A War Song

"A War Song", originally called "A Soldier's Song", was a poem written by C. Flavell Hayward and set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1884.
As A Soldier's Song, it was Elgar's first published song, appearing in Magazine of Music in 1890. It was dedicated to "F. G. P.", who gave its first performance on 18 March 1884 at a Worcester Glee Club meeting in the Crown Hotel, Broad Street, Worcester.
In 1903 it was re-published by Boosey & Co. with the name A War Song, as Elgar's Op. 5. The cover of the song clearly shows "Op.5, No.1", but no other Op.5 work is known, though J.F. Porte in his book describing the works of Elgar commends 'the two numbers comprising Opus 5.' It was performed at the Royal Albert Hall on 1 October of that year, sung by Kennerley Rumford.

Lyrics

A SOLDIER'S SONG / A WAR SONG

Recordings

includes "A War Song" performed by Stephen Holloway, with Barry Collett
has "A War Song" performed by Peter Savidge, with David Owen Norris.
With a collection of the music of Ireland, two songs by Elgar are included: Follow the Colours and A War Song, performed by Roderick Williams, BBC Concert Orchestra/Martin Yates