Revolutionary Dreams

I've got six more songs/poems (I'm in transition to using the word "poem" which is more accurate for what I've been calling "song"). They're all "Those Lyrics" see this for an explanation. I'm not sure how many more songs I'll be doing that aren't "Those lyrics" since I think I have altered all the songs that I can work with from one of the two main sources I have for non-offensive material to alter.

For the rest of the poems click on the "lyrics" label at the bottom (there are at least two pages worth of posts, so click on the "older posts" at the bottom of the first page).

Anyway, these are roughly in order from okay to good, although I'm not sure I would call any of them very good.

1. 65 Days. IRA Hunger-Striker Bobby Sands.
2.  Victory or Death. The IRA in N. Ireland.
3. The Left Sat. The American Left and N. Ireland.
4. Socialist Dream. Progressives in America.
5. People's Dream. About People's Democracy, the left-wing/civil rights/anti-partition group in N. Ireland that existed from 1968 until sometime in the 1980s.
6. 32-County Republic. Republican struggle in N. Ireland.


“65 days” based on “forty-six years” by Skrewdriver, original lyrics are here.

1. The song is about Bobby Sands, the first Irish republican hunger-striker to die in 1981. The hunger-strikers were demanding that republican prisoners be treated as prisoners of war instead of as criminals. He was on strike for 65 days before he died. See this and this for more info; see most of the second half of this for a description of how much support they had. He was 27 years old when he died.
2. The hope refers to how inspirational his sacrifice was.
**3. 40% of the lyrics are me, 60% is the original.
4. I give this song/poem three stars out of five.
5. Skrewdriver was supportive of the Unionist and British causes in N. Ireland.

Twenty-seven was his final year
his memory brings hope and tears
A man whose courage, it was unsurpassed
No surrender until the very last

(chorus)
65 days, 65 days
65 days, he stayed true to his cause

They tried to break him with their corrupt ways
tried criminalization until the end of his days
They wanted to see his spirit subdued
But his commitment was always true

Chorus

And now he's dead, they couldn’t break him
The London fools thought they could take him
a soldier who paid the ultimate price
We won't forget his sacrifice

****

“Victory or Death” based on “Win or die” by Skrewdriver, original lyrics are here.

1. The title is a republican slogan (at least, it's on a republican t-shirt I have). The song is more or less focused on members of republican paramilitaries, although there’s one bit about republicans who fought through mass struggle.
2. This is set in the first 1-2 years of The Troubles (starting in Aug. 1969).
3. the Nationalist community had some very large majority that was working-class or small farmers, and that was even more so for republicans.
4. Armalites are a kind of automatic rifle.
5. The Catholic Church was pretty consistent in being hostile to republicans.
6.Orange is the color of anti-Catholic bigotry.
7. Connolly is James Connolly, Ireland’s greatest republican and greatest socialist.
8. Valhalla is part of Norse mythology, it's a place where warriors go after they die, although there seems to be some debate about exactly who gets in- only people who die in combat? Anyway, the fascists love it and have sort of taken over the concept, but a friend told me that he likes the idea of the left claiming it and specifically said that if such a place exists, Che and others like him are probably there. (Do I believe in Valhalla? You could say I’m sort of an agnostic on that question and am sort of solidly a Christian. The way I see it, this is pretty flexible, don't take it too seriously, and one way to think about it is that if you believe in Heaven and would rather these people went there instead of Valhalla, maybe they can do both, spend some time in Valhalla and some time in Heaven; but my friend and I do like the idea of reclaiming it from the fash)
**9. 27% of this version is me, 73% is the original.
10. 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) 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)
11. I give this song/poem three stars out of five.
12. Skrewdriver was supportive of the Unionist and British causes in N. Ireland.

As we look 'round at our nation, the resistance starts to settle in
Our once united Irish land, as the revolution starts to begin
Arrests on the streets are often, house raids happen every single day
loyalists stalk the darkened streets, looking for defenceless prey

(chorus)
Fight for your country, fight for your class
Fight for your nation, with armalites or en masse

As the people stand up against it, the Brit propaganda begins
To oppose the northern occcupation, is counted as a sin
We're proud of being Irish, and we want to show the world
Against the Orange and reaction, we stand with flags unfurled

As we stand and face the future, our eyes raised to the sky
We pledge ourselves to struggle, we'll either win or we’ll die
We won't lose ground, and be knocked down, we've got a history
In Valhalla Connolly looks down on us, and prays for victory

*******

“The Left Sat” based on “The Snow Fell” by Skrewdriver, original lyrics are here.

