The Last Post

[Tomliner]

I assume that this is true.I hope so.



If any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which The Last Post
was played;
This brings out a new meaning of it.
Here is something everyone should know.
Until I read this, I didn't know,

We have all heard the haunting tune, 'The Last Post.'
It's the song that gives us the lump in our throats and usually tears in our
eyes.
But, do you know the story behind the tune?
If not, I think you will be interested to find out about its humble
beginnings.
Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the American Civil War, when Union
Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing in
Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of
land.
During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay
severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate
soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man
back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the
Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his
encampment.
When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was
actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead..
The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with
shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier.. It was his own
son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out.
Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.
The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his
superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy status.
His request was only partially granted.
The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a
funeral dirge for his son at the funeral.
The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate.
But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only
one musician.
The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical
notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's
uniform.
This wish was granted.
The haunting melody, we now know as 'The Last Post' used at military
funerals was born.
The words are:

Day is done.
Gone the sun..
From the lakes
From the hills.
From the sky.
All is well.
Safely rest.
God is nigh.

Fading light.
Dims the sight.
And a star.
Gems the sky..
Gleaming bright.
From afar..
Drawing nigh.
Falls the night..

Thanks and praise.
For our days.
Neath the sun
Neath the stars.
Neath the sky
As we go.
This we know.
God is nigh
I too have felt the chills while listening to 'The Last Post'
But I have never seen all the words to the song until now.
I didn't even know there was more than one verse ...
I also never knew the story behind the song and I didn't know if
You had either so I thought I'd pass it along.
I now have an even deeper respect for the song than I did before.
Remember Those Lost and Harmed While Serving Their Country.
Also Remember Those Who Have Served And Returned;
And for those presently serving in the Armed Forces.


EricT

[nigelb]

Very touching! Thanks for sharing, I also had no idea about the origins of The Last Post.

Nigel²

[Airspeed]

Hi Eric
Thanks from me too.
I did not know that there were any words until now.
That's the kind of story we won't forget, so I really do hope it is authentic.
It's added to the existing emotions already, without physically hearing it.

[DaveB]

I'm hardly surprised to find it has American origins.. doesn't everything

ATB
DaveB

[basys]

Hi Gents

As nobody's piped up .........

The Last Post has no lyrics and is British in origin.

The USAnian Taps, a different 'tune', does have lyrics, (those Eric quoted).

The origin story is supposedly an urban legend.

HTH
ATB
Paul

[DaveB]

Three cheers for Wiki!

ATB
DaveB

[FlyTexas]

The origin story is supposedly an urban legend.

As an old friend of mine used to say "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story."

Brian

[paulsl]

Hands up all those who hummed the tune and tried to make it fit the words

[Airspeed]

Well, that was a balloon quickly burst!
Now I have to remember not to remember it.
I didn't hum it, I sang (!?) it to the tune, and it did seem to fit. No wonder, I find that Taps sounds very like The Last Post. If I owned the copyright, I'd sue for infringement.
Apparently, as you've now all read on Wiki, the British adopted it from the Dutch taptoe in the 16th Century, then America adopted it from the colonialist British Army.
As usual, I'm confused: The Last Post is not to be confused with Taps. But the original Dutch was Taps, and listening to Taps sounds very much like The Last Post.
Taps being the Dutch signal to close the boozer for the night, it all just makes me feel like

[nigelb]

I got confused between the melodies for "The Last Post" and "Taps" but I thought the lyrics fitted "Taps" well. Now I know why. The story might be urban legend but it is a good one.

Nigel²