Digger’s letters to become hit songs
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Powerful project … former Australian of The Year Lee Kernaghan has written songs inspired by the letters of diggers to their families. Picture: Kristi Miller.
Source: News Limited
PRECIOUS letters from diggers to their families, from Gallipoli to Afghanistan, have been brought to life in song by Lee Kernaghan as Australia prepares to mark the Anzac Centenary next year.
The often heartbreaking missives from soldiers, farewelling their loved ones on the eve of battle or detailing the terrifying realities of war in vivid prose, have been transformed into 16 songs for the Spirit Of The Anzacs album to be released in February.
FIRST TIME: World War I Diggers’ letters home on view at State Library of NSW
WORLD WAR I LETTERS: The tragic tale of Melbourne couple Frank and Ruby Roberts
Love letter … I Will Always Be With You was inspired by the love letter written by Private Benjamin Chuck before he was killed in Afghanistan in 2010. Picture: Supplied.
Source: Supplied
One of the songs, I Will Always Be With You, is a deeply emotional lyric borrowed from the final letter written by Private Benjamin Chuck on the night before he was killed during an operation in Afghanistan.
Private Chuck was serving with the Special Operations Task Group when he tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash, on June 21 2010.
Former Australian of The Year Kernaghan previewed the song to his record label earlier this week, with many listeners moved to tears by the soul-stirring, beautiful lyrics inspired by Private Chuck’s love letter to his partner.
Another song, the rousing, percussive To The Top Of The Hill, captures the sound and fury of the bloody Gallipoli landing as written by Private Roy Denning.
Being Your Sons draws from a letter written by Frederick Keck, one of six Tasmanian brothers to join the services in World War II, written to his mother in March 1942.
Gallipoli landing … Private Roy Denning’s vivid retelling of the Gallipoli landing inspired the lyrics of To The Top Of The Hill. Picture: Anzac Digger, Roy and Lorna Denning.
Source: Supplied
He was killed in action a few weeks after he penned the heartfelt plea to his mother not to worry about what her sons were doing in the war or what may happen to them because “being your sons means whatever we do is to your credit.”
Kernaghan and his long time producer Garth Porter were granted unprecedented access to the Australian War Memorial archive to source the letters which would inspire the lyrics of Spirit Of The Anzacs.
Far from being in his usual country music vein, the songs range from U2-style rock to haunting ballads.
“I visited the Australian War Memorial and when I read these letters, I felt strongly they needed to have a voice,” Kernaghan said.
“It was incredibly emotional recording these songs and there were times during playback in the studio when I would have an ache in my throat, my heart was in knots and there were tears in my eyes.
“I would look up to see Garth wiping away a tear.
“I hope the album will serve as a musical monument to them and the families who loved them.”
Porter has spent several months trying to contact members of the families of diggers whose letters have been given this unique musical tribute.
“The most nerve-racking thing having written and recorded the songs was sending them to the next of kin I managed to find. What if we got it wrong?” he said.
“Fortunately, the families have been absolutely wonderful and grateful for the project.”
Spirit Of The Anzacs will be released on February 27 with ABC Music determined to make it a No. 1 album in the lead-up to the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing on April 25.