1. In general it is based on the earlier post I did about how the world (overall, but the problem is focused in small number of countries and varies from country to country) and especially the left, didn’t do what it should have done on N. Ireland between 1968 and today, although it also varies from time period to time period, and the worst would be 1994 (when S. Africa was democratized) until 9/11 and crucially between 1994 and the Good Firday Agreement in 1998. I won’t bother going into it anymore than that, but you should read that post before you judge this song (since it was published in March, that post has gradually gotten even better and is now about 10% different than it was when originally published).
2. The first verse refers to Margaret Thatcher.
3. I don’t know if Thatcher had a desire to rule all of Ireland, but it’s possible, and if it wasn’t for republicans (during the War of Independence) London would still rule all of Ireland.
4. The reference to unions is sort of a tangent from the main thrust of the song, but is relevant as republicans are overwhelmingly pro-labor and concerned about British workers and it worked with keeping the word “power.”
5. The second half of the second verse refers to the period of the early 1970s when I’m pretty sure the world was probably doing a fair amount, although probably still not what they should have been doing considering the nationalist community was going through the worst of their 30-40 year nightmare. I assume that at some point, as the situation in Apartheid S. Africa got worse in the mid-1970s, that attention was shifted to that until 1994. That’s reasonable, but there are two problems. Strongly worded resolutions weren’t being passed and when S. Africa was democratized, none of that energy seems to have been shifted into N. Ireland work.
6. I believe that this failure on the part of the world and the left is what made the armed struggle go nowhere, and contributed greatly to Sinn Fein compromising via acceptance of the Good Friday Agreement. Another factor was that their nationalist constituents who had experienced the bulk of the violence aimed at civilians in the conflict were tired of the war and being terrorized by loyalist paramilitaries and the security forces.
7. The Union Jack is the British flag, Belfast is the main city in N. Ireland.
**8. 73% of it is me, 27% is the original.
9. I give this song/poem three stars out of five.
10. Skrewdriver was supportive of the Unionist and British causes in N. Ireland.
11. The second and fourth verses are about mainstream republicans including the IRA.
12. UPDATE 9/8/11 In the third line of the second verse, I'm actually not sure to what degree the left WAS concerned about the North in the early years of the Troubles. I might change that.
13. UPDATE 11/22/15 I added TRADE- to the last line of the first verse.
14. UPDATE 6/14/16 I changed THEY to YOU in the second verse Same with the chorus.

She stood in a room in a home at number ten
She'd rule all Ireland if it wasn’t for the republicans
She'd stand and she’d stare at the city skyscrappers and towers.
for she was a beast as she hatched plans to break trade-union power.

(chorus)
as the left sat
abandoning it’s vision and ideals.
And the left sat
ignoring the Irish revolutionary appeal
And the left sat
You had to compromise in your people’s interests
And the left sat
and the revolution was so much less

You used the old methods that revolutionaries had used before.
You fought as the forces of light against the darkness in an insurgent war.
One day you were looking around and the left was concerned about the North
The next day the left went back to Apartheid and focused on that till 1994

(chorus)

But they weren’t even passing strongly worded resolutions
They had abandoned the nationalists and the Irish revolution
Then, after 1994, they were distracted by the environment and globalization
And did nothing to help the oppressed of the divided Irish nation

(chorus)

You finally came to the point where you decided to compromise
You had to, while the left sat your people were terrorized
Many people had fought and died their courage was unsurpassed
It still sickens my heart to see the Union jack flying in Belfast

(chorus)

****

“Socialist Dream” based on “European Dream” by Skrewdriver, original lyrics are here.

1. It’s about the US.
2. Depending on the circumstances, I’m quite comfortable with white supremacists being banned from marching on the public streets.
3. I have had this idea that the left could flip the right-wing slogan “Better Dead Than Red” since socialism would make- fatal accidents on the job less likely; fatal health problems connected to the environment or having poor or no health insurance less likely; and murders less likely.
4. Brown is the color of fascism.
5. In general, when I said liberal, I had trouble thinking of a word that would fit better, but I think the way it is now works. there are some liberals who, based on their beliefs should be friendlier to the left and less friendly to cops and capitalists. (see this for my thoughts about liberals)
6. The line about shooting cops is a reference to recent spate of cop-killings carried out by white supremacists.
7. By capitalist, in this case I meant those who have a lot of capital.
8. As far as cops helping Nazis, there's evidence that some do. My theory is that some very tiny minority are in bed with white supremacists and a tiny minority would drag their feet on going after them. There was a state trooper in, I think, Nebraska who turned out to be a Klansmen, and according to a Southern Poverty Law Center interview with a former Nazi skinhead, some cops would hang out with his Nazi skinhead group. I read a bunch of other stuff about white supremacists in the police in a mid-1990s book called "White Lies, White Power" by Michael Novick, plus some other sources.
**7. 56% of the lyrics are me, 44% is the original.
8. I give this song/poem four stars out of five.
9. I'm not sure I should have left the 2nd line of the 2nd verse the way it is- I might change it to something. In the meantime, I think it is possible to have some kind of progressive patriotism.
10. This is supposed to be at least 99% non-violent.
3/14/11 UPDATE 11. I can't remember what I was thinking when I referred to our land as democratic- I mean, to some degree it is, but I might change that line. (UPDATE 6/1/11 I just changed it to "western")

Brothers and sisters across the states
we have to end this fascist hate
I want to know just where we stand
we fight the nazis in this western land
They try to divide the workers- try to bring us down
spread their poison in all our towns
Police protect them as they march
and arrest those whose skin is dark

(chorus)
socialist dream, there's things that should be said
socialist dream, better red than dead
socialist dream, for freedom and for bread
socialist dream, better red than dead

It's the workers' country, we want it back,
love for our nation we do not lack
Why do some liberals put us down,
when the real enemy is the brown
It's not us who is shooting cops,
this right-wing hatred has got to stop
Racist cops and capitalists help them,
I hope all liberals realize before the end

****

“People’s Dream” based on “European Dream” by Skrewdriver original lyrics are here.

