Lyr/Chords: The Men Behind the Wire (McGuigan)

Subject: 'The Men Behind the Wire'
From:
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 10:15 PM

I'm directing "Ourselves Alone" by Ann Devlin - a powerful piece set in Northern Ireland. The play features "The Men Behind the Wire" - and has the lyrics, but I can't find the sheet music anywhere. I also need the lyrics and music for "The Volunteer". Any information would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: 'The Men Behind the Wire'
From: DonMeixner
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 11:37 PM

Not sure of the verse lyrics but the chords should breakdown this way. I play them on the banjo as a melody line through the song so its possible my chords are wrong too. I am approximating from the melody notes. good luck

C - DM

C - G7

C - DM

C - G7 - C

F - G

F - G

C - DM

C - G7

C - G7 - C

C G7 Armored cars and Tanks and guns

C G7 Came to take away our sons,

C F Every man must stand behind

C G C the men behind the wire

2Xs

Don

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MEN BEHIND THE WIRE (Paddy McGuigan)
From: Brendy
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 11:52 PM

CHORUS: Armoured cars and tanks and guns
Came to take away our sons.
But every man will stand behind
The men behind the wire.

1. Through the little streets of Belfast,
In the dark of early morn'
British soldiers came marauding
Wrecking little homes with scorn.
Heedless of the crying children
Draggin' fathers from their beds.
Beating sons while helpless mothers
Watched the blood pour from their heads.

Chorus

2. Not for them a judge nor jury,
Nor indeed a crime at all.
Being Irish means we're guilty
So we're guilty one and all.
Round the world the truth will echo
Cromwell's men are here again
England's name again is sullied
In the eyes of honest men

Chorus

3. Proudly stand behind our banner
Firmly stand behind our men.
We will have them free to help us
Build a nation once again.
On the people step together
Proudly, firmly on their way.
Never fear and never falter
Till the boys come home to stay.

Chorus twice

Author Paddy McGuigan (The Barleycorn)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: 'The Men Behind the Wire'
From: John Moulden
Date: 03 Jan 00 - 11:19 AM

As usual with this sort of song, the words have been published but no notation - and I don't have a recording - sorry.

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: THE MEN BEHIND THE WIRE (McGuigan)
From: Brendy
Date: 03 Jan 00 - 11:10 PM

I don't know how to musically notate in these little boxes, but If you start in the key of 'G', it's

     G             Em
  Armoured cars and tanks and guns
       D        G
  Came to take away our sons
       G               C
  But every man will stand behind
       G      D       G
  The Men behind the wire.
    

   G                  C
  Through the little streets of Belfast,
  G                D
  In the dark of early morn'
  G                  C
  British soldiers came marauding
  G                 D          G
  Wrecking little homes with scorn.
  G                 C
  Heedless of the crying children
  G                 D
  Draggin' fathers from their beds.
  G                    C
  Beating sons while helpless mothers
  G                        D          G
  Watched the blood pour from their heads.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: 'The Men Behind the Wire'
From: Brendy
Date: 06 Jan 00 - 10:30 PM

You're welcome, Jennifer, don't mention it

Subject: MP3:The men behind the wire
From: Snori
Date: 12 Oct 00 - 10:19 AM

Hallo lads Please, let me know the link, where could I dowload mp3 or midi of song THE MEN BEHIND THE WIRE in traditional arrangement I will be grateful for help! Snori

Subject: RE: Tune Req: MP3:The men behind the wire
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 12 Oct 00 - 12:08 PM

Have you tried Napster Snori?

I found many many hits on it by the Wolfe Tones...

There's a great wall of folk music there for the taking...

{~`

Subject: RE: Tune Req: MP3:The men behind the wire
From: Snori
Date: 13 Oct 00 - 04:36 AM

Thanx, I will try! Snori

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: 'The Men Behind the Wire'
From: GUEST,dorothy
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 04:05 PM

wondering if anyone has guitar tabliture for the mmen behind the wire

Subject: ADD Version: The Men Behind the Wire (McGuigan)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Apr 19 - 07:50 PM

THE MEN BEHIND THE WIRE
(Paddy McGuigan??)

CHORUS:
Armoured cars and tanks and guns
Came to take away our sons,
But every man will stand behind
The men behind the wire.

1. Through the little streets of Belfast,
In the dark of early morn
British soldiers came marauding,
Wrecking little homes with scorn.
Heedless of the crying children,
Dragging fathers from their beds,
Beating sons while helpless mothers
Watch the blood flow from their heads.
Chorus

2. Not for them a judge and jury,
Nor indeed a crime at all.
Being Irish means they're guilty,
So we're guilty one and all.
Round the world the truth will echo,
Cromwell's men are here again,
England's name again is sullied
In the eyes of honest men.
Chorus

3. Proudly march behind our banner
Where we stand behind our men.
We will have them free to help us
Build a Nation Once Again.
On the people step together
Proudly, firmly on your way.
Never fear and never falter
Till the boys come home to stay.

Chorus twice

Source: Songs of Struggle and Protest, edited by John McDonnell, Mercier Press (1979) - #43, page 104.

Author Paddy McGuigan (The Barleycorn) - according to the post from Brendy above.

---

Click to play (joeweb)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: The Men Behind the Wire (McGuigan)
From: ollaimh
Date: 19 Apr 19 - 03:37 PM

the wolfe tines recorded it

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: The Men Behind the Wire (McGuigan)
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Apr 19 - 04:28 AM

and in the present tragic situation, it's best forgotten

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: The Men Behind the Wire (McGuigan)
From: Felipa
Date: 21 Apr 19 - 06:27 AM

I don't quite agree with "Guest" ... yes, I can see we don't want to inflame a dangerous situation (a young, well-liked journalist was shot dead when a gunman fired into a crowd of rioters in Derry, ostensibly trying to shoot a policeman; and there have been/are other non-fatal incidents of late.

But the song in question is about widespread internment without trial which also affected people who were not involved in paramilitary or violent activity.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: The Men Behind the Wire (McGuigan)
From: Thompson
Date: 22 Apr 19 - 04:21 AM

What's the deal on paying copyright for the use of lines from a song like this?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: The Men Behind the Wire (McGuigan)
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 22 Apr 19 - 05:12 AM

There are many songs (mostly modern) which, however much truth is contained in them, are not suitable material in certain contexts.

No-one with an ounce of sensitivity to the feelings on BOTH sides in Ulster could consider performing this song in the present situation- a low profile is called for here.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: The Men Behind the Wire (McGuigan)
From: Felipa
Date: 08 Aug 21 - 04:07 PM

We have an anniversary of this sad episode in (Northern) Irish history, internment introduced in Northern Ireland 9 August 1971

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/internment-explained-when-was-it-introduced-and-why-1.3981598

http://www.ballymurphymassacre.com/cms/massacre/

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: The Men Behind the Wire (McGuigan)
From: DonMeixner
Date: 08 Aug 21 - 04:21 PM

I sat down with this song just today after I read this long ago thread. I still played it much as my reply states in 2000. Because of my bands decision to not to play The Men Behind The Wire and similar songs about 10 years ago I had nearly forgotten it.

Maybe now were we to play it again we would follow it with Stan Roger's "House of Orange."


Don Meixner