badseed1980 | Long live the People's Republic of Treacle Mine Road! (Reply)

"You'd like Freedom, Truth and Justice, wouldn't you, comrade sergeant?"
"I'd like a hard-boiled egg."
"In the circumstances, sergeant, I think we should set our sights a little higher--"
"Well, yes, we could. But... well, Reg, tomorrow the sun will come up again, and I'm pretty sure that whatever happens we won't have found Freedom, and there won't be a whole lot of Justice, and I'm damn sure we won't have found Truth. But it's just possible that I might get a hard-boiled egg."

Vimes listened as the refrain died away.
"That's a nice song," said young Sam, and Vimes realized that he was hearing it for the first time.
"It's an old soldiers' song," he said.
"Really, sarge? But it's about angels."
Yes, thought Vimes, and it's amazing what bits those angels cause to rise up as the song progresses. It's a real soldiers' song: sentimental, with dirty bits.
"As I recall, they used to sing it after battles," he said. "I've seen old men cry when they sing it," he added.
"Why? It sounds cheerful."
They were remembering who they were not singing it with, thought Vimes. You'll learn. I know you will.

(quotes from Night Watch by Terry Pratchett)

Were you there?

I think it's interesting that the date given for the revolution in the book is so close to the American Memorial Day. Appropriate and relevant, given the book's themes.