There's a Valley in Spain called Jarama

Infobox Standard
title="El Valle del Jarama"
english_title=There's a Valley in Spain Called Jarama
comment=

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image_size=
caption=
writer=Alex McDade
composer=traditional, Red River Valley
lyricist=
published=1938
written=
language=English, Spanish
form=
original_artist=
recorded_by=Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Tom Glazer, Arlo Guthrie
performed_by=

This song from the Second Spanish Republic is also known as Jarama Valley and El Valle del Jarama. The tune is Red River Valley.

It refers to the Battle of Jarama, a Spanish Civil War battle. The battle was fought from 6-27 February 1937, in the Jarama river valley a few kilometres east of Madrid. The seasoned troops of Franco's Army of Africa assaulted positions held by the inexperienced and ill-equipped volunteers of the International Brigades. It ended in stalemate, with both sides entrenching. At the end of three weeks, the death count was high. The British Battalion lost 225 of its 600 men [Antony Beevor, "The Battle for Spain", p. 211] ; and the Lincoln Battalion lost 125 out of 500 [Antony Beevor, "The Battle for Spain", p. 214] .

Original four-verse versions

The earliest known version was written by Alex McDade, of the British Battalion, XV International Brigade and published in "XV International Brigade", by the Commissariat of War, Madrid, 1938. It is a humorously cynical soldier's song; grumbling about the boredom, lack of leave and lack of female company. Alex McDade was a political commissar, responsible for the men's welfare. He was wounded at Jarama. Perhaps he wrote the song to focus his comrades' minds on something other than the casualties. The provenance of the other early version is unknown but, from the lyrics, it was probably written for (or evolved at) post-War veterans reunions.

Three-verse versions: Jarama Valley / El Valle del Jarama

This shorter (three-verse) version of the songwith variant versions [ [http://www.alba-valb.org/curriculum/index.php?module=3&page=P029 Other English version] ] are something of an anthem for veterans, particularly those from the Abraham Lincoln Battalion. Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger have recorded it. In addition to this version, other Spanish variants exist [ [http://personales.ya.com/altavoz/canciones/elvalledeljarama.htm Other Spanish versions] ] .

Footnotes and links

* [http://www.international-brigades.org.uk/british_volunteers/jarama_valley.mp3 Valley of Jarama (poor quality)]
* [http://www.international-brigades.org.uk/british_volunteers/jarama.htm Veterans' accounts of the battle]