More new songs

This is another post of the poems/songs that I have done

So, what songs am I talking about? See the post below, with the first set of lyrics.

One other thing, although I'm going to continue messing with the racist lyrics, I think I might also start looking more at the loyalist, republican, and left-wing/anti-fascist stuff and change the subject matter (or, with the loyalist stuff, basically twist it into more or less the opposite of what it originally is). One of the songs below is a N. Ireland version of the classic pro-labor union song "Soldiarity Forever."

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).

I think that's it. Below are the lyrics. I'm going to more or less start with the least impressive and end with thye most impressive (that's more or less accurate, but even the very first one is great).

1. Oh, No, Here Comes a Fascist. Fascists globally or specifically in America.
2. Invisible Comrades. Gay members of the IRA.
3. Smash the UDA. N. Ireland.
4. The Army Made us Strong. The IRA and the Nationalist community in N. Ireland.
5. Fuck Ian Stuart. About the late leader of the world-wide Nazi Skinhead movement.
6. Green Rider. The IRA.
7. Iris Robinson (Oh, No, Here Comes a Unionist). Homophobia and sectarianism in N. Ireland.

The first song is based on "Oh No, Here Comes a Commie," by Skrewdriver. Here are some notes on "Oh No, Here Comes a Fascist."
1. In Germany, especially in the early 1930s, the Nazis got a significant amount of money from the upper-classes, who felt that the Nazis were a good way to beat the left. Something similar happens today in most countries, and I'm sure that a small chunk of the upper-class also like the way bigotry divides workers (probably some small minority are simply white supremacists and/or fascists, probably another small minority like the idea of dividing workers and watching white nationalists attacking the left).
2. Spain refers to the era of Franco.
**3. 25% of this version is me, 75% is the original.
4. Himmler was head of the SS.
5. I give this song/poem four out of five stars.
6. As far as I can tell, the fascists in Spain were not as anti-semitic as the Nazis were, so it's dificult to say they were dividing the masses. But I'm sure the upper-class supported the fascists and when I tried those two lines with Germany or Italy, there was basically nothing to rhyme with it (I guess at the time I wasn't happy about just using the "y" at the end of both to make a rhyme with something else). So it kind of makes sense.
7. As far as the 2nd verse, our land is multi-cultural, so they do hate their own land, and their bigotry makes it more likely that our country will go downhill (I'm thinking of America here, but I'm pretty sure that verse applies to a lot of other countries). And I've read some things indicating that the fash do have some spies.
8. The fash usually claim that they are of and for the (white) working-class, so they don't like people knowing the support they get from wealthy people.
9. For better or worse there is nothing in here about anti-fascist violence, so you could say it's about non-violent anti-fascism.

The original lyrics are here (the 3rd to last line should say "nigh" instead of "right").

He looks to Hitler, He worships Himmler
Nothing but air in his head
Appears in your eyes, Peddling lies
Selling ideas that are dead

He's out there every single day
Talking 'bout the Jews and the gays

Chorus
Oh, no, here comes a fascist
Swastika on his breast
Oh, no, here comes a fascist
Won't you give it a rest

He hates his own land, he has a plan
To bring it all down to the ground
Confuse you with lies, installs his spies
Brings our destruction around

He just wants to see our nations dying
His desire is for a nazi flag flying

Chorus

Support for his plans, comes from the rich man
People who fear the working-classes
Just like in Spain, even though it lead to fascist reign
They want to divide the masses

The fascist gets his support from the well-heeled
Hopes that their role will remain concealed

Chorus

Oh no, here comes a fascist
Says his revolution is nigh
Oh no, here comes a fascist
Won't you off and die?

******

UPDATE 6/9/09 I'm renaming those songs that retained the original name.

