This haunting song was composed and written by Scottish folk singer, Ian Campbell, and first released in 1963 but made famous by Simon and Garfunkel, who included it on their first album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., one year later. It tells of the horrors of a nuclear blast and was written at a time when the movement for nuclear disarmament was growing. It became the official song of CND.
Campbell’s two sons went on to form the successful eighties reggae band, UB40, outpacing their father’s record sales very quickly. This version of one of the most effective protest songs of all is performed by the inimitable Luke Kelly, who brings to it his own gravelly and sincere approach.
Ar a time when the US government and the Israeli regime, both nuclear powers, seem increasingly intent on drawing global war down upon us all, perhaps this song is more important and poignant then ever. Rebel Voice hopes that the prophetic nature of this song will remain unfulfilled.
Luke was my all-time hero but I wonder why the song was set in the evening as opposed to the actual morning bombing of Hiroshima?
LikeLike