Lyr Req: Terrorist or Dreamer (Mick Hanly)

Subject: Lyr Req: Said he was a rebel, He's a hero now
From: GUEST,12StringStan
Date: 29 May 05 - 11:19 AM

I'm looking for the words to this song, I last heard it sung a few years ago, but lately heard the air of it on a radio documentary, and has brought it to mind again.
It is quite a long song about the Irish up rising, and the following are only snippets of verses in no particular order that i can remeber.


They found him in a cellar, just a boy of 17
fighting for his country, He was dying for the green....

They didn't call them rebels then,
they used patriots instead

There's silence up in leinster House
Where words are seldom scarce.....

And there's tea and cakes in Downing street.....

They said he was a rebel then,
But He's a hero now
(^ closing line of the song ^)

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

Subject: Lyr Add: TERRORIST OR DREAMER?
From: GUEST
Date: 29 May 05 - 12:50 PM

TERRORIST OR DREAMER?

In [G] Sackville Street the [C] curfew drove the [D] restless [G] inside.
The [C] Black and Tans marched [G] up and [Em] down, the [Am] moon shone cold and [C] bright.
The [G] shot was like a [C] whip crack – pulled the [D] first man off his [G] feet.
He [C] died on bloody [G] cobble[Em]stones while his [Am] comrades combed the [C] street.
They [G] called up rein[C]forcements, woke the [D] people from their [G] beds.
They were [C] screaming "[G] Get the [Em] bastard!", but its [Am] fear was in their [C] heads.

They found him in a cellar. He was only seventeen,
Fighting for his country, dying for the green.
The sergeant dragged him by the hair and beat him to the ground.
Into this young man's body he emptied every round.
"Come out and take a look", he cried as he marched his troops away.
They went in stony silence – such a prize to have today!
Some knelt and prayed beside him, ah, but it's too late anyhow.
They said he was a rebel then – and he's a hero now.

In '66 this country sang the praises of the dead.
We didn't call them rebels then. We used 'patriot' instead.
On every household TV screen we saw how hard they fought,
How they spilled their life's blood and how freedom had been bought.
The garden gates were opened up to silent motorcades.
Cannons boomed and flags unfurled and solemn wreaths were laid.
Prayers for those departed were called for loud and clear,
For those who had been outlawed – ah, but that was another year.

The veterans stood up stiff and proud. Their white hair ruled the wind,
With their pride __________ and thoughts upon their friends,
And bitter wounds burst open, the scars of history,
Went flying into our faces in stark reality.
Just up the road from Sackville Street, ah, but things are different now.
They said he was a rebel then but he's a hero now.

Along the Falls Road soldiers push - their glances left and right.
Kids of the English working class, soldiers overnight,
Tossed into the melting pot of bloody war and strife,
Never understanding and fearing for their lives.
Outside the Glenn Road Brewery, a bomb takes two away.
The bomber's work is over; he's finished for the day.
The terrorist or the dreamer? The savage or the brave?
It depends who ________ try to catch, his face shown trying to save.

There's tea and cakes in Downing Street. There's whispers in the halls.
Let's move to cure Rhodesia, now our backs are to the wall.
There's panic down in Leinster House where words are seldom scarce:
"Send someone to Glasnevin quick to remember Padraig Pearse!"
Once more His crucifixion, it seems a lie somehow.
They said he was a rebel then – but he's a hero now.
Once more His crucifixion, it seems a lie somehow.
They said he was a rebel then – but he's a hero now,
But he's a hero now.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Said he was a rebel, He's a hero now
From: Peace
Date: 29 May 05 - 02:33 PM

Terrorist or Dreamer? - Mick Hanley.

In Sackville Street the curfew
Drove the restless out of sight
The Black and Tans marched up and down
The moon shone cold and bright
The shot was like a whipcrack
Pulled the first man off his feet
He died on bloody cobbled stones
While his comrades combed the streets
They called up reinforcements
Pulled the people from their beds
They were screaming get the bastard
But it's fear was in their heads
Found him in a cellar
He was only seventeen
Fighting for his country
Dying for the green
The Sergeant dragged him by the hair
And beat him to the ground
Into this young man's body
He emptied every round
Come out and take a look he cried
As he marched his troops away
They went in stoney silence
Such a price to have to pay
Some knelt and prayed beside him
Ah but it's too late anyhow
They said he was a rebel then
But he's a hero now

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Said he was a rebel, He's a hero now
From: GUEST,12StringStan
Date: 30 May 05 - 01:58 PM

