Backgammon from NO PASARAN! by Joe Solo

This song was inspired by an observation from a veteran, that although there were many different nationalities among the International Brigades, they all knew the melody to 'The Internationale' even though they sang different words. I started to think about the universality of music and laughter and games and with that came the idea of two men from opposite ends of the globe bonding over a board game.

Again, for me it is Rebekah Findlay's magical violin that makes this song special telling a story of its own behind the narrative. Beautiful.

Tracklist

6.	Backgammon	5:28

Lyrics

We met in a bar in Barcelona
He'd seen our boards were the same
And he brought over wine and whisky
I set them up to play a game

The first time we played he beat me
He just winked and smiled at me and then
Held out a hand and just said: "Ivan."
Me I grinned and set them up again

He could never tell what I was saying
We'd different words to that old song
But we didn't care when we were playing
Backgammon all night long

He'd a wife and kid in Vladivostock
He's write to them every day
Then he'd bring over wine and whisky
And we would play the night away

He could never tell what I was saying
We'd different words to that old song
But we didn't care when we were playing
Backgammon all night long

Then one day Franco moved the counters
He rolled the dice and he attacked
We went to fight him in the mountains
And Ivan didn't come back

He could never tell what I was saying
We'd different words to that old song
But we didn't care when we were playing
Backgammon all night long

I sent my board to Vladivostock
Back to Ivan's wife and kid
I couldn't bring myself to play now
And they weren't to know it wasn't his

He could never tell what I was saying
We'd different words to that old song
But we didn't care when we were playing
Backgammon all night long

Credits

from NO PASARAN!, released January 1, 2014
Joe Solo

License