I see there's an argument going on about this song. There are songs where I have second thoughts about posting but I follow Alison's line. I post exactly what I have typed at home late last night both for information and since my remarks fit in the discussion. Here it comes:

Here you go, Ferret, and enjoy (and I mean that despite of what comes). I copied it from an IRA/Sinn Féin songbook. However, I don't see why you describe it as 'funny'. To me it doesn't sound like having been written 'tongue in cheek'. Whereas, from having read several books about Northern Ireland, I can understand that the feelings expressed in some of the verses have been shared by a considerable part of the Republican community, the trigger-happy choruses express a feeling for which I have no sympathy. There are many beautiful Irish rebel songs. This one doesn't belong in this category in my opinion.

Wolfgang


MY LITTLE ARMALITE
(tune: Home, boys, home; author: not surprisingly, unnamed)

And it's down in the Bogside, that's where I long to be,
lying in the dark with a Provo company,
a comrade on me left and another on me right
and a clip of ammunition for my little armalite.

I was stopped by a soldier, said he, You are a swine,
he beat me with his baton and he kicked me in the groin,
I bowed and I scraped, sure me manners were polite,
but all the time I'm thinking of my little armalite.

And it's down in Crossmaglen, sure that's where I long to be,
lying in the dark with a Provo company,
a comrade on me left and another on me right
and a clip of ammunition for my little armalite.

Sure a brave RUC man came up into our street,
six hundred British soldiers were gathered 'round his feet.
Come out, ye cowardly Fenians, said he, come out and fight.
But he cried, I'm only joking, when he heard the armalite.

Sure it's down in Kilwilkie, that's where I long to be,
lying in the dark with a Provo company,
a comrade on me left and another on me right
and a clip of ammunition for my little armalite.

Sure, the army came to visit me, 'twas in the early hours,
with Saladins and Saracens and Ferret armoured cars.
They thought they had me cornered, but I gave them all a fright
with the armour-piercing bullets of my little armalite.

And it's down in the Falls Road, that's where I long to be,
lying in the dark with a Provo company,
a comrade on me left and another on me right
and a clip of ammunition for my little armalite.

When Tuzo came to Belfast, he said, The battle's won,
said General Ford, We're winning, Sir, we have them on the run.
But corporals and privates on patrol at night
said, Send for reinforcements, it's the bloody armalite.

And it's up in Ballymurphy, that's where I long to be,
lying in the dark with a Provo company,
a comrade on me left and another on me right
and a clip of ammunition for my little armalite.^^