4. Here Is Jack Words and Music by Kevin Adams
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Kevin Adams wrote dozens of songs[1], many of them for Living Archive productions. Several were based on 1st World War experiences inspired by the archive, but one, ‘Here Is Jack’ had a very personal connection, with his Grandfather. In an introduction to the filmed performance of the song[2] in 2006, Kevin describes its provenance:
‘I didn’t really know my Grandfather because he died when I was very young; so quite a lot of song may be my interpretation or my wishful thinking, but there is known fact in it as well. ‘I know that he joined the army in 1910 as a bandsman - I guess because that was the only way he could earn a living as a musician. He joined the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment as a cornet player. But of course, that was bad timing to join the army and he ended up serving through the 1st World War. He was slightly gassed. I know that didn’t stop him playing his cornet because he played in brass bands for the rest of his life. Mum also told me he played in dance bands in London during the ‘20s - I have got a lovely photograph of him in his ‘dickie bow’, ready to go out to play for the dancing, which I like the idea of because that’s what I do[3]. ‘There’s a story in the family which I put into the song - whether it’s apocryphal or true I don’t know - but his sister, my great-aunt Mary was nursing in France as a VAD, and the story goes that he bumped into her behind the lines… He was very distressed, he’d had enough of the war, he’d been through the mill and he said to Mary that all he wanted to do was to get home and to lead a normal life, find a girlfriend, and marry and settle down, and have a family. So that gets into the song. ‘And he did that. He got through, he survived, and got home, and got married. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a happy marriage, and my mother grew up in a divided household and didn’t have a happy childhood. It wasn’t helped when Hitler started to throw bombs around - they were living in NW Kent and were right on the flight path through to London - so, they suffered a bit. ‘I started to write the song when we were clearing through my Uncle’s possessions after he died. We found photographs of my Grandfather and we found his cornet and his medals; and I sat down to think about what he’d been through. ‘As my mum grew older, the unhappiness of her childhood gradually emerged, and I started to wonder how much of it was due to Grandad’s experiences through the war. I pondered that… ‘I haven’t had to endure that kind of thing. I can have no idea of what going to war means and I am grateful for that. ‘But there is still that kind of lingering feeling of ‘What if?’ How would I have reacted? So, there’s part of that in the song as well. ‘The song starts from a photograph, so - Here is Jack…’ [1] See Kevin Adams’ albums on Music | Kevin Adams (bandcamp.com) especially Sheltermore which includes this song (Here Is Jack | Kevin Adams (bandcamp.com) [2] See the concluding video on Kevin Adams | People | Living Archive [3] In 2010, Kevin contracted multiple sclerosis (MS) which curtailed his live performances and eventually, all his instrument-playing. He spent the last ten years until his death in 2020 creating his songs and albums digitally. He is a much-missed composer, producer, musician, performer, and friend. (Marion Hill) |
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