Florence Nightingale: "Lady with the Lamp"

Four Songs about Nursing

The Lady with the Lamp
Thank the Nurse
Clara Barton
The Girl Next Door (Combat Nurse)

Listen to the studio version with Jerry Garcia.
Listen to a live performance in London with Nick Saloman.
In RealAudio. Get the player.

"Lady with the Lamp"
From the album Carry On (Shanachie 8019)

I don't mind, please don't misunderstand —
I know the score of war.
A soldier's life is give and give
And then they ask for more.
Walking on the picket line
Where my comrades fell,
Holding up the thin-red-line
In the shot and shell.
The lady with the lamp,
You know she understands.
The lady with the lamp,
She's the soldiers' friend.
I don't mind the blistering heat,
I think I can endure.
It's freezing cold and I can't feel my feet —
Well, that's the hell of war.
I never thought about the big red wound
When I saw my comrades fall.
Now I'm in this cold and lonely room
Wondering if I'll live at all.
The lady with the lamp,
You know she understands.
The lady with the lamp,
She's the soldiers' friend.
First they use us
And then they throw us away.
Only Miss Nightingale
Knows the price that we pay,
The lady with the lamp.
Excuse me please, a cup of tea,
I've such a terrible thirst.
Would you please come and sit with me,
I feel it's come to the worst.
Write my mother that I love her so,
I can't seem to hold the pen.
Take this keep-sake and send it home,
To those I'll never see again.
The lady with the lamp,
You know she understands.
The lady with the lamp,
She's the soldiers' friend.
She will hold his hand,
Stay with him to the end.
You know she understands,
She's the soldier's friend.
Copyright © 1994 by Alkatraz Corner Music, BMI, renewed 1996

Listen to the song
(with Nick Saloman).
In RealAudio. Get the player.
"Thank the Nurse"
1. Doctors and Physicians diagnose and prescribe.
Surgeons can operate but they don't save your life.
For when the fever's burning, who helps you through the night
Gives you medication and checks your vital signs?
When you wake up in recovery who's right there by your side? With a smile and reassurance, restoring your self-pride.
CHORUS:
Thank the Nurse that's nursing you.
The one that nursed you through.
Thank the Nurse that's nursing you,
For saving your life....for saving your life..
For SAVING YOUR LIFE!
2. Oh, the Doctor is important of that we can't deny.
But when you get down to it, the Nurse keeps you alive.
The one who cleans your body and bandages your wounds.
The one who makes your bed, gives you medicine and food.
Helps you through contractions, until the pain subsides.
Encourage you to make it 'till you hear your baby cry!
CHORUS:
Thank the Nurse that's nursing you.
The one that nursed you through.
Thank the Nurse that's nursing you
For saving your life....for saving your life...
For SAVING YOUR LIFE!
3. When you're sick and convalescing you're seldom in the mood
To pay attention to the one attending you.
So full of rack and worry you think you'll lose your mind.
You survived the accident but all your friends have died.
When the orderly is sleeping and physician can't be found
No need for apprehension a nurse is making rounds!
CHORUS:
Thank the Nurse that's nursing you.
The one that nursed you through.
Thank the Nurse that's nursing you
For saving your life....for saving your life...
For SAVING YOUR LIFE!
Copyright © 1997 by Country Joe McDonald

Listen to the song
(with Jerry Garcia).
In RealAudio. Get the player.
"Clara Barton"
From the album Superstitious Blues (Rykodisc 10201)
Every time in the world someone receives first aid
You can thank Clara Barton for the life that is saved
She lived out her life in a world ruled by men
Every time they knocked her down she got back up again
Clara Barton.
Civil war veterans with tears in their eyes
Told how she braved the battle just to save their lives
She never ran from the shot and the shell
Bringing aid and comfort in the midst of hell.
And even then at the war's very end
When the prisoners were lost and without friends
She helped families to find those that they loved
A professional angel sent from up above.
Thank the lord for Clara Barton and long live her name
The American Red Cross is her claim to fame
When you see a Red Cross worker in a time of flood or war
Take a moment to remember...and thank the lord...for Clara Barton!
Copyright © 1990 by Alkatraz Corner Music, BMI, renewed 1996

Listen to the song.
In RealAudio. Get the player.
"The Girl Next Door (Combat Nurse)"
From the album Vietnam Experience (Rag Baby 1024/25)
She grew up in America, just the girl next door
Never thought to question what we were fighting for
They sent her off to war and showed her death and pain
And the girl next door will never be the same.

Guarding her patients with a .45
Checking the wounded to make sure they're alive
By days she's in fatigues and at night she's in a dress
She's everybody's savior, the Army combat nurse.

She told her girl friends "I'll see ya some old day
I've joined the army and they're sending me away."
They taught her how to mend a wound and how to tend the sick
But nothing could prepare her for all this.

Guarding her patients with a .45
Checking the wounded to make sure they're alive
By days she's in fatigues and at night she's in a dress
She's everybody's savior, the Army combat nurse.

Bridge:
Women at home waiting all alone
Women in life trying to do what's right
Women in war in the blood and gore
Women in death, they die just like the rest.
A jungle ain't a place for a girl to be alone
Surrounded by the enemy with all the soldiers gone
Under attack you know she's got to do her best
Because she's everybody's savior, the Army combat nurse.
Back home in civilian life army life all done
Childhood friends can't understand why she's not any fun
But a vision of the wounded screams inside her brain
And the girl next door will never be the same.

