Lyr Req: Tramworkers/Jim Larkin (Pete St John)

Subject: Info Tramworkers
From: nickr90
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 01:40 PM

Looking for lyrics of Tramworkers by Pete St John about Lockout in Dublin 1913

Subject: RE: Info Tramworkers
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 04:42 PM

Pete St Johns website has a list of all his songs here but Tramworkers doesn't appear to be among them. Is it a new song? Maybe you could contact the man himself through his site.

Subject: RE: Info Tramworkers
From: OldPossum
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 06:59 PM

I suspect the song called Train Workers on Pete St. John's website is just a misprint for Tramworkers. Anyway I believe this is the same song as the one called Jim Larkin on a commercial tape of Pete St. John songs I once bought. I will post the lyrics to that one, then we'll see.

Subject: Lyr Add: JIM LARKIN (Pete St. John)
From: OldPossum
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 07:28 PM

JIM LARKIN
(Pete St. John)

Tramworkers of this town remember when
in 1913 things went bad again.
How brave and strong we all were on that day
when Larkin led us on our tireless way.

CHORUS:
We sang for Jim Larkin, through the pain there was pride
and sweet young Ellie by my side.

From Stephen's Green we walked to Irishtown.
The summer sunshine framed her like a crown.
The strike was called and sorrow racked our town
but I had pride and loved young Ellie Brown.

For eight long months we starved, but held our ground.
Locked out in idle hell, but honour bound.
The winter cold went through her well worn gown.
As a Larkin man I married Ellie Brown.

(chorus)

The winter passed, but spring brought no relief,
for men can't stand to watch their children's grief.
Hunger stole our honour like a thief
so we drifted back to work on Murphy's breeze.

Then Larkin and his union showed the way.
James Connolly came later in the day.
Ellie bore me sons who live today
In a better land we earned the Larkin way.

(chorus)


Source: The cassette tape "Great Irish Ballads, Composed by Pete St. John." Dolphin Records DOCS 2016
(Performed by various artists)
Noted down by ear, as sung by Paddy Reilly on this tape.

Subject: RE: Info Tramworkers
From: OldPossum
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 07:38 PM

Luckily Paddy Reilly's singing is very easy to understand, so I am fairly sure I didn't make any mistakes (*grin*). The only puzzling thing is the expression "Murphy's Breeze". Can someone explain that, or correct my (possible) mishearing? And this song request has also made me curious about the background of this song. Would anyone like to tell us about this event?

Subject: RE: Info Tramworkers
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 11:57 PM

Apparently the phrase is "Murphy's Brief." The phrase is used in this essay called Labour and Ireland 1: Workers unity: the real solution, but it doesn't quite explain it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tramworkers (Pete St John)
From: OldPossum
Date: 19 Jul 04 - 04:18 PM

Jim Dixon: Thanks for the correction and the informative link.
nickr90: This was the song you were looking for, right?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tramworkers (Pete St John)
From: GUEST,nickr90
Date: 20 Jul 04 - 01:51 PM

yes - thanks to all