The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #124569   Message #2751749
Posted By: GUEST
24-Oct-09 - 01:12 PM
Thread Name: An Irish anti-fascist song
Subject: An Irish anti-fascist song (1930's)
Came across the following in an interesting book called "Ireland's Other Poetry: Anonymous to Zozimus", which I recommend:

Battle song of the Irish Christian Front: "Off to Salamanca"

My name is Owen O'Duffy,
And I'm rather vain and huffy
The side of every Bolshie I'm a thorn in
But before the break of day
I'll be marching right away
For I'm off to Salamanca in the morning!

Chorus
With the gold supplied by Vickers
I can buy Blue Shirt and knickers
Let the Barcelona Bolshies take a warning
For I lately took the notion
To cross the briny ocean
And I start for Salamanca in the morning

There's a boy called Paddy Belton,
With a heart that's soft and meltin'
Yet the first to face the foemen, danger scorning
Tho' his feet are full of bunions
Yet he knows his Spanish onions
And he's off to Salamanca in the morning.

Chorus

Now the "Irish Christian Front"
Is a Lombard-Murphy stunt
(Hark! the ghostly voice of Connolly gives warning)
And Professor Hogan's pals
Can don their fol-de-lals
And start for Salamanca in the morning

Chorus

When they get kicked out of Spain
And they travel home again
Let then hearken in good time to this our warning
If they try their Fascist game
They'll be sorry that they came
Back from Salamanca in the morning!

Chorus