"Invisible Comrades," based on "Sick Society" by Skrewdriver, lyrics are here

1. As you'll figure out, she's a lesbian former republican Volunteer (Volunteers are members of republican paramilitaries). Feel free to change "girlfriend" to "boyfriend."
2. I heard in the late 1990s about how there were some gay former Volunteers being harrassed. I also heard of something much more recent involving gay men in a nationalist area of Derry (I have no reason to think they're former Volunteers) being harrassed.
3. In general, read my post "Invisible Comrades."
4. The 3rd verse isn't that singable, but it's okay. In general, aside from the politics of it, it's not my favorite among the songs I've "written." UPDATE 12/24/09 I have decided to break my rule, and I made two changes to the 3rd verse that improve it's quality.
5. Homophobia in the nationalist community isn't that widespread, but what the song describes could happen.
**6. 29% of this version is me 71% is the original, plus I ignored 2 lines at the end.
7. The RUC, until late 2001, were the police.
8. I give this song/poem three out of five stars.
9. The green, white and orange are the colors of the Irish flag.
10. The nationalist community and the republican family are overwhelmingly working-class.
11. Skrewdriver supported the unionist and british causes in N. Ireland.
12. Besides the stuff about the IRA, the last line of the 2nd verse and the entire last verse are about fighting that would probably be non-violent about 98% of the time.

You risked your life for this country when you were young
Never questioned orders that they gave
'Cos the love of the Green, White and Orange was in your heart
Against the British Army and the RUC you were so brave

Chorus:
Now look at a sick society, why are they so dense?
Now look at a sick society, their hatred makes no sense

You did your time for class and people in D-Company
Spent years trying to make this nation free
Now you're not allowed to walk the Irish streets today
And you're fighting against a foe you cannot see, just because you're gay

Chorus

When you wanna walk with your girlfriend
Through the streets of the country you fought to liberate
Then you're struck down by a mob of screaming bigots
Raining with bricks from above, faces full of hate

Chorus

Middle Eight
We remember the things that you have done
Against all odds you would not run
We remember the years you gladly gave
Your people's freedom you do crave

Chorus

You're still fighting for your country
Fighting against an enemy that's within
Now I'll make a promise to you
We'll keep on fighting, until we win

********

Skrewdriver did a song called "Smash the IRA." Well, this is "Smash the UDA." Some notes:
1. The UDA is the Ulster Defense Association, a loyalist paramilitary.
2. The line about fighting fascism in Spain doesn't apply to the entire Nationalist community (most of the Nationalist Party supported Franco), but something like 1/2-2/3 of Irish people who fought against the fascists were former IRA members (actually, they might not have resigned their membership, but I imagine they did).
3. It's about British supporters of the IRA. Obviously the song goes kind of far in terms of how to deal with the UDA's supporters, but it's just a song (I doubt British supporters of the IRA ever had plans to attack their opponents in Britain).
5. The Red Hand is a Loyalist symbol.
6. Sinn Fein's support for the anti-aprtheid struggle has been recognized in multiple ways. For examples, see this.
7. This is not an endorsement of continuing the armed struggle since 1997.
**8. 24% of this version is me, 76% is the original.
9. I give this song/poem four out of five stars.

The original lyrics can be found here

"Smash the UDA"
On the streets of Belfast, the battle rages on
Irish people fighting for their land
Fought fascism in Spain, stood with the ANC
Gotta help them, stop the Red Hand

Chrous
Smash! Smash! The UDA
Smash! Smash! The UDA
Smash! Smash! The UDA
Remember the victims of their bombs

We gotta change our policies and hang the UDA
Let the IRA deal with them their way
Corrupt politicians and sniveling right-wing scum
Are quite content to let them get away
Come on Belfast!

Chorus

UDA supporters are marching on our streets
Are we going to let them spread their lies?
Are we going to let them march or are we going to smash them?
Laughing while the Irish people die
Come on Belfast!

Chorus

*********

"The Army Made Us Strong" based on "Solidarity Forever," the Pete Seeger version- I can't find the lyrics on the web (and because I suspect there are MULTIPLE versions about American labor, I'm not going to try and find the right one to link to).

