Dec 14, 2008 09:40
15 yrs ago
English term
Flagpole Days
English
Other
Poetry & Literature
No special context that could be of any help, part of a verse, but I can't seem to be able to get any details regarding possible meaning(s) anywhere.
Responses
8 hrs
juvera
Specializes in field
Selected
Wind blows around in her hair and the flags upon the poles
The origin of the song is described here:
Lions
....this song was inspired by songwriter/guitarist Mark Knopfler's nocturnal wanderings about the "Wild West End."
Knopfler moved to the capital after completing an English degree at Leeds University.
The lions "live" in London's Trafalgar Square. They were sculpted by Sir Edward Landseer; the four massive statutes were erected in 1868, and have been a tourist attraction ever since.
www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=10821
The flags come up once before in the lyrics, and it seems to be just a continuation of the idea of flagpoles with flags.
It could have been a few days after Remembrance Day, 11th November, or between Remembrance Sunday, (the second Sunday of November) and the 11th, with flags flying to commemorate those, who gave their life in time of war, and when daylight is getting shorter "it's getting darker all the time". The lions and the mention of the old soldier also gives the impression that he has brave soldiers in mind.
Lions
....this song was inspired by songwriter/guitarist Mark Knopfler's nocturnal wanderings about the "Wild West End."
Knopfler moved to the capital after completing an English degree at Leeds University.
The lions "live" in London's Trafalgar Square. They were sculpted by Sir Edward Landseer; the four massive statutes were erected in 1868, and have been a tourist attraction ever since.
www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=10821
The flags come up once before in the lyrics, and it seems to be just a continuation of the idea of flagpoles with flags.
It could have been a few days after Remembrance Day, 11th November, or between Remembrance Sunday, (the second Sunday of November) and the 11th, with flags flying to commemorate those, who gave their life in time of war, and when daylight is getting shorter "it's getting darker all the time". The lions and the mention of the old soldier also gives the impression that he has brave soldiers in mind.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks, I actually just needed to confirm that "flagpole days" were not a term strictly referring to some holiday."
Reference comments
6 hrs
Reference:
Days with flag at half-mast : See Gary D's suggestion (Why not post it as an answer?)
"Thomas Reginald Jones was born in March 1898 in Worcester…The family celebrated his 18th Birthday in March 1916, and not long afterwards he was conscripted in one of the first batches of men to be called up… He trained as a Number One Lewis Gunner (the member of the gun team that pulled the trigger) and was soon in France with the 3rd Worcestershire Regiment. He returned home on leave in May 1917, and returned to the 4th Battalion. …
The news of his death reached Malvern in January 1918 and in Cowleigh School his sister Edie and brother Eric were sent for by the headmaster.
***They were aware that an old boy had been killed, for when word reached the school, the pupils would gather round the flag pole, and the Union Flag would be lowered to half-mast…" ***
http://www.malvernremembers.org.uk/HPJones_TR.html
The news of his death reached Malvern in January 1918 and in Cowleigh School his sister Edie and brother Eric were sent for by the headmaster.
***They were aware that an old boy had been killed, for when word reached the school, the pupils would gather round the flag pole, and the Union Flag would be lowered to half-mast…" ***
http://www.malvernremembers.org.uk/HPJones_TR.html
Discussion
A girl is there high heeling across the square
Wind blows around in her hair and the flags upon the poles
Waiting in the crowd to cross at the light
She looks around to find a face she can like
so in part it refers back to that.
http://www.mp3lyrics.org/m/mark-knopfler/lions/
"salute the pole, salute the flag for it is at half again." ( A line from one of my poems)
"It's getting darker all the time these flagpole days"
Song lyrics: http://www.mp3lyrics.org/m/mark-knopfler/lions/