Lyrics!!

More lyrics. This batch exclusively comes from sources I like. For an explanation about my poems/lyrics go here.

The rest of the songs/poems can be found by clicking on the "lyrics" label (there are at least two pages worth of posts, so click on the "older posts" at the bottom of the first page).


On average, these four are all pretty good, but they're not my favorites.

1. Four-Four-Two. WWII.
2. Republicans in Congress. Guess.
3. Orangeman. The anti-Catholic Orange Order in N. Ireland.
4. Fenians. Sinn Fein in the N. Ireland Assembly.


"Four-Four-Two" based on "Belfast Brigade" I usually just provide a link to the original lyrics, but in this case I sing a combination of two versions I found online (plus 3 more changes that I made myself), so the lyrics for the original are below.


1. The 442nd Regimental Combat Team saw more combat than any other similarly sized unit of the US Army in Europe during WWII. After the war, they were the most decorated Army unit of their size in all US military history up to that point. They were entirely Japanese-American (I believe some of the officers were white) at a time when about half of Japanese-America was in internment camps.
2. I don't know if the 442nd actually engaged the Waffen SS.
3. The reference to Hawaii is based on the Unit Fight Song, which seems to have been borrowed from a smaller, Hawaii-based unit that became part of the 442nd.
4. Carrara was one of the main battles they were in.
5. In general, I'm not sure how much of the US military during WWII was motivated by anti-fascism, probably no more than about half. On the other hand, almost all or probably all of the 442nd would have understood that even though Nazi Germany had a good relationship with Japan, it represented white supremacy which was a threat to them (the ones who volunteered would have definitely been hostile towards the Japanese gov’t and probably all the others were, too, otherwise they would have been expelled considering how closely J-As were scrutinized for any evidence they were pro-Japan in that conflict (maybe 1/3 of the 442nd was already in the Hawaii Nat'l Guard when the war started, and thus didn't sign up to be anti-fascist warriors although most or probably all of that 1/3 probably were anti-fascist, and probably all the rest were)). I've also heard some more specific information that a lot of Japanese who volunteered for the war effort despite Internment were motivated by left-wing beliefs. (in all honesty another motivation for some or most or all was to prove loyalty to America, but I believe they were also more anti-fascist than most American soldiers)
6. Although I took Advanced Placement US History in High School, I didn't learn about the 442nd until I took an Asian-American History course in college. I'm not sure if it'll make much difference, but racism towards Asian-Americans might decline if more people knew about the 442nd.
**7. 50% of this version is me, 50% is the original.
UPDATE 5/22/09 8. What's that? It's "weird" that I did a pro-Allies song based on an IRA song when the IRA accepted aid from Nazi Germany? Read this.
9. I give this song/poem three out of five stars.
UPDATE 3/7/20 I just replaced the word "fascists" with the word "anti-Semities." In general I doubt that more than a moderate-sized minority of American servicemen during WWII were against anti-Semitism, but with the 442nd it might have been a large majority, since they all volunteered enthusiastically to fight in Europe.

Hitler sent the SS out to shoot the people down
He didn't figure on the four-four-two, what a Nazi clown
But he got a rude awakening, when with rifle and grenade
He met the four-four-two, and his hopes began to fade

Glory, Glory to Hawaii
Glory, Glory to the Allies
Glory to the memory
Of the men who fought and died
"Go For Broke" was the war cry of the four-four-two

The SS came from Germany, equipped with machine guns
Men by the thousand, ammunition by the ton
But when they got to Carrara, they were seriously delayed
By the fighting four-four-two, on an anti-fascist crusade

Chorus

The four-four-two were determined to win, they gave 110%
They were ready to defend themselves, no matter where they went
They were out for victory, to bring down the Nazi state
The racists and anti-Semites, the four-four-two did hate

Chorus

All you gallant Japanese-Americans who joined the four-four-two
The world will always owe an enormous debt to you
We should know our country's history, and the sacrifice you made
In the anti-fascist struggle, never did you stray



Craigavon sent the Specials out to shoot the people down
He thought the IRA were dead in dear old Belfast town
But he got a rude awakening, when with rifle and grenade
He met the first battalion of the Belfast Brigade

Glory, glory to old Ireland
Glory, Glory to this island
Glory to the memory
Of those who fought and died
"No Surrender" is the war cry of the Belfast Brigade

