Ireland's Red Army

Here is one more song, it's "Those Lyrics."

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).


UPDATE 11/23/11 I just deleted a poem which was awkward for a couple of reasons- poetic and personal.

*****

"Ireland's Red Army" based on "Fourth Reich Fighting Men." Like "Pulling On The Boots" this is from the movie Romper Stomper and the author is unclear, probably the same as "Pulling On The Boots" (I have a feeling it's not by a racist band but was made just for that movie). The best I can do for a complete set of original lyrics is this.

1. This is about the Irish National Liberation Army from 1974 until 1982, my thoughts on that are here. The first 2-3 years or so the Chief of Staff of the INLA was Seamus Costello.
2. Although I did one song that was based on racist stuff specifically referred to the IRA, in general I avoid publishing stuff based on racist songs that are about actual organizations, since they might not like that- I have a similar attitude about ANY songs about actual organizations. Referring to the IRA seems okay, a lot more acceptable than one about Sinn Fein.
3. I went with the INLA because I felt like keeping the 2nd line of the 1st verse, and I also wanted to keep the reference to dressing in drag. The first line I wanted to keep pretty much required me to refer to the early years of the Provisional IRA, but back then they were probably ridicuously homophobic. The political ally of the INLA, the IRSP, was, along with People's Democracy, the first Irish political party to support gay rights, in 1975.
4. The first line of the 3rd verse refers to the fact that in the early years of the INLA, all/almost all of their members had been in the Official IRA, which from 1970 to 1972 was sort of on the offensive, and then from 1972 on they ceased operations aimed at getting the British out. The INLA was formed in 1974.
5. I'd be surprised if, the entire conflict starting with 1970, more than 5 five times did the security foces actually retreat because they were recieving too much fire or something like that, but it still kind of works for the song and it rhymes.
6. As I explain here there is very little anti-Protestant hate and that the anti-Catholic kind will decline a lot within a few generations of Ireland being united. I would also say that what little anti-Protestant hate there is will also decline as inequality for catholics evaporates. That post also explains why a socialist state is more likely with Ireland united than divided.
7. The RUC were the police until late 2001.
**8. 41% of this version is me, 59% is the original.
9. Since the original is Australian, I should point out that there's lots of left-wing and anti-homophobic content. See this for why that's important.
9. The line about drag isn't perfect, but it's slightly based on the original and I had to keep the word "drag." It's meant as a statement against homophobia, even though there's not more than a weak connection between being gay and cross-dressing.
10. I give this song/poem four out of five stars.
11. Considering the original, I should say that Irish pride is very different from white pride (most of the time). (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)

Chorus
Costello's Fighters, that’s who we are
We’re living in the sewer, but we’re gonna go far
You see our numbers growing, the rising red star
Costello's Fighters, that’s who we are

We fight the system, we fight the war
You think you’ve seen enough of us, there’s gonna be more
We're gonna unite the country, the working-class will soar
Costello's Fighters, winning the war

Chorus

We march so proud, carrying the flag
Attacking the Brits, and the RUC slag
In solidarity with those who dress in drag
Costello's Fighters, carrying the flag

Chorus

At last on the attack, fighting as one
The fighting isn’t finished ’til the job is done
The battle isn’t over ’til the war is won
Costello's Fighters fighting as one

Chorus

Fighting in the alleys, Fighting in the streets
Attacking the Brits, making them retreat
When the war is over, it'll be the end of the hate
Everyone will live together in the socialist state


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?).