Lyr Req: Irish rebel songs

Subject: Irish rebel songs
From:
Date: 23 Oct 99 - 10:52 PM

I was wondering about the lyrics to "Take it down from the Mast", "The man from the daily Mail", "Dungannon 57", "British Army" and "James Larkin". These were all recorded by The Battering Ram in the 70's. Also, their version of Sean South has an extra verse in it that I can't track down. If anyone knows these lyrics I would be very appreciative if you sent them to me. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish rebel songs
From: Stewie
Date: 24 Oct 99 - 03:41 AM

There was a recent thread on 'The Man From the Daily Mail' to which I supplied 3 versions, including the Battering Ram's. I have the Battering Ram LP with the songs you want. If no one else can readily supply, I will transcribe them for you in due course.

Cheers, Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish rebel songs
From: Melbert
Date: 24 Oct 99 - 05:13 AM

Take it down from the mast has, I'm pretty sure, been recorded by Dublin City ramblers. I think James Larkin is on an album I have by Luke Kelly. I try and dig them out later and transcribe - if no-one beats me to it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish rebel songs
From: Melbert
Date: 24 Oct 99 - 05:13 AM

Take it down from the mast has, I'm pretty sure, been recorded by Dublin City ramblers. I think James Larkin is on an album I have by Luke Kelly. I try and dig them out later and transcribe - if no-one beats me to it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish rebel songs
From: Barry Finn
Date: 24 Oct 99 - 05:32 AM

Please buy & don't copy the Battering Ram's music, Rounder has just rerelesed it as a CD & my friend still survives from his music though it be meager. Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish rebel songs
From: _gargoyle
Date: 24 Oct 99 - 12:04 PM

The postings you made are here - interesting lyrics - Thread about Man with the Daily Mail

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish rebel songs
From: _gargoyle
Date: 24 Oct 99 - 12:27 PM

Near the time of the '99 Orange Day Parade there were a variety of discussons

My Little Armalite

Lyr Req: Irish Republican songs

Thread Repulican Songs

One other thread "questioned the political intents" of those who posted on this subject- It created a REAL cat-fight.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish rebel songs
From: _gargoyle
Date: 24 Oct 99 - 12:32 PM

Lets try that thread on Republican Songs again Thread about Republican Songs

Subject: Lyr Add: JAMES LARKIN
From: _gargoyle
Date: 24 Oct 99 - 12:46 PM

JAMES LARKIN
(Donagh McDonagh)

In Dublin City in nineteen thirteen,
The boss was rich and the poor were slaves,
The women working and children starving,
Then on came Larkin like a mighty wave.
The workers cringed when the boss man thundered,
Seventy hours was his weekly chore,
He asked for little and less was grante
Lest given little then he'd ask for more.

In the month of August the boss man told us,
No union man for him could work,
We stood by Larkin and told the boss man,
We'd fight or die, but we wouldn't shirk.
Eight months we fought and eight months we starved,
We stood by Larkin through thick and thin,
But foodless homes and the crying of children,
It broke our hearts, we just couldn't win.

Then Larkin left us, we seemed defeated,
The night was black for the working man,
But on came Connolly with new hope and counsel,
His motto was that we'd rise again.
In nineteen sixteen in Dublin City,
The English soldiers they burnt our town,
The shelled our buildings and shot our leaders,
The Harp was buried 'neath the bloody crown.

They shot McDermott and Pearse and Plunkett,
They shot McDonagh and Clarke the brave,
From bleak Kilmainham they took Ceannt's body,
To Arbour Hill and a quicklime grave.
But last of all of the seven heroes,
I sing the praise of James Connolly,
The voice of justice, the voice of freedom,
He gave his life, that man might be free.

^^

Subject: Lyr Add: TAKE IT DOWN FROM THE MAST
From: _gargoyle
Date: 24 Oct 99 - 01:21 PM

"TAKE IT DOWN FROM THE MAST"

Take it down from the mast, Irish traitors
The flag we Republicans claim.
It can never belong to Free Staters,
You've brought on it nothing but shame.

You've murdered brave Liam and Rory,
You've taken young Richard and Joe.
Your hands with their blood are all gory,
Fulfilling the work of the foe.

But we stand with Enright and Larkin,
With Daly and Sullivan bold.
We'll break down the English connection,
And bring back the nation you sold.

