Way back at the beginning of this thread, I asked for the lyrics for this to be posted. It's been a number of years since I heard the song, and I don't remember it being that offensive.
Now before you all leap on me, let me ask some questions. I hear very strongly that the Roma culture is persecuted in England and in Germany. I followed kat's links and read some of the history. I saw Ladlo Drom and loved it, and sing and enjoy Ewan's songs about the travelers.
It has also been my impression, and to a small degree my experience, that there is a part of the Roma culture here in the US that has a penchant for raising money through questionable operations, earlier in relation to horsetrading, and more recently in relation to asphalt. Are the US and UK cultures the same, similar? Do Roma travel in bands in the US? I don't think I've encountered this except for the part of the Roma that work with carnivals, and the asphalt crowd. I had a good friend who was Roma in college, and her father taught at the University of Toronto, and wasn't a part of a band that I knew about.
I had always assumed that the running of scams (by whatever portion of the tribe) went with the fierce loyalty to community, and mainting of difference between "us" and "outsiders" (who are fair game). (There are some similar traits in some of the American Indian cultures). People who fall for the schemes are usually greedy, and believe they are conning the Roma instead of vice versa. It seems to me they get what they deserve, even when they are my grandparents.
So if there was ever an opportunity for me to be a part of Roma music and dance, I would do it in a hot minute, but I probably would choose someone else to pave my driveway.
I know, you'll say with an attitude like mine, I won't get asked to the dance. So be it.
Thing is, I can respect another culture without (1) expecting it to play by the same rules as mine and (2)without trusting its members to play by my rules. This is part of what "unassimilated" means.
Blessings,
Barbara
PS Mick, how do you feel about all those Drunken Irish Wake music hall songs?