Lyr Add: The Red Hats of Ireland

Subject: Lyr Add: The Red Hats of Ireland
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Jan 22 - 04:10 PM

Transcription and background information needed.

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Are_You_Going_Home_Now/zGhLCgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22or+else+get+away%22+%22you+young+fellows%22&pg=PA125&printsec=frontcover

THE RED HATS OF IRELAND

Asleep or awaking my poor heart is breaking,
To think I am leaving the land I adore,
In stable or manger my life is in danger,
And I'm going like a stranger from old Erin's shore.

May bad luck shine down on those Red Hats of Ireland,
Who want me to work for sixpence a day.
For to keep from starvation without hesitation,
And as a free emigration I'm now going away.

For we don't want them here, they may go like bad weather,
And send me the day I'll fire out nine or ten,
When five, six or eight of those whelps get together,
'Tis then they'll run down the poor labouring men.

For their dinner comes on boys between twelve and one,
Either mutton or ham they adore on their plate,
For the shamrocks and herrings are as quietly concerned,
And that is the treatment we are getting of late.

But I will not run down what God sends to the ground,
But I am bound to describe out and out,
For the supper was made for the man on the spade,
By that material they call stirabout.

The supper was made for the man on the spade ,
By some luke warm water they rise from the dyke,
And it's thrown on the hob till it gathers. 'blob! blob!'
'It will do them damn well, let it boil if it likes.'

Come all you young fellows, from me take a warning,
From your home to a Red Hat let you never stray,
For if you get sick you are wanting no longer,
You may go to the Union or else get away.

Source: Are You Going Home Now? (Memories of Old Kilkea)
By Mícheál Ó Dubhshláine · 2015 - page 125 from Google Preview

Sung for the author by Johnny Mulhall of Geraldine, Athy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Red Hats of Ireland
From: Felipa
Date: 17 Jan 22 - 04:41 PM

sung by Dick Hogan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX4XY1sqesc

In hard hats of labourers, red signifies danger or fire
https://www.color-meanings.com/hard-hat-color-codes-meanings/
I don't know whether or not that has any bearing on the song.

In the song the people with the red hats are the moneyed class
There is a symbolism of red hats for high society, but usually for women, I think. I am trying to find a historical reference rather than the social group for women, The Red Hat Society founded late 20th c., which is mainly what comes up if I do a search for the likes of "high society red hat". This strikes me as something Martin Ryan may have some information about.

British militia had red coats, were called redcoats. That doesn't get us any closer to red hats. The "Union" in the song lyrics would refer to the workhouse for indigent people.

Well, I think I'd better leave the "red hat" question to others now.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Red Hats of Ireland
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 17 Jan 22 - 06:03 PM

I've heard Dick Hogan sing this one occasionally, over the years, but can't recall its origins. Let me have a look ...

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Red Hats of Ireland
From: GUEST,Diolch
Date: 18 Jan 22 - 06:16 AM

Appears to be a reference to British rule, especially military occupation.

Example from Lord Henry Cavendish-Bentinck (Conservative) in a British parliamentary speech, 1914: "The crime that is existing in Ireland now is the result of Ireland being governed by red hats, by tanks, and by men in steel helmets. If you remove the tanks, the red hats and the steel helmets, and give Ireland the opportunity of governing itself, crime in Ireland will die away at once."

Signed this time (I hope).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Red Hats of Ireland
From: meself
Date: 18 Jan 22 - 01:15 PM

It sounds like something Flann O'Brian would have come up with .....

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Red Hats of Ireland
From: PHJim
Date: 18 Jan 22 - 02:13 PM

Now "The Red Hats of America" would need no clarification.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Red Hats of Ireland
From: GUEST,Diolch
Date: 18 Jan 22 - 06:18 PM

It occurs to me that this might be an anti-enlistment song? Saying it's better to emigrate than join the British army?

Especially

May bad luck shine down on those Red Hats of Ireland,
Who want me to work for sixpence a day.

and

Come all you young fellows, from me take a warning,
From your home to a Red Hat let you never stray,
For if you get sick you are wanting no longer,
You may go to the Union or else get away.