Guarding her patients with a .45
Checking the wounded to make sure they're alive
By days she's in fatigues and at night she's in a dress
She's everybody's savior, the Army combat nurse
She's everybody's savior (but her own), the Army combat nurse

...but who will save HER now?
Copyright © 1985 by Alkatraz Corner Music, BMI, renewed 1996

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Listen to the studio version with Jerry Garcia. Listen to a live performance in London with Nick Saloman. In RealAudio. Get the player.	"Lady with the Lamp" From the album Carry On (Shanachie 8019) I don't mind, please don't misunderstand — I know the score of war. A soldier's life is give and give And then they ask for more. Walking on the picket line Where my comrades fell, Holding up the thin-red-line In the shot and shell. The lady with the lamp, You know she understands. The lady with the lamp, She's the soldiers' friend. I don't mind the blistering heat, I think I can endure. It's freezing cold and I can't feel my feet — Well, that's the hell of war. I never thought about the big red wound When I saw my comrades fall. Now I'm in this cold and lonely room Wondering if I'll live at all. The lady with the lamp, You know she understands. The lady with the lamp, She's the soldiers' friend. First they use us And then they throw us away. Only Miss Nightingale Knows the price that we pay, The lady with the lamp. Excuse me please, a cup of tea, I've such a terrible thirst. Would you please come and sit with me, I feel it's come to the worst. Write my mother that I love her so, I can't seem to hold the pen. Take this keep-sake and send it home, To those I'll never see again. The lady with the lamp, You know she understands. The lady with the lamp, She's the soldiers' friend. She will hold his hand, Stay with him to the end. You know she understands, She's the soldier's friend. Copyright © 1994 by Alkatraz Corner Music, BMI, renewed 1996
Listen to the song (with Nick Saloman). In RealAudio. Get the player.	"Thank the Nurse" 1. Doctors and Physicians diagnose and prescribe. Surgeons can operate but they don't save your life. For when the fever's burning, who helps you through the night Gives you medication and checks your vital signs? When you wake up in recovery who's right there by your side? With a smile and reassurance, restoring your self-pride. CHORUS: Thank the Nurse that's nursing you. The one that nursed you through. Thank the Nurse that's nursing you, For saving your life....for saving your life.. For SAVING YOUR LIFE! 2. Oh, the Doctor is important of that we can't deny. But when you get down to it, the Nurse keeps you alive. The one who cleans your body and bandages your wounds. The one who makes your bed, gives you medicine and food. Helps you through contractions, until the pain subsides. Encourage you to make it 'till you hear your baby cry! CHORUS: Thank the Nurse that's nursing you. The one that nursed you through. Thank the Nurse that's nursing you For saving your life....for saving your life... For SAVING YOUR LIFE! 3. When you're sick and convalescing you're seldom in the mood To pay attention to the one attending you. So full of rack and worry you think you'll lose your mind. You survived the accident but all your friends have died. When the orderly is sleeping and physician can't be found No need for apprehension a nurse is making rounds! CHORUS: Thank the Nurse that's nursing you. The one that nursed you through. Thank the Nurse that's nursing you For saving your life....for saving your life... For SAVING YOUR LIFE! Copyright © 1997 by Country Joe McDonald
Listen to the song (with Jerry Garcia). In RealAudio. Get the player.	"Clara Barton" From the album Superstitious Blues (Rykodisc 10201) Every time in the world someone receives first aid You can thank Clara Barton for the life that is saved She lived out her life in a world ruled by men Every time they knocked her down she got back up again Clara Barton. Civil war veterans with tears in their eyes Told how she braved the battle just to save their lives She never ran from the shot and the shell Bringing aid and comfort in the midst of hell. And even then at the war's very end When the prisoners were lost and without friends She helped families to find those that they loved A professional angel sent from up above. Thank the lord for Clara Barton and long live her name The American Red Cross is her claim to fame When you see a Red Cross worker in a time of flood or war Take a moment to remember...and thank the lord...for Clara Barton! Copyright © 1990 by Alkatraz Corner Music, BMI, renewed 1996
Listen to the song. In RealAudio. Get the player.	"The Girl Next Door (Combat Nurse)" From the album Vietnam Experience (Rag Baby 1024/25) She grew up in America, just the girl next door Never thought to question what we were fighting for They sent her off to war and showed her death and pain And the girl next door will never be the same. Guarding her patients with a .45 Checking the wounded to make sure they're alive By days she's in fatigues and at night she's in a dress She's everybody's savior, the Army combat nurse. She told her girl friends "I'll see ya some old day I've joined the army and they're sending me away." They taught her how to mend a wound and how to tend the sick But nothing could prepare her for all this. Guarding her patients with a .45 Checking the wounded to make sure they're alive By days she's in fatigues and at night she's in a dress She's everybody's savior, the Army combat nurse. Bridge: Women at home waiting all alone Women in life trying to do what's right Women in war in the blood and gore Women in death, they die just like the rest. A jungle ain't a place for a girl to be alone Surrounded by the enemy with all the soldiers gone Under attack you know she's got to do her best Because she's everybody's savior, the Army combat nurse. Back home in civilian life army life all done Childhood friends can't understand why she's not any fun But a vision of the wounded screams inside her brain And the girl next door will never be the same. Guarding her patients with a .45 Checking the wounded to make sure they're alive By days she's in fatigues and at night she's in a dress She's everybody's savior, the Army combat nurse She's everybody's savior (but her own), the Army combat nurse ...but who will save HER now? Copyright © 1985 by Alkatraz Corner Music, BMI, renewed 1996