"The Connolly/Larkin Brigade" A New Poem!

A new poem. I explain how I write my poems here. This one is based on a song that I like politically. For the rest of the poems, click on the "lyrics" label at the bottom.


"The Connolly/Larkin Brigade," based on “Last Lincoln Veteran” by David Rovics. Original lyrics are here.

PLEASE READ!! 1. This is a bizarre one. It’s about a very alternate history. Written from the perspective of an American socialist in, about, 2040, it’s about fictional events in the 1980s, (which is similar to the chronological perspective of the original (the original was written about 65-70 years after the events in it, when there were still some Lincoln veterans alive)).
It’s based on a song about the anti-fascist foreigners who fought in the Spanish Civil War (there was an Irish anti-fascist contingent, largely ex-IRA members, called the Connolly Column). The premise of this poem is that at some point in the 1980s, a similar call is made for people to fight in the North of Ireland. It IS possible that if the IRA had a launched a Tet-style offensive (in the Vietnam War, there was the Tet Offensive by the VietCong in 1968) as they had planned to in the 1980s, the conflict would have been transformed and it would have made sense to call for large numbers of foreign fighters.
3. James Connolly and Jim Larkin were senior or semi-senior leaders of the broad Irish republican family in the first 2-3 decades of the last century. Both spent time as union organizers in America.
4. May 1st is International Workers Day.
5. Dixieland is a racist term for the American South. Orange is the color of anti-Catholic bigotry in the Irish-British context. (UPDATE 3/18/20 I used Dixieland because A) it rhymed, B) I thought it would indicate that I was comparing the North with the South in the sense that they were both bigoted, etc.)
7. The West Bank refers to the 99% nationalist part of Derry, to the west of the River Foyle. It’s where 14 anti-internment/civil rights marchers were killed by the British Army on Bloody Sunday in 1972.
8. Chronologically three of the cities/places I chose don’t make much sense, since they were sites of ongoing struggles in the 1980s OR, the struggle hadn’t begun. Whatever.

Ramallah is in the West Bank in PALESTINE. There’s a lot of solidarity between the Irish and the Palestinians.

Paris. When Bobby Sands died (see this and the middle third of this), the socialist Prime Minister of France offered to attend the funeral, but he consulted Dublin and they said no.

Chiapas. In 1998 or 1999, on May 5th (Cinco de Mayo and the day in 1981 that Bobby Sands died) I went to a fundraiser for the Chiapas Coalition in Denver, CO (the CC were supporters of the Zapatistas, the EZLN). I asked if I could say something about Bobby Sands and they let me speak for a couple minutes. Later, another speaker who had spent time with the EZLN, said that they (the EZLN) were very concerned about the North.

Cape Town. The ANC strongly supported the IRA (see this). I think their military wing was large and I THINK they had trouble finding work for everyone and it MIGHT have made sense, in this scenario where a call is made for foreign fighters, to send some.

9.  Until late 2001 the RUC were the police in N. Ireland.
10. Orthodox republicans, if there are any left, believe(d) that the Republic proclaimed at the beginning of the 1916 Easter Rising still exists and has been usurped by the Northern State and the Southern State. I have never believed that, but it still seemed like a good adjustment to the original lyrics, and in the 1980s, I think that almost all Northern Sinn Fein members probably DID believe it, and probably a large minority of Southern SF members also believed it.
11. Margaret Thatcher was a hardcore Tory and British imperialist who was Prime Minister in the 1980s.
12. Ian Stuart Donaldson was, in the 1980s and early 1990s (until his hilarious death in 1993), the leader of the worldwide Nazi skinhead movement, and as a British Nazi, he was incredibly supportive of the British and Unionist causes in N. Ireland.
13. Ian Paisley was, between the mid-1960s and about 2005, a very visible, extremely Unionist and anti-Catholic politician.
14. In the late 1990s a US Representative, Donald Payne from NJ, sponsored legislation in the House that would ban the sale of plastic bullets to the UK. He had traveled to the North and I feel safe assuming that some US corporation was selling the plastic bullets used in the North (or he was just really cool and pro-active, but I bet they were being sold to the UK). (Payne is Black)
15. I mention they were Catholic because I recently decided it’s frustrating that American Catholics in general showed almost no interest in the conflict, frustrating because although there were other factors (anti-Irish bigotry, economic factors, etc.) to a large extent SECTARIANISM affected the lives of Northern Catholics.
16. I wanted to recognize the contributions made by gay members of the Nationalist community.
17. Here are some ways that Washington wasn’t neutral:

