Harry Patch (In Memory Of)

Album: released as a single (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is a tribute to Harry Patch, who was the last surviving World War I veteran to fight in the trenches until his death on July 25, 2009, aged 111 years, 1 month, 1 week and 1 day.
  • Frontman Thom Yorke wrote on Radiohead's Dead Air Space website that the song was inspired by "a very emotional interview with him" in 2005 on the Today program on BBC Radio 4. He added: "The way he talked about war had a profound effect on me. It became the inspiration for a song that we happened to record a few weeks before his death."
  • The song was recorded live in an abbey and the strings were arranged by guitarist and keyboard player Jonny Greenwood. It is similar to Greenwood's score for the movie There Will Be Blood, except it features Yorke singing lyrics either inspired by or previously spoken by Harry Patch himself.
  • The song was sold through Radiohead's online store for the price of £1 (about $1.70), with proceeds going to the Royal British Legion.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Little Richard

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.