Specials came from Holywood, equipped with English guns
Men by the thousand, ammunition by the ton
But when they got to Seaford St. they were seriously delayed
By the fighting 1st battalion of the Belfast Brigade

Chorus

We have no armored cars or tenders for to show
We're ready to defend ourselves no matter where we go
We're out for our Republic and to hell with your Orange state
"No Surrender" is the war cry of the Belfast Brigade

Chorus

So come all you gallant Irish people and join the IRA
To strike a blow for freedom, when there comes our certain day
You know our country's history and the sacrifice it made
Come join the 1st battalion of the Belfast Brigade

**************

"Republicans In Congress," based on "Time To Go" by Black 47, original lyrics are here.

1. I considered replacing Black 47 with one of two other left-wing perfomers, but decided to stay with Black 47. I have reason to believe they're socialist, they're certainly anti-racist, they made a big deal about opposing the Iraq war and the occupation, and they're also Irish republican. To a significant degree, the GOP is worse than the Dems on N. Ireland, probably, for the most part a result of their ties with the British Conservatives and admiration for Margaret Thatcher.
2. I wasn't quite sure how far back to go in American history, and I wanted to use whole centuries, so I went with four.
3. Certainly the vast majority of people who "stab in the back" liberal-leftists do NOT defend Jim Crow (segregation), but a majority either do, or have strong connections with those who do. (I'm leaving this the way it is for now, but I realize that stabbing in the back usually implies someone friendly is doing the stabbing, but it seems quite possible that your enemy could also stab you in the back (UPDATE 3/14/20 I just changed back to chest))
4. The pepper-spraying, and similar behavior happens frequently, I saw a video of it happening in connection with three labor struggles in the mid-1990s in Decatur, IL.
5. I've heard the racists (or at least the white supremacists) might be leaving the GOP since the new Chair of the RNC is black, but until recently there were certainly racists, including a handful of white supremacists, in the GOP.
6. As far as them being fascists, well, probably something like 1% are fascists, probably some small minority are soft on fascism, and in general, through things like the Patriot Act, and not complaining about how undemocratic the Senate is, they're not too interested in democracy. (UPDATE 3/7/20 See this.
7. Workers die in industrial acccidents, that sort of thing, and the vast majority of people who are victimized by hate-crimes or are killed by the police without justification, are workers.
**8. 31% of this version is me, 69% is the original.
9. I give this song/poem two out of five stars (the original is my favorite republican song, but my version sucks).
10. The last two lines of each verse are meant to be about 100% non-violent.
UPDATE 2/15/20 11. I'm probably being paranoid, but it's not impossible people could interpret the 3rd line from the bottom of the first verse as me saying that I'm in Black 47.  So I changed "you"re" to "they're."
12. UPDATE 3/14/20 I just changed back to chest)

Saw something in the paper just the other day
It was all about a band and the music that they play
"Black 47" advocates violence
Musical guerrilas in their terrorist alliance
My anger subsided when I realized the source
A right-wing rag, and I said "Oh of course"
It didn't shock me, cause my history
Tells me four centuries of this, see
Anytime anyone upsets the status quo
They're stabbed in the chest by defenders of jim crow
I know this much, this much I know
People are suffering, it's time to go

They tell me I don't understand, because I'm middle-class
But unlike them, at least I support the working-class
They struggle financially, and are socially oppressed
To tell you the truth, it leaves me feeling real depressed
At every strike there are cops in riot gear, all over the place
Pepper-spraying my brothers and my sisters right in the face
Innocent people, who just want equality, safety and a decent wage
Don't ask me as to the reason for my rage
They just don't care, about people anywhere
When I say something they cry "no fair"
I know this much, this much I know
People are suffering, it's time to go

I care about one thing, that one thing is peace
Peace with justice and global strife will cease
American hegemony totally fucked up the place
We treat everyone else, like a seperate race
Racists and anti-semites in the GOP and on Fox News
Face it, some of you are fascists, democracy you abuse
You keep on lying, I won't stop trying
I won't step off till workers stop dying
Whether or not you choose to agree
I guess that's why you're called the enemy
I know this much, this much I know
People are suffering, it's time to go

It's time to go
It's time to go
Get the fuck out!

*********

"Orangeman" based on "Nazi Skinhead" by The Oppressed. Original lyrics are here.

