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08 Oct 10 - 07:27 AM (#3002362) Subject: Lyr Add: THE HUMBLE IRISHWOMAN From: Matthew Edwards THE HUMBLE IRISHWOMAN I am a humble Irishwoman, at Dublin I was born in, And many's the long hour that I worked to bank what I did earn; For to live poor I could not endure, like others in my station, I rode the Tiger with good will when God prospered this Irish nation. Right tan tin ah, tan tin ah, right tan tin an ah tin an-a-dee. The money we had tucked away, it was lent in foolish folly, To builders and developers who spent it on a jolly; But all the debt it mounted yet beyond imagination, Now all the costs they must be borne by this poor Irish nation. Right tan tin ah, tan tin ah, right tan tin an ah tin an-a-dee. To save the banks that must not fail will be the work of ages, Paid by the poor to save the rich in cuts and lower wages; It breaks my heart to have to part with treats for my young daughter, And work more hard to earn less pay to stay above the water. Right tan tin ah, tan tin ah, right tan tin an ah tin an-a-dee. Could I possess one new blue dress, with petticoat and white flowers, My pride I'd show and gaily go in a jacket of bright colours. Misfortune isn't mine alone, and there's many here to share it, But poverty is an ill-fitting robe; its hard indeed to bear it. Right tan tin ah, tan tin ah, right tan tin an ah tin an-a-dee. By Matthew Edwards Some time ago I pseudonymously posted a song about the UK Parliamentary inquiry into the collapse of the Royal Bank of Scotland called The Banks of Denial. Around the same time the Anglo-Irish Bank was rescued by the Irish government, and subsequently more Irish banks and building societies were bailed out at eyewatering costs to the Irish people, funded by drastic cuts in benefits and public services. The prosperous years of the Celtic Tiger economy came to a juddering halt. Nobody knows yet with any confidence whether these measures will work, but the human costs of the crisis have now been very ably reported in an article by Amelia Gentleman in the Guardian. In her article A taste of life after the cuts she recounts the story of "Sarah" (not her real name), a 44-year-old single mother and care worker for adults with learning disabilities in Dublin. Sarah has suffered a 20% pay cut over two years, but now has a heavier workload; the people she supports have seen their services wither away; her child benefit has been reduced and she hasn't been able to treat her 11-year-old daughter to a trip out for months. The song above is really Sarah's story. The song is based on 'The Banks of Sweet Lough Erne', otherwise known as The Rambling Irishman. It is a lovely song, and Len Graham gives the text of it as well as a really great account of its background in his book about Joe Holmes; 'Here I Am Amongst You'. Enjoy the song. Matthew |