So leave to those who are willing,
To uphold it in war and in peace.
The ones who intend to defend it
Until England's tyranny cease.

^^

From the site IRL-NEWS

The song "Take it down from the mast" sums up the feelings of republicans after the Drumboe executions

History: The Drumboe executions

Aengus O Snodaigh on the 75th anniversary of the execution of four Republican prisoners captured by pro-treaty forces in the Civil War in 1923

The executions of prisoners held in state jails, as an offical policy of reprisal against continued republican opposition, was a heinous response by the fledgling Free State. Over 80 official executions (77 is the usual figure given) were carried out in the short period of the Civil War, while the British executed 24 during the Tan War.

The policy of execution as reprisal was carried out often against those imprisoned in the areas where the IRA was enjoying a degree of success. By February 1923 there were nearly 12,000 republican prisoners of war incarcerated by the state in various jails and concentration camps around the country. The first of the `offical' executions occurred on 17 November 1922 with the shooting dead in Kilmainham Jail, Dublin, of James Fisher, Peter Cassidy, Richard Twohig and John Gaffney.

A unanimous cabinet decision authorised the execution policy and Kevin O Higgins, the then Justice Minister, stated: ``It was done deliberately and in the belief that only by that method could representative government and democratic institutions be preserved here.'' President William Cosgrave said: ``They are dealing with the dregs of society, people who had no regard for life or property or all that people held dear''.

The only difference between the offical and the unoffical execution is that the state went through the pretence of a court martial before passing sentence. Most of those executed had been in jail months before being `tried' and then executed at dawn, often in groups of three or four. But in one case six weeks before the end of hostilities, with victory for the State in sight, four men who had been sentenced two months previously were taken out and executed.

November 1922 saw a general sweep by Free Staters through Donegal in an effort to end republican opposition in the county. This sweep was successful in that it captured the vast bulk of Volunteers operating in the county or forced them to go on the run in other counties. Amongst those captured were the remnants of Charlie Daly's column (2nd Northern Division) which had been engaging both the Staters and the Crown Forces since May 1922.

Daly, a native of Knockanescoulter, Firies, County Kerry, joined the Irish Volunteers in 1914 abd as Adjutant of the Firies Battalion, IRA, he took part in many successful attacks on RIC barracks in County Kerry in the early years of the Tan War, and was also a member of Kerry County Council.

In September1920 he travelled north on Cathal Brugha's order to organise the IRA in counties Tyrone and Derry. From the time of his arrival the local units became more daring and active in the struggle. He organised the first daylight attack on an RIC barracks during the Tan War. Drumquin barracks was taken and a large haul of arms captured. The local RIC sergeant was also killed in the attack.

Before being arrested and interned in Collinstown Camp, County Dublin, in January 1921 he appointed a County Kerry man, Sean Larkin, as Brigade Adjutant. Larkin had joined the Volunteers in 1914 and was arrested in 1920. In Mountjoy jail he went on hunger-strike and was released, and reported back for active service.

During the truce period of 1921 Charlie Daly and Sean Larkin reorganised the IRA in the Tyrone/Derry area and implemented an intensive period of training. When on 6 December 1921 the Irish delegation in London accepted the Articles of Agreement (Treaty) Daly and Larkin were among the first to reject its terms.

At Christmas 1922 Charlie returned to Kerry for a short period where he appealed for Volunteers to return north with him to challenge the Orange state. Among those who joined him were Dan Enright and Tim O Sullivan, experienced Volunteers.

The reorganised IRA launched numerous attacks on the crown forces in the Donegal/Tyrone/Derry border region. May and June 1922 saw serious engagements between the IRA divisions and crown forces at Pettigo-Belleek, Clady, Strabane and Lifford.

With the outbreak of open hostilities between the Free State and the IRA Charlie Daly tried to halt the spread of the conflict and appealed to the staters in County Donegal to join in the unfinished work of establishing a united Ireland, and the immediate task of protecting nationalists in the new Orange state from sectarian pograms. His appeals fell on deaf ears and on 28 June they attacked republican positions in County Donegal.

The IRA responded with attacks on staters in East Donegal at Manorcunningham, Drumkeen, Castlefin and Lifford before being forced to retreat further into the county. Daly reported to HQ soon after,"We had something over 100 men at the start, some of them were spies and traitors. In the course of a few weeks we were left with only 30 men and nearly all of them were strangers to the county."