1. For info on why Orange Order marches through Catholic areas are wrong, see this.
2. Northern Jim Crow (referring to segregation in the American South) was never 100% the same as the American original, and it dramatically changed 1968-1970, but even today, with all the progress that has been made, there's still inequality, and I'm sure that a large majority of Orange men, even though they probably accept how unlikely this is to happen, would love to go back to the days when there was severe inequality for Catholics.
3. I'm 99% certain that sussed and sharp mean smart (the original is British).
4. Although this would make more sense at least about 10 years earlier, I have become very fond of referring to the OO as the "Clowns of Nazism" or something. As you might know, OO marches are rather colorful and festive, with music. At roughly the same time I heard of a hard rock band called the "Eagles of Death-Metal." The apparent leader of the band seems to have gotten the idea of naming it after people would play something sort of soft and call it death metal- he would say something like, "that's what it would sound like if the Eagles [the rock band] attempted to play death metal." I would say that if a bunch of clowns tried to be Nazis they would resemble the OO, specifically when they march through Catholic areas.
5. The OO represents the past.
**6. 30% of this version is me, 70% is the original.
7. I give this song/poem four out of five stars.
8. I considered deleting the chorus because in general I'm not enthusiastic about violence towards orangemen, but it's not calling for violence towards them, so I'm leaving it.
8. UPDATE 5/21/12 I just put the word Orange where Northern had been earlier (in the 3rd line, first verse).

See him walking down your street
He thinks Protestants are the elite
He supports Orange Jim Crow
Is he sussed? no, no, no

Orangeman, Orangeman, Orangemen
Orangeman, Orangeman, Orangemen GO AWAY AND DIE

See him marching through your town
Acting like a Nazi clown
He's a ghost from years ago
Is he sharp? no, no, no

*******

UPDATE 6/11/09 I am renaming songs that had retained the original name.

"Fenians," based on "There Goes The Neighborhood" by Body Count (BC is Ice-T's heavy-metal band), lyrics for the original are here.

1. Fenian is a derogatory term for republican, but has been adopted by republicans. Proddie is a derogatory term for Protetsant, but has been adopted by Protetsants.
2. I seriously doubt IRA members wore combat boots, and there's a very good chance that a large majority of SF's Assembly members were never in the IRA, but it rhymes with suits, and refers to the fact that Provisional republicans have moved on from armed struggle, at least for now. UPDATE 3/11/10: A good source has told me that, yes, sometimes they did, but it was more common in rural areas than urban areas.
3. Stormont is the Assembly building, and was the name commonly used to refer to the devolved, unionist-dominated, sectarian government from the early 1920s until 1972.
**4. 48% of this version is me, 52% is the original.
5. I give this song/poem three out of five stars.
6. There is nothing violent about this poem (except a brief and vague reference to fighting in the past).
7. UPDATE 1/17/10 I just realized that I may have made a mistake using the word "Proddie." Two other times I have used the word "Prod" and it was fine considering the way I used it. Considering the original (which is Ice-T speaking as if he were a racist white person), I guess it's from the point of view of a bigoted Protestant. I know they often call themselves "Proddies." So I think it's okay.
8. UPDATE 10/16/10 I'm certain there's some kind of progressive-socialist majority in SF, so the reference to socialism makes sense. I can provide some examples of what makes me think that.
UPDATE 3/7/20 I just added the letter s to the word he in the second to last line of the poem.

Here come those Fenians, without their combat boots
Who gave those Fenians, those fancy suits?
Who let them in the Executive, did you count their votes?
I can't believe their speeches, all the facts and quotes

Don't they know Stormont's just for Proddies, don't they know the rules?
Those Fenians are too left-wing, this stuff ain't cool
Those Fenians want socialism, for the whole damn world
That Fenian speaks so good, she took my girl

There goes the neighborhood!



One last note: Even with the songs that are only about 10% me (and at the upper end, one is 75% me), I have a request, although I don't have strong feelings or expectations about this. First, I want credit for these songs. Second, I'd appreciate it if the notes follow the lyrics around the internet. If you modify the lyrics further, please either make some notes for the changes if you leave some of my changes, or just provide a link to this URL so people can see my version. Although I'm not sure how many people will like what I'm doing with the lyrics, to one degree or another (depending on how much I changed them) I'm proud of these songs- and at the risk of getting a little personal, if people like the songs, I could really use the extra boost of getting credit for them right now.