“All and Everyone” by PJ Harvey

“All and Everyone” takes a closer look at the 1915 Gallipoli conflict, the brutalities and deaths recorded in that period.

The first verse talks about Bolton’s Ridge and how several dead bodies were scattered all over due to the conflict. As the battle lasted for about eight months and recorded more than half a million deaths. The average death rate was almost 100 lives each hour. This is why the singer implies that all and almost everyone including soldiers and civilians lost their lives. And these victims died either by the bullet or by plagues during the period.

The subsequent verses of the song capture the mood of the conflict and how the Royal Dublin Fusiliers were dropped on the V Beach, killing thousands near and around the area by the bullet. The narrator uses clear imagery to depict the fatalities conflicts bring and its devastating impact on the people involved.

“All and Everyone” Facts

Writing: PJ Harvey
Album: Harvey’s 2011 award winning folk rock album “Let England Shake”
Release: 14th February, 2011

The Battle of Gallipoli

The Battle of Gallipoli was actually one of the major conflicts of World War I. It was fought between the forces of Russia, France and Britain against the Ottoman Empire. The venue was a part of Turkey known as Gallipoli, and overall the battle resulted in about 100,000 deaths and 10 times as many individuals being adversely affected. And in terms of political ramifications, although the Ottomans did prove victorious, the Battle was one of their last great victories and laid the foundation for the establishment of Turkey, as an independent state, as we know it.