1) It seems that D.C. never privately put firm pressure on the British to dramatically change its policy in N. Ireland and/or create a significant role for the South in the affairs of the North (or even, better, begin a process of withdrawal). If they did this privately, it didn't work, and they should have done it publicly (it's possible that to some degree that happened between Clinton and Blair, and had some small effect on the GFA, but the GFA could have been much better, and then there's the ultimate goal of a British withdrawal).

2) Although at some point in the 1970s the President or Vice President of SF did speak at a committee hearing of the US Congress, from 1983 until 1994 the President of SF, Gerry Adams, was not allowed into the US. (he was first allowed into the U.S. in 1994). During this time SF represented about 35-40% of the Nationalist community, and probably about 60% of the poorest, most oppressed half of that community.

3) During the entire conflict, something like 20 former republican Volunteers went through either extradition or deportation proceedings. I think all the extradited were sent back to the UK, I think most of the deportation cases were deported. I know of at least one deportation, and this was probably the case with all of them, where the issue was that he said on the immigration paperwork that he was never convicted of a crime, and the U.S. government said that he in fact had been. The thing is, republican Volunteers don't consider themselves criminals, and even the British government, to some degree, has recognized this by treating them as prisoners of war during most of the conflict. But the U.S. Government disagrees. There's evidence that some very large majority of the nationalist community more or less supported the hunger-strikers of 1981 (see the middle third of this) whose struggle convinced the British to extend status as prisoners of war (or political status, basically the same thing), which makes me think that some very large majority of the nationalist community was more or less unhappy about the extraditions and deportations (also, the massive anti-internment march that was attacked on Bloody Sunday in 1972 was primarily organized not by republicans but by a senior SDLP politician).

18. I can’t abide praising Reagan for a lot of reasons. He and Thatcher were best friends.

19. Practically the entire last full verse was in the original, and the 95 yo is, I assume, someone David Rovics actually knew (possibly Robert Steck). That’s part of why I changed it to “she” and “her”. Like practically all of my poems, this is not written from my perspective, it’s some faceless American socialist character I invented. I don’t know any Communists- please tell the House Un-american Activities Committee that if they ask about me. :  )
20. The Short Strand is an isolated Catholic enclave in Unionist East Belfast.
21. I almost hate bringing this up, especially because the post I’ll link to needs some work but it’s massive and I don’t know when I’ll make it near perfect. I believe that during The Troubles, and especially after Apartheid was shattered by the ANC and before those assholes in Al-Qaeda attacked on 9/11, the world, to one degree or another kind of or totally dropped the ball when it came to solidarity with the Nationalist community. I focus like a laser on the American Left and to a lesser degree the west European Left. That post is here, and the relevant part starts with the mention of South Africa about 1/3 from the top.
22. I couldn’t make up my mind about how the story ends. But then I decided to make a few more changes and make it a happy ending- not what happened in the Short Strand, but Ireland being united in the end.
23. **36% of this version is me, 64% is the kick-ass original.
24. UPDATE 4/1/20 I maybe should have altered the very last part less than I did. I deleted the phrase "It's a place that we all know so well" because it's not well known among American progressives today, as I mention in note 21 above. I forgot that in this alternate timeline, it IS well known. But I'm going to keep it the way it is, I just didn't want anyone to think that I didn't like David's lyrics.
25. UPDATE 4/1/20 I deleted the word "most" from the 3rd line of the second verse. It implied, for example, that Hindus didn't fight. I was lazy and didn't alter that when I first wrote it, I didn't mean to exclude anyone.
26. As I prove in a fairly scientific way here, only .3% of the IRA's operations resulted in civilian death.

