Lyr/Chords Req: Come Out Ye Black and Tans

Subject: Lyrics and chords of : 'Come out you Bla
From: beachcomber
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 03:25 PM

I thought I had seen a reference to this song recently but, the archive threw up no results. Can anyone be of assistance please.

Subject: Lyr Add: COME OUT YE BLACK AND TANS^^^
From: Robby
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 04:15 PM

I can't help with the cords, maybe someone else can. However, here are the lyrics, as I learned the song.


COME OUT YE BLACK AND TANS

1. I was born on a Dublin street, where them loyal drums did beat,
And those loyal English boots, they walked all o'er us.
And every single night, when me Da would come home tight,
He'd invite the neighbors out with this fine chorus:

Chorus
Come out ye Black and Tans, come out, and fight me like a man.
Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders.
Tell her how the IRA made you run like hell away
From the green and lovely lakes of Killashandra.

2. Come, let us hear you tell how you slandered great Parnell;
When you saw us well and truly persecuted.
Where are the jeers and sneers you so loudly let us hear,
When our leaders of Sixteen were executed.

3. Come, tell us how you slew, how that merits two by two,
Like the Zulus they had spears and bows and arrows.
How bravely you faced one with your sixteen pounder gun,
And you frightened all the natives to tomorrow.

4. Now the time is coming fast, and I think them days are here,
When each English Johnny's heel will run before us;
And if there be a need, then our kids will say: God Speed!
With a verse or two of singing this fine chorus:

If any one has a different version, or can correct any errors in the preceding lyrics, I'd be pleased to receive the same. ^^^

---

Click for the version in the Digital Tradition. Click for related thread.
(-Joe Offer-)

Subject: RE: Lyrics and chords of : 'Come out you Bla
From: Gary T
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 05:21 AM

The chords:

  Am  G  
  Am  -  
  C   G  
  Am  E(7)  
  

Robby came close, but the words in the Digital Tradition (see Joe's link above) are what I've heard. One little detail--though I've never seen "official" printed lyrics, I was told by an Irish lady that I met here in the U.S. that it's "green and lovely vales of Killashandra". This is what I sing, as it makes more sense to me to describe a vale (little valley) as green and lovely than to depict a lane that way.

Subject: RE: Lyrics and chords of : 'Come out you Bla
From: Robby
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 07:21 AM

I see that the weight of the evidence is greatly against me. Amazing what the mind mangles what the ear has heard. Thank you Joe and Gary.

Subject: RE: Lyrics and chords of : 'Come out you Bla
From: Gary T
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 09:18 AM

Whoops! Messed up that last line of chords. Let's try again:

  Am - G  -
  Am - Am -
  C  - G  -
  Am E Am -
  

And Robby, don't feel too bad. For all we know, you correctly heard what someone before you mangled. I'm sure we've all had the experience of finding out that what we thought we heard wasn't quite what was said or sung. Keeps life interesting.

Subject: RE: Lyrics and chords of : 'Come out you Bla
From: Robby
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 02:31 PM

Oh, I don't feel bad, at all, Gary.

I always thought that green lakes sounded strange, not to mention the phrasing I had for my third verse. At least there is some sense to green lanes and brave Arabs. As for the rest of the differences between the version I learned and the DT version, I think I'll just let well enough alone.

Subject: RE: Lyrics and chords of : 'Come out you Bla
From: paddymac
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 06:31 PM

Ah, the beauty of the folk tradition - it aint never writ in stone.