides in a location heavily affected by a nuclear fallout incident.

Wish I could be dancing now
In this moment, I wish I was free from war and could dance with someone I love.

In the arms of the girl I love
The person I envision dancing with is the girl I love.

(Dub a dub a dumb dumb)
Repetitive sounds used to provide a musical tone to the song.

(Dub a dub dubadum dubadum dub a dub dubadum)
More repetitive sounds used in the song to create a musical tone.

Wish I was at home for Christmas
I yearn to be back home with my loved ones during Christmas time.

Bang! That's another bomb on another town
The destructive nature of war, another town is bombed, causing damage and harm.

While Luzar and Jim have tea
Meanwhile, some individuals are able to carry on with their routine activities despite the war.

If I get home, live to tell the tale
If I make it back home alive, I hope to share my story of the war and its impact.

I'll run for all presidencies
If given the chance, I will take up a leadership position and work towards ending the battle and bringing about peace.

If I get elected I'll stop, I will stop the cavalry
As a leader, I would use my position to put an end to war and all forms of conflict that have plagued society for centuries.

(Dub a dub a dumb dumb)
Repetitive sounds used to provide a musical tone to the song.

(Dub a dub dubadum dubadum dub a dub dubadum)
More repetitive sounds used in the song to create a musical tone.

Wish I was at home for Christmas
I yearn to be back home with my loved ones during Christmas time.

Contributed by Zachary N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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01Stop the Cavalry2:55

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Jona Lewie

02Laughing Tonight2:02

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Comments from YouTube:

@delfinacasaretto659

3y↑3

My favorite version! Christmas is not complete without this song. One of the favorites in the puget sound.

@jonathanlax734

I love this performance of this fine Christmas tune! Well done!

@nicaitlin6653

8y↑2

I love this version of this song.

@movvi1

13y↑2

Thank you for this - my uncle was a Gwalia singer so I was chuffed to find this. I'll have to show him he's famous online! x

@RadioMattM

8y↑2

I think them martial sound of this one is what gives it it's power. Love it.

@barbh4068

I just love this song!

@rayjones7313

This was a Christmas Staple on
Seattle's powerhouse KOMO AM1000
Morning Show with the late Larry 'Lars'
Nelson.... Even though lyrically it was limited to the repeated line "Wish I was home, for Christmas" having the whole christmasey reference, plus the chimes...
Still love it 40 years later, far more than John and Yoko's pseudo masterpiece...

@lilwhiteboi339

13y

Can't wait till Christmas comes. It won't be long now.

@umpalla33

13y↑1

i was a member of the cory band when we recorded this and i thought jona lewie was with us

@marmar92828

3y↑2

If you are from the Seattle or Tacoma area, and lived there during the '80s or '90s, you will understand the importance of this song. If not, then not so much.

@jeanettea12345

3y↑1

I was there (Seattle/Tacoma) in those years. I was driving and heard this song on the radio and fell in love with it. I tried to find it but couldn't remember the band or the actual name. I heard it today because someone posted in on my facebook. Wow! I can't believe it. I'm saving this to my desktop. A magnificent song/tune, etc. Not sure though what you mean of why it was important in the SeaTac area specificially. Maybe I can come back to this page and you'll let me know. As said I was there but I thought it was the greatest thing on the radio.

@marmar92828

3y↑1

@@jeanettea12345 The story I remember about it was, there was a Seattle DJ who discovered this song on an album he purchased while on vacation (don't remember where, but not in the US). When he returned to work he played this song over the air. It became a huge hit in the area, with people calling the station to request it. Soon other Seattle area stations picked it up and played it as well, creating a Northwest tradition for years.

@caspence56

When we moved to central Pennsylvania twenty years ago, this song was played every Christmas season on the radio station I always listened to. For some reason they stopped playing it and I haven't heard this in years. Thank goodness for YouTube when you're looking to kindle some Christmas nostalgia!

@roberthowell7095

17w

From the Vancouver in Canada 🇨🇦. First heard in on the rebranded FM station KLASY? back in the early 80's. Phoned the radio station and was given the name of a record store in Ballard that sold the single on a CD . I ordered 2 copies. One for myself and my brother as a Christmas present.

@rayjones7313

Both were meant more as commentary regarding wars...

@umpalla33

8y↑1

If I remember,I think jona Louie waz playing on this ?

@savage01100

14y↑1

cory band has the cool accent

@JOHNTHOMPSON-wo2xu

Check out" David Bowie's "version of this song also.

@verycoolsound

14y↑1

Though I like both versions, I do prefer the Cory Band. However, I also posted Lewie's original just to keep everyone happy.

@shooter963

13y

@scifirocks Really? They knew what a nuclear fall-out zone was in WWI?

@davespagnol8847

8y↑3

This sounds like one of those songs you get on a third-rate christmas compilation CD. It just doesn't have the gravitas of Jona Lewie's version. Sounds far to cheerful.

@norm7446

11y

I Second that. I mean all I can hear is that Welsh Accent all the way through. All you have to do is listen to the Jona version. The Hear how second class this version is.

@scifirocks

14y↑1

this is poor, the original by jona lewie is much better. it's about the first world war mostly so this optimistic version is just wrong. it was meant to show awful war can be

@1deejayemmm

7y↑1

Those who actually fight in wars get first choice. I'll take this version any day!

@stubbsatlacey

7y↑2

Good German beer drinking song. I was over there in the 80's Life was good then.

@paulargent4966

YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOURE ON ABOUT THE CORY BAND IS BEST VERISON

@marmar92828

3y↑1

I've listened to the original version and didn't like it. THIS version, with the Cory Band, is what was played over the radio in the Puget Sound region every Christmas. So this one is what I like.

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