1. This is my second song about People’s Democracy, somehow towards the beggining of the process it just seemed like it would work best that way. PD was a militant, left-wing, and initially student part of the Civil Rights movement in N. Ireland starting in Oct. 1968 (it later became a political party and then around 1980 declined, and many members joined Sinn Fein and then it adopted another name). There’s more about them here and the first 1/3 of this. PD doesn’t exist anymore, so this doesn’t violate my rules on publishing songs about actual organizations.
2. There are six-counties in N. Ireland. I’m pretty sure that in the very early years of the PD it was organized just in N. Ireland, and in any case, it makes sense for the song to be about the northern members.
3. It takes place 1970 to early 1972, the time when republicans were engaging in armed struggle and the civil rights movement was still marching.
4. An explanation of why it’s wrong for the police to force Orange Order marches through Catholic areas is found here.
5. I have had this idea that the left could flip the right-wing slogan “Better Dead Than Red” since socialism would make- fatal accidents on the job less likely; fatal health problems connected to the environment or having poor or no health insurance less likely; and murders less likely.
6. The Dail is the parliament of the South of Ireland, which has pretty much always been hostile to the IRA.
7. PD offered critical support to the Provisional IRA (now known simply as the IRA).
8.The RUC were the police in N. Ireland until late 2001 and there’s evidence that to one degree or another they were sympathetic to loyalist paramilitaries. I explain that around 2/5 the way through the post here. The RUC also did quite a number on the Catholic population directly.
**9. The poem is 57% me, 43% the original.
10. I give this song/poem four stars out of five.
11. Skrewdriver was supportive of the Unionist and British causes in N. Ireland.

Brothers and sisters across the six
in the cities and out in the sticks
I want to know just where we stand
we resist the Brits in our Irish land
They try and crush us- try to keep us down
occupy our cities and our towns
Police protect Orangemen as they parade
it’s been that way for all these decades

(chorus)
people’s dream, there's things that should be said
people’s dream, better red than dead
people’s dream, for freedom and for bread
people’s dream, better red than dead

It's our country- we want it united
british imperialism will be smited
Why does the Dail put the IRA down
when the British Army’s on Irish ground
we support the ones planting bombs
and we’re the reds who are marching on
The RUC helps loyalists
they’re just public sector terrorists

*****

“32-County Republic” based “Aryan Nations” by Bound For Glory, original lyrics are here.

1. There are 32 counties in Ireland.
2. People claim that the British presence in N. Ireland isn’t imperialistic. I explain why that’s not true here (it’s about 43% the way down in a large paragraph, half of which is numbered points).
3. Squaddies is a term for British army soldiers. Volunteers are members of republican paramilitaries.
4. Belfast is the capitol of N. Ireland.
5. Stoops are the Social Democratic and Labour Party, Sinn Fein’s moderate rival in the Nationalist community. I describe what’s wrong with them here.
6. To one degree or another, what the vast majority of republicans envision is revolutionary change for Ireland.
7. This is set in the period 1970 till about 1990, before the Peace Process got going; when republicans were not interested in the compromises being offered by the British and/or unionists.
8. Republicans get a lot of inspiration from other struggles elsewhere, such as S. Africa and Palestine.
9. Since the original is American I made sure to include certain elements, see this.
**10. 54% of this song/poem is me, 46% is the original lyrics, although you could say it’s 60% me since I switched the third and fourth lines of the first verse.
11. 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 that in N. Ireland it rarely does) 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)
12. I give this song/poem four stars out of five.
13. In the 4th line of the second verse, I am talking about the dream of a 32-County Republic, which is alive in our minds.
14. This is about republicans, and a republican appeal to nationalists unhappy with the SDLP.
UPDATE 5/19/16 15. The third and fourth lines from the end are not meant as an endorsement of the traditional republican view that the 1916 republic still exists- they're meant as referring to what you might call a dream or vision, possibly in the hearts of republicans? (to be a little poetic about it). Something like that.

In the midst of our struggle, that we will sustain
I see through the lies and see the imperialistic reign
I can see oppression, 'cos there's squaddies all around
Volunteers are fighting soliders, every day in Belfast town
Now tell me would you work and vote for the stoops and their creed?
Are you willing to vote for their lies when revolution is what you need?

Chrous:
the 32-County republic is rising (rising) to make a brand new start
There is no disguising (disguising) the pride that's in our hearts
the 32-County republic is rising (rising) and we will never fall
the 32-County republic is rising (rising) to answer our people's call

we're too smart to play these reformist compromise games
We've got our own thing going now and revolution is it’s name
From the gay pride marches in Dublin to the workers with raised fists
The 32-County republic is still alive as long as the dream exists
Across the mighty oceans there lies our inspiration
we stand in soldiarity with those fighting to free their nation


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?).