They were old when I was young Now they're all but passed away
Now it's just a second hand story we hear about on the first of May
When from all around the world They sailed off to Ireland
Where they fought against the Brits and to liberate Orange Dixieland
Who will recall the days When they all stood side by side
Now that the last Connolly/Larkin Veteran died

Beside striking workers Or in a St. Patrick’s Day Parade
You could see those who made the journey To join the Connolly/Larkin Brigade
When men and women of many nations Of every creed and hue
Catholics and Protestants, Muslims,  Atheists and Jews
Joined together in the West Bank To avenge the fourteen who died
Now that the last Connolly/Larkin Veteran died

The working class of many countries responded to the desperate invitation
With what weapons they could find They fought to unite the Irish nation
From Ramallah and Paris, Chiapas and Cape Town
Who will recall the Brigadistas Who bravely took the RUC down
There beside the Catholic people Even the sheep and cattle cried
Now that the last Connolly/Larkin Veteran died

The 1916 Republic had the people But the British Army had the tanks
Thatcher and Ian Stuart got only some of Paisley’s premature thanks
'Cause the plastic bullets to take down rioters Came from the USA
And the boys and girls they knocked down Were Catholic and some of them were gay
Uncle Sam wasn’t neutral, and praising Reagan is something I can’t abide
Now that the last Connolly/Larkin Veteran died

Some say people get conservative The older that they age
They say that being radical Is just a youthful stage
But the finest communist I've known Lived to 95
And she spent her whole life fighting For humanity to thrive
To forget these fallen heroes Is something I cannot abide
Now that the last Connolly/Larkin Veteran died
Now that the last Connolly/Larkin Veteran died

There's a neighborhood in East Belfast called the Short Strand
It was there that we showed our solidarity Where so many comrades made their final stand

Lyrics!! Lyircs!! Lyrics!!

On one hand this is a new batch of songs, the second I've posted in just a few hours. The first were songs which, with one exception, I had created a week or months ago. This batch are all new. They're from a variety of sources, some involve twisting lyrics (see this for an explanation) those will be ID'd with ++ as a symbol.

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).

I think that's about it. As usual, I start with the least impressive and end with the most.
1. University of Freedom. The 1981 Irish Republican Hunger-Strike.
2. Stand up and Be Counted (IRA). Guess.
3. Scum of Britain. About Ian Stuart Donaldson, the late leader of the world-wide Nazi skinhead movement.
4. The Great Esacpe. Allied POWs in WWII.
5. Son of America. Martin Luther King, Jr.
6. Soldiarity. The American Left and N. Ireland.

“University of Freedom” based on “Bowels of the Devil” by Body Count (Ice-T's heavy metal band), original lyrics are here.

1. Irish republicans often would refer to the main prison that held many of them, Long Kesh, as the “University of Freedom” becaue they did a lot work educating themselves and eachother in anti-imperialism and (for the majority) left-wing politics.
2. ASU is an Active Servicce Unit. Most of the IRA (it’s not super clear, but I’m pretty sure this was not univeral throughout the organization) adopted a structure where the ASU was the smallest unit. The Company was another, larger unit of the IRA.
3. There are 32 Counties in Ireland.
4. Squaddies is a term for British soldiers.
5. The Falls is a republican area.
6. In the late 1970s the British tried to break the republican family by criminalizing republican prisoners. See this and this (most of the last 1/2 is about the hunger-strike era). The prisoners resisted this effort, culminating in the 1981 Hunger-Strike when 10 men died, Bobby Sands was the first.
7. The Hunger-Strike resulted in the prisoners’ demands being quietly conceded by the government, which meant that the British failed to break them, and although it involved 10 men dying on hunger-strike, it strengthened the struggle. It also involved the incorporation of electoral politics into the republican struggle which greatly strengthened that struggle.
8. It's basically about someone in the prison during the struggle against criminalization, and who is speaking between then and 1997.
9. I eliminated some of the Ice-T stuff (“yo”), but left some of it.
10. I ended up using the word “learns” the way that people say “teaches.”
11. The "North's LAPD" refers to the police, the RUC. I thought it was a nice way of thanking Ice-T for the original lyrics. Also, I've heard that very recently the LAPD has improved, and you could say that even before that change started, the LAPD was not as bad as the RUC.
12. the seperate race line is probably GREATLY exaggerating, especially in terms of how widespread that sentiment is.
**13. 71% of this version is me, 29% is the original.
14. I give this song/poem three stars out of five.
15. 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.
16. Is about the IRA, but it's not a bad moment to remind readers that around 80% of the nationalist community supported the hunger-strikers.
17. UPDATE 5/1/17 A "nine" is a gun.
18. UPDATE 6/8/18 The first two lines might sound like I'm calling the British Army the "North's LAPD." I didn't mean that and I think it makes sense to see the first line is about the BA and the second is about the RUC police, but I wanted to make CERTAIN there is no confusion.

