Story Behind The Song

Dedicated to Kevin Elliott 1985 - 2009 Profits from the sale of "I Swear" (written by Tony Gibbs with vocal by Tim Buppert) are being donated to The Black Watch Association.

Song Description

Download this song for only $0.99 with profits to The Black Watch Association, a charity registered in Scotland (SC16423) which aims to help all those who have served in The Black Watch (and their dependants) who are in need by reason of age, ill health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage. It also exists to promote comradeship and relies on an extensive network of Branches and volunteers spread across the UK to organise events which help maintain links to old comrades. Find out more about The Black Watch Association at - www.theblackwatch.co.uk/index/the-black-watch-association Make a donation to The Black Watch Association at - http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/finalCharityHomepage.action?charityId=1002605

Lyrics

Before I forget and the drink takes over here's a tale of two young soldiers
Side by side in an Afgan war Kevin was killed aged twenty four
They looked out for each other made a pact running for cover
"I'll tell you what, here's what I'll do, I'll wear a dress at your funeral"

Crowds of mourners lined the route to the church that day
Shots from the guard of honour rang out across the Tay
There were T-shirts with his picture, uniforms and tartan
And a broken man in a lime green dress with a saltire covered coffin

I swear, I swear, the promise they made was what to wear
I swear, I swear, when life's a joke but you show you care
Honour your friend you know the rest
Whoever goes first when you say goodbye
A brave goodbye is the best

Promises made to your best friend are those you have to keep
The man in the lime green dress fell down to his knees to weep
Barry's dress and pink leg warmers honoured the pact he made
To wear a stupid funeral dress as the Black Watch piper played

St Mary's heard the family as they spoke of their lost son
Most of all Kevin's friend who faced the future alone
Friendship and loyalty simple signs of success
Honour the dead remember the man, the man in the lime green dress

I swear, I swear, the promise they made was what to wear
I swear, I swear, when life's a joke but you show you care
Honour your friend you know the rest
Whoever goes first when you say goodbye
A brave goodbye is the best

I swear at the politicians who send our boys to die
And I'll swear to God when I see him and look him in the eye
I swear at all the killers of girls and women too
Most of all I swear at the mirror swear at me and you
I swear about the anger frustration that I feel
I see what's left of families with only wounds to heal
I swear at the TV news all the scenes that look the same
Swear with me we'll never forget before we go insane

I swear, I swear, the promise they made was what to wear
I swear, I swear, when life's a joke but you show you care
Honour your friend you know the rest
Whoever goes first when you say goodbye
A brave goodbye is the best

A brave goodbye

A brave good bye is the best