1. There have been strong connections between the trade-union movement and armed republicanism, including the IRA of the last 40 years.
2. The IRA was overwhelmingly working-class and since the late 1970s, mostly-overwhelmingly left-wing.
3. James Connolly was Ireland's greatest socialist/republican and was a trade-union organizer. Duirng the 1913 Dublin Lockout, he organized the Irish Citizen Army to defend workers. The ICA was later a huge part of the 1916 Easter Rising, was integrated into the IRA during the War of Independence, and showed up here and there in the 20s and 30s. The Starry Plough, the flag of republican socialism is either the ICA flag, or based on it, depending on which version you look at. (the blue one is not the original)
4. This song somewhat exaggerates the role that the IRA played in strengthening the nationalist community, but it was part of that. Also, I believe that the Good Friday Agreement is a little bit better than the two earlier attempts at resolving the conflict (the Sunningdale Agreement and the Anglo-Irish Agreement, which you could kind of connect to the early 1980s Assembly) and that the British and maybe the Unionists negotiated a bit differently when the GFA was being worked on than they would have if they weren't reluctant to continue fighting the IRA. I might do a post on that soon. Also, and I'm not too sure how much this happened in the North because I've gotten the impression that the Republican Movement generally could have done a slightly better job of mobilizing mass struggle, but in S. Africa the ANC partly justified their use of arms by saying that their military activities inspired people to resist in other ways.
5. Considering discrimination in employment, I'm not sure how much of the North was built by Catholics, but I imagine that if they were 1/3 of the population and overwhelmingly working-class, you could probably say they built somewhere around 1/5 of it. Also, I feel very comfortable assuming there was at least some discrimination in pay and benefits, there was certainly discrimination in the allocation of public housing which resulted in the severe homelessness that was the main spark of the Civil Rights Movement, and there was also serious political disempowerment.
6. The North is probably about 4/5 between what it was at it's worst (since the creation of the Statelet in the early 1920s) and where it should be in terms of being Orange (sectarian) or democratic (non-sectarian), and some movement has been made towards a United Ireland via the cross-border bodies of the GFA (there is potential for that to change in the wrong direction when the British Conservatives get into power, since they're likely to side with the Unionists on various issues that might come up).
7. According to the Pat Finucane Centre's "Alternative Guide To Derry," in the 1980s a multi-national corporation decided it wasn't making enough profit off the backs of Derry people, and we're going to move elsewhere. The IRA temproarily (I don't know how long this lasted, but there's no way it was permanent) prevented machinery from being removed from the factory (to be transported elsewhere by the corporation) by issuing a threat (and, I'd say, probably stationing Volunteers nearby to enforce it).
8. To a large degree, this song is inspired by the last 5 minutes of the documentary "Off Our Knees, 1968-1988: From Civil Rights To National Liberation." It's worth whatever you have to pay for it, although ideally you can find it from some source that will loan it to you. It's also available on You Tube, thanks to some awesome person, starting here (it's available from Celtic Video)
9. The line "because we learned" I think makes sense in this context, because A: in the mid-late 60s when the nationalist community rose up en masse they were inspired by world events, especially the American civil rights movement, and also because the republican movement developed new strategies (such as elections) and more or less learned from mistakes they made.
**10. 9% of this version is me, 91% is the original.
11. I give this song/poem four out of five stars.
12. In the 2nd verse there are some thing that don't make sense in the Irish context- I might change that- it'll be a VERY small change. UPDATE 11/20/10 I replaced a couple parts with references to cattle and computers, which are fairly-very appropriate for the Irish situation.
13. It is about the Northern Catholic working-class but the idea is that they were strengthened by the activity of the IRA.
13. UPDATED 2/8/16 Based on what might be called a fairly scientific look, only about .2% of the IRA's operations intentionally resulted in civilian death.