He also outlined the harsh conditions which his and other IRA columns operated under during the Civil War. "The country is so assuredly poor that we could hardly get enough to eat. We are often glad when we get potatoes and salt, or a bit of bread and a drop of tea, no matter what side their sympathies were with, they were always hospitable."

The 2 November sweep followed in which Daly, Larkin, Enright and Sullivan were captured at Dunlewy in the shadow of Errigal mountain. They were court-martialled in January and on 14 March 1923 the four were marched, from Drumboe Castle where they were being held, to an improvised firing range about 30 yards up a gentle sloping field in the nearby woods. They were summarily executed at this spot.

The song "Take it down from the mast" sums up the feelings of republicans after the Drumboe executions

Subject: Lyr Add: PETER PAN AND ME (Michael MacConnell)
From: Melbert
Date: 24 Oct 99 - 03:25 PM

How about this one from , I think, Mickey MacConnell, who also wrote "Only Our Rivers Run Free".

We knew we faced the power that comes from money
When we marched against the empire's mighty schemes.
They were armed with special powers and legislation
while we were armed with youth and foolish dreams.
But it seemed so right in Derry that Sunday
when we took them on and built our barricades.
We were an army dressed in faded jeans and sandals
too young and full of pride to be afraid.
We believed in things like justice, truth and freedom.
We believed we had a right to liberty.
And we believed that we could build a new tomorrow.
That's how it seemed to Peter Pan and me.

We soon learned the truth of street rebellion
as that city crumbled round us stone by stone.
Betrayed by those who promised they would help us
against guns and tanks and troops we stood alone.
Revolution is no game for foolish dreamers
for dreamers never know the price that must be paid.
We soon learned that all truth comes from a rifle,
we learned to bleed and die and be afraid.
And soon no-one spoke of justice, truth or freedom,
and no-one gave one damn for liberty.
All we hoped was that we might go on surviving -
we grew up fast young Peter Pan and me.

The empire gave us fear and death and prison
There's no mercy from that military machine
So our children swapped their faded jeans and sandals
for hoods and guns with loaded magazines
Now the years have wrought their cruel retribution
and our brothers and our sisters bear the pain
as both sides search for a military solution,
and the politicians play their murderous games.
Among the dead lie justice, truth and freedom,
And among the dead lie hope and liberty
So if you care enough to mourn brave new tomorrows
pull up a chair, join Peter Pan and me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish rebel songs
From: Barry Finn
Date: 24 Oct 99 - 06:27 PM

Hi Jack, if you want to post the verses you have, I'll probably be seeing Shay Walker (former member of the Battering Ram) this Wed night & I'll ask him for the missing verse your looking for unless someone else posts it first. I should also mention that all the members of the Battering Ram were more that singers of rebel songs. Shay is renouned for his wealth of Dublin songs & their history & both Johnny Beggin & Declan Hunt are also great singers/musicians with a great store of traditional songs. I asked Shay some while ago if he'd do "Take It Down From The Mast", he won't do these anymore in light of the peace attempts. Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish rebel songs
From:
Date: 26 Oct 99 - 02:09 AM

Thank you to everyone who responded. To Barry Finn: yes, I would like it if you can get the lyrics from Mr. Walker if it's not too much trouble, also I think it is admirable that he refrains from singing some of the more inflammatory songs in light of the peace attempts, though I continue to admire the passion that is evident in the work of the Battering Ram. My copy of "Irish Rebel Songs was bought and paid for, however this is the only cd I've been able to locate. Do they have anymore and if so, are they available in the U.S. or over the web?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish rebel songs
From: Barry Finn
Date: 26 Oct 99 - 11:04 PM

Hi Jack, what are the verses that you all ready have, it's easier to fill in the blanks. See ya, Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish rebel songs
From: Mick
Date: 27 Oct 99 - 10:02 PM

Jack stick round while & drop in more often the group is kin so post the lyrics here .

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish rebel songs
From: Barry Finn
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 01:33 AM

Hi Jack, Shay still sings with the same passion now as back then. That was the Battering Ram's only recording & as I mentioned Rounder has seen fit to rerelease it. The verse you're looking for was written by Shay's brother-in-law Sean Humston.

May Gog reward those gallant men, may heaven be their home
T'was in Brookborough Town where they got shot down, in a cabin they lay cold
They never feared the RUC or "B" men on patrol
O'Hanlon from the border & South from Garryowen

Barry