Harry Patch, the oldest man in Europe and last solider who fought in World War I, died last month (July 25) at the age of 111. Thom Yorke did an interview with Harry few years ago on the Today programme on Radio 4, and it had a profound effect on Thom. Therefore, to pay tribute to Harry, Thom and Jonny went into an abbey with string sections to record a song, title "Harry Patch (In Memory Of)".
The song has been released as a digital download on the band's website since Wednesday (August 5). All proceeds of the song will go to the Royal British Legion.
Thom has also posted the lyrics online:
"i am the only one that got through
the others died where ever they fell
it was an ambush
they came up from all sides
give your leaders each a gun and then let them fight it out themselves
i've seen devils coming up from the ground
i've seen hell upon this earth
the next will be chemical but they will never learn"