Out one night, fighting Brits with my Company
We fight for our people, against the North’s LAPD
Got a nine at my waist
Brits think we’re a seperate race
They fuck with West Belfast right here'll be their resting place.
Some squaddies, they tried to put a move on the Falls
I shot them in the face, but I was captured in the brawl
Then I was in Long Kesh, They wanted us to crawl
they thought they’d break us, but we remained standing tall

Chorus:
University of Freedom,
let me tell you what that muthafucka learns,
its faculty filled with revolutionaries
liberation, socialism, the people’s concerns.
University of Freedom,
listen close, 'cause I've been there before
And those who died there,
They are why we will win this war,
THEY ARE WHY WE WILL WIN THIS WAR!

Aiming the mortars at the British Army base
With the people’s support we’ll get them out of this place,
and my ASU’s down, we don't mess around,
Brits fuck with us, They’ll be six feet underground.
Prison couldn’t break us, we’ll resist to our last breath
Thatcher, that motherfucker, is responsible for Bobby’s death.
That's right, homeboy couldn’t be broken by the bourgeoisie
up there in Freedom’s University.

Chorus

******

++“Stand Up And Be Counted (IRA)” based on “Stand Up And Be Counted” by The Klansmen original lyrics are here.


1. The original is a classic Klan song, but the version I heard is by a side project of Ian Stuart Donaldson of Skrewdriver, a British Nazi skinhead band which was very supportive of the British and loyalist causes in Ireland.
2. Since the original is American racist, I made a point of including certain elements, see this.
3. This is not meant as an endorsement of armed struggle since the IRA’s declaration of a cease-fire in 1997.
4. AK-47s are rifles.
5. The Plough is the Starry Plough, the symbol of republican socialism.
6. The Sunburst is the symbol of the old youth wing of the IRA..
7. Bread is a symbol of economic justice.
8. I went with Tory instead of Brit because A: it involved further twisting, and B: the Tories are a much bigger part of the problem, probably something like 1/3 of Labour are friendly to Sinn Feiin, probably something like 1/3 are okay-good, and probably 1/3 are more or less (less) Unionists.
**9. 47% of this version is me, 53% is the original.
10. I give this song/poem four stars out of five.
UPDATE 2/2/11 I just replaced the word "mortar" with the word "Tri-Color" (the flag of Ireland) in the 2nd verse.
11.  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:
Stand up and be counted, we’ll make a stand today
Stand up and be counted, and join the IRA

We are anti-fascists, who love our country too
We always can be counted on, when there's a job to do
We serve our people day and night, and soon they will be free
Proudly wear the mask, fighting for our community.

Chorus

Survival calls for vigilance the symbols of our fight
The Sunburst and Plough, Tri-color and AK, we know we are right
In search for freedom and bread we fight with rifle in hands
We must defeat the Tory to unite our Irish land

Chorus

******

++“Scum of Britian” based on “Son of Britain” by Saga, original lyrics are here.

