The lyrics for 'For the Fallen' are taken from three of the verses in Lawrence Binyon's poem of the same title. He wrote the poem in September of 1914, on the coast in Cornwall.
The famous verse, always quoted on Armistice Sunday, which begins, 'Age shall not weary them,' is the fourth of seven verses in the original poem. This specific verse has become known as the 'Ode of Remembrance.' I took the liberty of changing the order of
Binyon's verses so they run 3,5, and 4. In this way, a suitable reflective peak between musical and literal drama, combine.
Lyrics
Verses 3,4 and 5 (originally 3,5 and 4)
They went with songs to the battle. They were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.