just a song.

Hi Nons,

Just a song..

We rode in the morning, Casablanca to the west.
On the Atlas mountain foothills leading down to Marrakesh.
For Mohammed and Morocco We had taken up our guns,
For the ashes of our fathers and the children of our sons,
For the ashes of our fathers and the children of our sons.
In the dry winds of summer We were sharpening the blades.
We were riding to act upon the promise we had made.
With the fist and the dagger, With the rifle and and the lance,
We will suffer no intrusion from the infidels of France,
We will suffer no intrusion from the infidels of France.
We could wait no more, In the burning sands on the ride to Agadir.
Like the dogs of war,
For the future of this land on the ride to Agadir.
Though they were waiting, And they were fifty to our ten,
They were easily outnumbered by a smaller force of men.
As the darkness was falling They were soon to realize,
We were going to relieve them of their godforsaken lives,
We were going to relieve them of their godforsaken lives.
We could wait no more, In the burning sands on the ride to Agadir.
Like the dogs of war,
For the future of this land on the ride to Agadir.
We rode in the morning, Casablanca to the west.
On the Atlas mountain foothills leading down to Marrakesh.
For Mohammed and Morocco We had taken up our guns,
For the ashes of our fathers and the children of our sons,
For the ashes of our fathers and the children of our sons.?

Luke,

I'm trying to relate to this song but it's just difficult

Hi TO,

And I thought it was hard relating to you.

Are you working late again

Hi Luke

My first mother in law was born in Casablanca ...there is always a story (or more) behind every song.

You are right, just a song.





*Ride to Agadir is a song by Mike Batt telling the story of Moroccans fighting the French colonial power. It was originally released on his album Schizophonia and was covered by Boney M on their album Boonoonoonoos``. ...
Found on

*RIDE TO AGADIR" AND THE TANKARDS

Since the death of Capt Charl Muller during Operation Savate in 1980, the haunting song “Ride to Agadir”, composed by Mike Batt, had been adopted as the unit’s personal funeral dirge. Long before he was killed in action, Charl had made it known that if he ever had a military funeral, he wanted this music played instead of the traditional funeral march. His wish was honoured and his wife Zelma allowed the song to be played during his funeral attended by a number of 32 members who flew down to pay their last respects, and so the song became part of 32’s unique final tribute to its dead.

A tradition instituted by the Officer Commanding at the time Col Eddie Viljoen was that when an officer died, his colleagues would gather at the bar and fill their mugs with their beverage of choice for a last toast to the fallen man. The closest friend of the deceased would then deliver a short eulogy, after which “Ride to Agadir” would be played, and one of the officers present would ceremonially smash the glass bottom of the dead man’s tankard (bearing his name), using a miniature hammer specially made for this purpose. A black ribbon was then tied around the tankard before it was hung in its customary place. In due course, a bronze plate bearing the name of the fallen soldier would be mounted below the tankard

As an extension of this tradition, similar mugs, engraved with the dates 27 march 1976 -26 March 1993 were specially made and broken at a private ceremony following the formal disbandment parade in 1993. It was a fitting way to mark the untimely death of a proud battalion whose credo since early 1977 had been Honesty, Loyalty, Justice.http://www.32battalion.net/32%20Battalion%20Customs%20&%20Traditions.htm