Chorus:
Solidarity forever
Solidarity forever
Solidarity forever
For the Army made us strong

When Connolly's inspiration through the people's blood shall run
There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun
Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one
But the Army made us strong

Chorus

It is we who herd the cattle, built the cities where they trade
Make the computers and built the workshops, endless miles of railroad laid
We used to stand outcast and homeless mid the wonders we had made
But the Army made us strong

Chorus

They have taken untold millions that they never toiled to earn
But without our brain and muscle not a single wheel can turn
We're breaking their haughty power, gaining our freedom because we learned
And the Army made us strong

Chorus

In our hands is placed a power greater than their horded gold
Greater than the might of atoms magnified a thousand fold
We're bringing to birth a new world from the ashes of the old
For the Army made us strong

Chorus

*******

"Fuck Ian Stuart"
In 1993 Ian Stuart (also known as Ian Stuart Donaldson) was killed in a car accident. He had been the leader of the world-wide Nazi skinhead music scene, and every year there are memorial concerts in his name. I've found three songs in his memory, there's probably more. On the other hand, if you think he was scum, you might enjoy the following links:
Dead But Not Forgiven Lyrics (as you probably know, "walhalla" is actually "valhalla," which is a mythical place where people who die in combat go- Nazis love Valhalla)
Dead But Not Forgiven Song
Nazis Shouldn't Drive lyrics

Some notes on the altered version (the original is called "Farewell Ian Stuart by No Remorse) (the original lyrics are here.

1. "Seamus from Bray" refers to Seamus Costello, PAST leader of the Irish Republican Socialist Party and Chief of Staff of the Irish National Liberation Army. (I do not support them today, see this.)
2. "Bonehead" is an anti-racist term for racist skinheads.
3. Body Count is Ice-T's heavy metal band.
**4. 52% of this version is me, 45% is the original.
5. It probably goes without saying, but I never saw Ian Stuart, but felt like keeping that line largely unaltered.
6. I give this song/poem three out of five stars.
7. The bit at the bottom that's in quotes, is taken from the same line of the original.
8. He actually DID spend a fair amount of time in jail.
9. For better or worse, with the exception of the line about Seamus, there is nothing about anti-fascist violence in this poem.

Ian Stuart, we didn't need your hate
Delivered by a quack and taken away too late
You were an ass, a Nazi, a joke to us all
I know for sure a million idiots that heeded to your call
They lived by your example, their brains full of mold
Unmatched in stupidity and hearts that were so cold

The last time I saw you, I saw the dullness in your eyes
I would have danced in the street if I knew you were going to die
So with smile on face and Body Count in ears this song I'll write
To remember Ian Stuart and to carry on the ANTI-FASCIST fight

So farewell Ian Stuart, to hell you will descend
You did your worst, our world you reversed
You were an idiot till the end
Farewell Ian Stuart, you just could not comprehend
You will rot forever, because Nazis never ascend

From '82, we hated you, your band and your scene
Your white power songs, they were always wrong
You were the dumbest band we'd ever seen
Through all the years, you pushed your fears
And the damage you did on the way
They should have locked you in a cell, you caused all kinds of hell
You're lucky you never met Seamus from Bray
Against common sense and humanity, with your racist insanity
You stood up and took on the globe
From the albums and t-shirts to the rallies and concerts
Whatever happened to your frontal lobe?

And they will carry on, with the delusions in your songs
To turn back now would make too much sense
And they are "ready to toil, for the blood and the soil"
Ian Stuart your fans are so dense!

So, fuck you Ian Stuart, fuck you to the end
Fuck you Ian Stuart, a bonehead till the end

*******

This one is based on "White Rider" by Skrewdriver. It's a little simplistic, but I call it "Green Rider." Some notes:
1. Considering the source of the original, I feel like I have to point out what is probably obvious: as long as it doesn't cross a certain line (and I imagine it rarely does in the North of Ireland) Irish pride is very different from White pride. (I just heard something making me think that it's probably a small minority of northern nationalists that would talk about "Irish pride"; I still feel odd completely re-writing that line, so I'm going to keep it)
2. When I refer to loyalty, I'm being very harsh on those Irish who DON'T support the IRA- I only sort of mean it.
3. I use "bread" to refer to economic justice.
4. The Dail is the Irish Parliament in Dublin, and the reference makes sense since the goal is to extend the reach of the Dail to all of Ireland.
5. UPDATE 5/12/10 I just made a small change to the 2nd line of the last verse, earlier it said "led by" and I explained here that it was an exaggeration, but I now think it's such massive exageration that I have changed it.
Also, it's a reference to the Republican Movement's very good record (in the last 20-40 years, depending on what issue we're talking about) on opposing homophobia, racism, and anti-semitism. I thought "fascists" would cover that.
6. Just to be clear, in the 3rd verse, the "fools" are seperate from the "enemy."
7. This is not an endorsement of continuing the armed struggle since 1997.
**8. 9% of this version is me, 91% is the original.
9. I give this song/poem five out of five stars.
10. This version is about the IRA. Skrewdriver supported the unionist and british causes in N. Ireland.
11. It's about the IRA.
12. UPDATED 2/8/16 Based on what might be called a fairly scientific look, only about .2% of the IRA's operations intentionally resulted in civilian death.