1. Bonehead is an anti-racist term for Nazi skinhead.
2. Suss seems to mean, in British, smarts or something like that.
3. Ian Stuart was the leader of Skrewdriver, which in the 80s and early 90s was the world’s leading white supremacist skinhead band; he died in a car accident in 1993.
4. Valhalla is part of Norse mythology, it is where warriors go when they die, although there’s some debate about whether or not you have to die in combat. The nazis love Valhalla and are all convinced that Ian Stuart went there, but an anti-Ian Stuart song by the Stage Bottles says that he didn’t because he was killed in a car accident; I’d imagine he was more a musician than a fighter, and then there’s the idea that people who attack others (likely smaller and/or weaker) through bigotry are not eligible for Valhalla; so I’m open-minded about whether or not he’s in Valhalla (that is, if I believed in it, and I sort of pretend to just to have some fun at the expense of the fash, and to make a good point).
5. Musically he was actually very gifted; I don’t believe in Hell.
6. The RA is the Republican Army; Ian Stuart was a supporter of the British and Unionist causes in N. Ireland.
7. The line about Nazis driving is inspired by a professional anti-Ian Stuart song by MDC called "Nazis Shouldn't Drive."
8. You could argue that, like Hitler, he will long be remembered, but I don’t think so.
**9. 66% of this version is me, 34% is the original.
10. I give this song/poem three stars out of five.
11. If not for the 2nd to last line I would say there's nothing about anti-racist violence and in my opinion that anti-racist violence would be a small or tiny part of things- small if we're just talking about dealing with Nazi skinheads, tiny if we're looking at the larger picture.
UPDATE 2/2/11 12. When I refer to a nightmare and a greatest enemy, I'm sure I'm kind of exaggerating, ESPECIALLY with the latter. For a large number of individuals, it has been a nightmare. And as far as I can tell, in terms of physical violence, armed or unarmed, they have the potential to do huge amounts of damage.
 UPDATE 2/4/20 I just added the word fascist to the second line of the chorus.

From the boneheads of Great Britain, a nightmare came to us.
He brought us hate and terror, The man who had no suss
Ian Stuart has now died, but our hatred for him still lives on.
So it will continue, until all the Nazi hate has gone.

chorus:
Their ranks are filled with boneheads, marching down the street.
They are our greatest fascist enemy since the Axis regimes were beat
Ian Stuart is no longer marching, but nor is he in Valhalla
His music sucks, he’s in Hell, and Up The Irish RA

Ian Stuart's downfall, was that Nazis don’t know how to drive
unfortunately the other nazi bonehead scum they all survived
A messenger of hate, a man who helped us see
That we must always be vigilant against the return of the Nazis

Chorus

When all the Nazi hate is gone, we will soon forget the man,
who weakened the working-class, because he could not understand.
The smashing of his mission is now our destiny -
To democratize our nations, and to set the working-class free.

Chorus

*****

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

++"The Great Escape" based on "Men Behind The Wire" by the Thornlie Boys, original lyrics are here (not exactly what I used, but close enough).

