Rumours of War - Billy Bragg

There are soldiers marching on the common today

They were there again this evening

They paced up and down like sea birds on the ground

Before the storm clouds gathering

I must buy whatever tinned food is left on the shelves

They are testing the air raid sirens

They’ve filled up the blood banks and emptied the beds

At the hospital and he asylum

I saw a man build a shelter in his garden today

And we stood there idly chatting

He said: «No, no I don’t think war will come»

Yet still he carried on digging

Everything in my life that I love

Could be swept away without warning

Yet the birds still sing and the church bells ring

And the sun came up this morning

Life goes on as it did before

As the country drifts slowly to war