Another take on this song is called THE MAN FROM RTE or THE BALLAD OF BALLINAMORE. As can be seen many of the lines are similar. Enjoy!

THE BALLAD OF BALLINAMORE.
OR THE MAN FROM RTE.

'Leitrim is a very funny place, sir, a strange and troubled land.
All the boys are in the IRA, sir, all the women in Cumann na mBan.
Every tractor has a Nicky Kelly sticker, displayed for all to see.
Sure it was no wonder that the Gardaí made a blunder,'
Says your man from RTE.

CHORUS:
'Every bird, upon my word, is singing, "I'm a rebel," sir up in Mohill sir,
Every hen is laying hand grenades, I do declare, sir, in Dromahair, sir.
Every crock of a Leitrim cock is longing to be free.
Even sheep are advisin' there'll be another rising'.
Says your man from RTE.

'Today Tonight went to Ballinamore, sir, they were briefed by the Gardaí.
On a video they showed to me the Provies 'ating curry and drinkin' tea.
They were all wearin' Russian balaclavas, each carried an RPG.
British scalps around the tummy, pockets full of stolen money'.
Says your man from RTE.

Chorus:

Leitrim is seething with sedition, it's Sinn Fein through and through.
All the task force have joined the local unit, the post office is the GHQ.
They've a racetrack underground for training Shergar, "no commint" they say to me.
Subversion here is bubblin', oh please take me back to Dublin,
Says your man from RTE.

Note: This song was written by Fintan Vallely and is to the same air as 'The Darlin' Girl From Clare'. It was written to commemorate a "Today Tonight" team visit to Ballinamore in Co. Leitrim some time in the 1980's. The racehorse Shergar, (a Derby winner) was owned by the Aga Khan and was kidnapped by the IRA in 1983 and a ransom was demanded. RTE, an Irish television station had sent a team from their current affairs program "Today Tonight" to get a story. "No comment" was all they could get from the locals! Mohill and Dromahair are towns in Co. Leitrim. The song was recorded by Christy Moore.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 11-Jul-02.