[Prologue/The Education of A Gentleman]
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Walking through the city after recent rain
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Heard ancient stones all shining murmur where are they?
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How long before next hero's day
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And the splendid show of drum and gun
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Walking by the river one September eve
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Saw questions rise in circles on that old dark stream
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Where now are those who dared to dream
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They would leave one jewel in England's hand
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Gone to sleep they lie in flowered graves
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For the visitors and Guidebook saved
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But come the trumpet shattered dawn
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Will the spirit they shared be reborn
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Comrades in arms, may they rise, fight and shine again,
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Till "who goes there", will be answered with friend again
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Once there stood a man, alone, sword in his hand
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In the face of the teeth and flame
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And it was all in England's name
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I was told how she grew, she alone shone her light on everyone
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And if you made the first eleven then you'd be sure to get to heaven,
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Like the captain of the school
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I was taught how to win
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And to lose with that "get you next time" smile,
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Learned Latin verbs in fear of a beating
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And for years thought central heating,
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Was for just old people's homes
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I was raised on the past, the Tower and Saint Paul's and Westminster
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Escorted well-bred girls to dances, and learned to drive a horse in harness,
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Through the English countryside
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I was taught to behave, like an officer and a gentleman,
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And when I finally marched from Sandhurst
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I learned to put my fellow man first
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And there was daily talk of war
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I spent 1938 in the United States of America,
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I grew to love it's many faces, and they had built some amazing places,
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And I thought they'd come in on our side
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[Love at First Sight]
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Girls, oh there were girls
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But they were just part of the social whirl
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And I never took much notice
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Until the night that I met you
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Standing out there alone
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Out on the terrace under the moon
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From the moment that I kissed you
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My life turned into a dream
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I knew I loved you at first sight
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And that you loved.. me
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Was it really happening, or was it a dream?
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I asked if you'd be mine
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Feeding the white doves by the Serpentine
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And when you said forever
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I know that I almost cried
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You all in white
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The tears and the laughing
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Nearly losing the damn ring
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Yes, I do... Yes, I will... keep you from harm
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Those few short days
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We spent together
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Remembered forever
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All the plans - for the house and for the children
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I know I loved you at first sight
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And that you loved... me
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Did it really happen then, or was it a dream?
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I knew when I saw your face
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Opening orders, the time and the place
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Oh, don't worry it won't last long
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And I won't be far away
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I'll try to write every day...
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[Letters From the Front]
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Got your letters at the front today
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If you like the house we'll buy it straight away
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Yes, it's great now you're a full-time nurse
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But do be careful with the air-raids - getting worse
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Must end now... the push is on... we're moving out...
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All my love... see you soon
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I'm writing to you on a convoy moving west
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It's hell out here but we're all trying to do our best
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I learned today that I get two weeks leave in June
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This time I promise you a real honeymoon
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Must end now... take care my love... you're all the world
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To me my love... see you soon
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The telegram... dropped from my hand
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She was all I had... I just don't understand
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I see her now... in that white dress she wore
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Those eyes and that smile
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No one else... nevermore
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Decorations and respect inside the club
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Aren't compensation when you lose the one you love
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But in the end, all that is left
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Is the regiment and what it means
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To be... an officer and a gentleman...
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[Honourable Company (A March)]
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[Instrumental]
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Memoirs Of An Officer And A Gentleman
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| Emerson, Lake & Palmer |