Thanks people. Had no idea it was one of Mick Hanley's songs.
The first version is definitely the version i heard,
Thanks anyway "guest" and "brucie". appreciated.
12sS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Said he was a rebel, He's a hero now
From: GUEST,Wolfgang
Date: 31 May 05 - 07:32 AM

just for the sake of accuracy: Mick Hanly

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Terrorist or Dreamer (Mick Hanly)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Jun 05 - 09:59 AM

I found another copy of the lyrics here: http://www.dannymorrison.com/forum/showthread.php?s=7c23f2a410694fcca1d70844a130a558&t=614

On the basis of that text, I can suggest a few corrections to GUEST's text above:

...
In Sackville Street, the curfew drove the restless out of sight.
...
They went in stony silence. Such a price to have to pay!
...
With their pride pinned to their gabardines and thoughts upon their friends.
...
Along the Falls Road, soldiers push their glasses left and right,
...
It depends whose vote you're trying to catch, whose face you're trying to save.
...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Terrorist or Dreamer (Mick Hanly)
From: AmyLove
Date: 05 Apr 16 - 12:28 AM

From Mick Hanly's site ( here )

A Chara Mick, can you post the lyrics of a song I heard you sing with Moving hearts (In St Francis Xavier hall, I think) they said he was a rebel then but is he a rebel now – can I buy a recording of this anywhere? tremendous stuff – delighted to heard your still gigging. Hopefully you'll get up to Derry/Donegal one of these days. le dea ghui – Tony

—————————————————————


The Terrorist Or The Dreamer

Verse 1.
In Sackville Street the curfew drove the restless out of sight
The Black and Tans marched up and down the moon shone cold and bright
The shot was like a whip crack, took the first man of his feet
He died on bloodied cobblestones, while his comrades combed the streets
They called up the reinforcements, dragged the people from their beds
They were screaming, "get the bastard" but t'was fear was in their heads
They found him in a cellar he was only seventeen
But he was fighting for his country; he was dying for the green
The sergeant took him by the head and beat him to the ground
And into this young man's body he emptied every round
"Come and take a look," he cried as he marched his troops away
They came in stony silence such a price to have to pay
Some knelt and prayed beside him, but t'was too late anyhow
They said he was a rebel then, but he's a hero now.

Verse 2.
In sixty-six this country sang the praises of the dead
We didn't call them rebels then, we used patriot instead
On every household TV screen we saw how hard they fought
How they spilled their lifeblood, how freedom had been bought
And garden gates were opened up to silent motorcades
The cannons boomed, the flags unfurled, and solemn wreaths were laid
And prayers for those departed were called for loud and clear
For those who had been outlawed, ah but that was another year
The veterans lined up stiff and proud, their white hair in the wind
Their pride pinned to their gabardines and their thoughts upon their friends
Bitter wounds burst open and the scars of history
Were flung into our faces in stark reality
Just up the road from Sackville Street, but things are different now
They said he was a rebel then but he's a hero now.

Verse 3.
Along the falls the soldiers push with glances left and right
Kids of the English working class, soldiers overnight
Tossed into a melting pot of bitterness and strife
Never understanding and fearing for their life
Outside the Smithwicks Brewery a bomb takes two away
The bomber's work is over he's finished for the day
The terrorist or the dreamer the savage or the brave?
It depends whose vote you're trying to catch
Whose face you're trying to save
There's tea and cake in Downing Street and whispers in the hall
There are moves to cure Rhodesia our backs are to the wall
There's panic down in Leinster House where words are seldom scarce
Send someone to Glasnevin quick to remember Patrick Pearse
Once more his crucifixion, it all seems strange somehow
They said he was a rebel then but he's a hero now.

Words and Music: Mick Hanly.

——————————————

Note: This song was written in the late 70's when the North of Ireland was in turmoil.
My Christian Brother's education had left me in no doubt, but that England was indeed 'Perfidious Albion'. I'd also been to Sean South's funeral in Limerick as a boy, and the year long celebrations of the 1916 Rising in 1966 were still fresh in my mind…what was now exercising my thoughts, was how the Southern government and a large proportion of its citizens were differentiating between Patrick Pearse and IRA. This is a long-winded treatment of a question, which is still relevant today. The song failed in live performances, more because of length than sentiment. I performed the song with Moving Hearts about a half dozen times before it was dropped, due to its devastating effect on the gig's momentum. The writing is naïve and ham-fisted in places, but I don't think that diminishes the sincerity of the effort. To my knowledge, there is no recording of this song in existence.


I don't know when the above was written, but there is a recording of this song. You can listen to it here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Terrorist or Dreamer (Mick Hanly)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 05 Apr 16 - 04:33 PM

I'm pretty sure that the VOICE in the YouTube song belongs to Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane. But likely I'm wrong.