The Island Men (Shipyard Slips) (1977)

A song about the decline of the Belfast shipyards and exile, written by Dave Scott (David Wilde) who was a member of the group Men Of No Property. Originally called ‘The Island Men’, but later re-titled as ‘Shipyard Slips’. On a ship that was built for the tourist trade - a reference to tourism in Northern Ireland being destroyed by the troubles.

From: Mudcat Guest, Jim McCullough; This song, originally titled "The Island Men", referred to the shipyard workers at Queen's Island, where Harland and Wolfe shipyard used to be in Belfast. The first verse and the chorus were written by Dave Scott (pseudonymously David Wilde) and the rest was written by Brian "Whoriskey", as it appeared on the record sleeve. Brian Whoriskey was also a pseudonym, because that's what you did in Belfast at the time, if you were writing republican AND non-sectarian, socialist songs. Brian Moore was the real name of the author of most of the song.

From Belfast town I'm on my way
On a ship that was built for the tourist trade
I leave behind the land where I was born
And I won't come back till me fortune is made

And I served me time with the Island men
And I've known good times and work aplenty
But there's no work now in these troubled times
And the shipyard slips they're lying empty