1. It's about Allied POWs in WWII. Frustratingly, it's only slightly twisted. The original is N. Ireland loyalist, and they did more or less support and fight in the Allied cause- sometimes, especially when they talk about the IRA and Nazi Germany and/or they're accused of being racist or friendly to British Nazis, you can't shut them up about how they helped defeat Nazi Germany : ). And even worse, it's not specific to a certain organiation, so I can only sort of point to the UDA being friendly with today's Nazis. You could imagine the character is an Irish-American Catholic, for whatever that's worth. As you can tell from the sampling of movies I watch on my profile, I'm really into Allied POW stuff (there's at least two other such movies I like besides "The Great Escape") and this was a good song for that. UPDATE 2/20/20 I just confirmed that the UDA was a majority of the loyalist paramilitary community and learned that the other main group, the UVF had some minor contacts with British fascists (contacts that followed some members who broke off and formed the LVF)) (UPDATE 2/21/20 I changed "cried out "No Pasaran,"" to "said a quick Hail Mary, thought." The Hail Mary prayer is MUCH MUCH more common with Catholics than Protestants, and I doubt more than a tiny minority of members of loyalist paramilitaries were raised to say it and probably stopped saying it as they became incredibly bigoted towards Catholics since Mary is a lot more important to Catholics than Protestants in general)
3. I imagine that only something like half of the American and British forces were motivated by anti-fascism (probably some moderate-sized minority were totally non-political and probably another moderate-sized minority were so conservative and/or anti-semitic and/or racist that they were open-minded about the Nazis maybe being okay), but I like to talk about it that way. As far as being anti-racist, this guy was part of the, let's say some very small minority of White American personnel who could be called anti-racist.
5. I felt like I had to switch two sets of two lines, and thus the second verse is a little awkward in terms of twice referring to "men behind the wire."
6. As far as POWs opposed to anti-semitism, realisticly probably some moderate-sized minority of the Allies. But they were determined to defeat the Nazis, who did hate the Jews.
7. What's that? It's "wierd" that my pro-IRA blog contains songs in favor of the Allies when the IRA accepted aid from Nazi Germany? Read this.
**8. 49% of this version is me, 51% is the original and I switched two sets of two lines, so maybe it's more accurate to say something like 60% me.
9. I give this song/poem three stars out of five.
10. UPDATE 10/6/11 I am not sure if "Jerries" is an offensive term (it's not like Germans (in recent decades) have been or are oppressed because they're German); Even if someone says it is offensive, I might leave it considering how that's how some of the Allies spoke at that time.
11. UPDATE 2/27/17 I changed "jerries" to "krauts."

it was a dark and grey november morn as we flew off towards Germany
in a cramped and cold B-29, we were going to bomb the enemy
when the flak got real heavy, we took some hits and went down for a crash
I said a quick Hail Mary, thought "bless FDR and fuck all the racist fash"

We crashed hard but my spirit was unbroken and my heart was still on fire
for soon I knew I would be with the men behind the wire
We were captured by Krauts and interrogated, but our situation was not dire
we were soon allowed to join our brothers, the men behind the wire

There were many faces strange to me, and many more I knew
who were solidly committed to smashing those who hate the Jews
and a love for dear old democracy, even in it's darkest hour
did shine within, these brave men, the men behind the wire

and when this war is over, and our victory is won
let us not forget the sacrifice made by these courageous sons
they were staunch and true, for me and you, so lift your glasses higher
where would we have been, without them, the men behind the wire

*****

++“Son of America” based on “Son of Britain” by Saga, original lyrics are here.

1. It’s about Martin Luther King Jr.
2. The reference about Americans isn’t meant to exclude people, but seemed a bit better than “people” or “humans.” (the original is “comrades” but that wouldn’t go over so well with most people at a MLK march)
3. Dr. King obviously had an impact beyond America, especially in N. Ireland.
4. America could become significantly more democratic, as I discuss in the post "American Democracy" and could happen in a way that could possibly be referred to as something close to a revolution, especially if several changes were made at once.
5. Towards the end of his life, he also addressed the Vietnam War and poverty. Besides his talk about poverty, I’d also say (in connection with the last line) that racism shackles the working-class (obviously it affects middle- and upper-class people, and what I’m thinking of will involve rolling back racism throughout society, but it negatively affects the working-class more).
**6. 42% of this version is me, 58% is the original.
7. I give this song/poem four stars out of five.
8. Just non-violence.
9. UPDATE 7/5/16 I changed "Americans" to "people" in the chorus.

From the great city of Montgomery, a leader came to us.
He inspired courage and bravery, in a struggle that’s so just
Dr. King has now fallen, but his memory still lives on.
So it will continue, when all the hate is gone.

Chorus
Our ranks are filled with people, marching down the street.
We are preassuring the enemy, let's force them to retreat!
Dr. King is still marching, walking by our side.
His words are still clear and loud, his spirit spread world-wide!

Dr. King’s weapon, was the message he worked to spread
His spirit fills my backbone, and it will until I’m dead.
A messenger of justice, a man who made us see
eternal laws of equality in his words for you and me.