The original lyrics are here

"Green Rider"
You ride through the streets with your head held up high
For your flag and your country you're willing to die
Your fore-fathers fought and your fore-fathers died
They died for a feeling they felt deep inside

Chorus:
Green Rider, Green Rider, your strength is your pride
Green Rider, Green Rider, you'll stand, never hide
Green Rider, Green Rider, your flag is your voice
You scorn the conscripted, you're fighting through choice

Your flags are unfolded, salute them with love
To fight for your people is a gift from above
Some fools will oppose you, true Irish will stay loyal
But victory shall be ours for the bread and the Dail

Chorus

Your feel love for your people, disdain for the fools
The enemy's helped by the fascist tools
You fight for your people who shall be proud and free
And the only reward that you crave is victory!

Chorus

******

Iris Robinson (Oh No, Here Comes A Unionist) based on "Oh No Here Comes a commie" by Skrewdriver.

The original lyrics are here (the 3rd to last line should say "nigh" instead of "right").

1. She's married to the head of her party, the DUP, which is currently the largest unionist party. She made very homophobic comments in mid-2008, see my post "Invisible Comrades."
2. Fenian is a derogatory term for republican, although it's been adopted by republicans.
3. The Red Hand is a loyalist symbol.
4. As far as "bringing around destruction," the sectarianism, homophobia and continuation of British rule in the North that she pushes all weaken various liberal, working-class, progressive and leftist movements in Ireland and therefore, especially with the economic crisis, do great harm to Ireland. I would say more or less the same thing to explain the line about her plans being supported from alien lands- support for her sectarianism and homophobia would be less if those movements were stronger, and they'll almost definitely be stronger within 1-2 generations of Ireland being united (I might do a post on that, but for now take my word for it).
5. The Union Jack is the British flag.
6. There's a history of black propaganda against republicans, although it's probably mostly aimed at dissidents today, I don't know how much is aimed at Sinn Fein.
7. "Crusaders" probably greatly exaggerates how religiously motivated today's British Army is, but centuries ago it was probably fairly accurate.
**8. 30% of this version is me, 70% is the original.
9. I give this song five out of five stars.
10. Skrewdriver supported the unionist and british causes in N. Ireland.
11. There is nothing about republican violence in here and with the possible exception of citing her hostility to fenians, I think most of it could come from nationalists.

She looks to London, She worships Robinson
Nothing but air in her head
Appears in your eyes, Peddling lies
Selling ideas that are dead

She's out there every single day
Talking 'bout the Fenians and the gays

Chorus:
Oh, no, here comes a Unionist
Red Hand on her breast
Oh, no, here comes a Unionist
Won't you give it a rest

She hates Ireland, she has a plan
To bring it all down to the ground
Confuse you with lies, her hate she can't hide
Brings our destruction around

She just wants to see our nation dying
She insists on a Union Jack flying

Chorus

Support for her plans, comes from alien lands
People who don't belong here
They come to these shores, they always want more
With their rifles and their propaganda smears

The homophobe gets her support from these invaders
Hopes that we'll be defeated by these crusaders

Chorus

Oh no, here comes a Unionist
"No Surrender" is her war cry
Oh no, here comes a Unionist
Won't you off and die?



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 (or if you don't like them, they were all written by Sarah Palin- that fascist, what kind of sick person enjoys altering racist lyrics?).