Chorus

When the new democracy rises, we wont forget the man,
who bravely stood against war, poverty, and the Ku Klux Klan
Fulfilment of his mission is now our destiny
To further democratize our nation, and to set the working-class free

Chorus

****

++“Soldiarity” based on “Napalm In The Morning” by The Klansmen, original lyrics are here.

1. The original is written by Ian Stuart Donaldson for a side band of his, but he was mostly known for his British nazi punk band Skrewdriver and he supported the loyalist paramilitaries.
2. The reference to Vietnamese flags makes more sense than you think. First, it’s part of twisting the lyrics, since the original is pro-America in relation to the Vietnam war and refers to Confederate flags. Second, in general the nationalist community and the republican family supported the Vietnamese resistance. At one point when Free Derry Wall was painted in the colors of the flag of N. Vietnam, Eamonn McCann highlighted that in an article and said that in the late 1960s a lot of the student radicals who were part of the N. Ireland civil rights movement would have had that flag in their rooms. It’s unlikely more than a very tiny minority of those student radicals joined republican paramilitaries, and it’s still not a perfect line, but it’s pretty good.
3. It’s technically off, but the body bags are those of British soldiers.
4. In general, a large part of this song is the soundtrack for one of my earlier posts.
5. The Union Jack is the British flag, that refers to it flying in the Six-Counties of N. Ireland.
6. Although you should read that post, the first line of the last verse refers to the worst of the problem, the leftists in America, the EU, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, (possibly others), who dismissed the oppression of Northern Catholics because of their religion and/or the color of their skin. The word traitor was already there, and kind of works in the sense that they betrayed their committment to supporting oppressed people.
7. I believe that people looked at the number of Catholic civilians killed by the security forces and loyalist paramilitaries and thought that it was small, but didn’t consider that the Catholic population was small and those deaths had a great impact on that community.
8. The Civil Rights marchers refers to Bloody Sunday, when 14 marchers were killed.
9. As I explain elsewhere, the world and specifically the Left failing to do what it should have done varies from country to country based on various criteria, but referring to the all foru directions pretty much makes sense.
10. Bombay St. was one of the main victims of the Aug. 1969 anti-Catholic pogroms which is usually seen as the beginning of the conflict. During a period of 2-3 days in Belfast, 1,505 Catholic families fled their homes (probably something like 18% of Belfast’s Catholic population, probably something like 1.8% of the North’s Catholic population). For more, see this.
11. I’m almost reluctant to post this song. Even though I have improved the post this is based on and am even more convinced than before that there was some kind of serious gap between what the world did and what they should have done, I’m a little uncomfortable rubbing it in with a song. I’m basically saying “Greetings Comrades, care for another kick in the balls?”
**11. 69% of this version is me, 31% is the original.
12. I give this song/poem four stars out of five.
13. Besides the part about the global left, this is about the IRA and has little to say that would be repeated by nationalists.
14. UPDATE 1/25/14 I just changed the words "was on" to "begun" in the second line, first verse.
15. 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.

Northern kids in Belfast signed up to fight London
To fight against Orange tyranny an epic war begun
The kids signed up in Derry, south Armagh and Tyrone too
They wouldn’t submit, to the Brits
So they did what they could do

Stand and fight, for what was right
We wouldn't give in to imperialist might
The republican gains, the new day dawning
The Brits will count their dead in the morning

The Northern kids they went to war they took North Vietnamese flags
The rest of the world did nothing while these Volunteers filled body bags
Across the world no one was taking to the streets
A war wasn’t won because of leftists whose politics were weak

The idiots stand, in all our lands
But they will never raise their hands
They want to see a new day dawning
But they don’t care if the Union Jack is flying in the morning

The traitors were idiots and bigots of the political left
They couldn’t figure out the math on all those Catholics’ deaths
The Civil Rights marchers, they'd fallen to British guns
But these idiots, all they could think of were anti-gay priests and nuns
The Left’s very best, North, South, East and west,
Didn’t try to learn, how Bombay St. burned,
unless we end Irish partition
there will continue to be murders sectarian


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?).

Cool Image and two more songs

The image I found on the web-site of Irish Anti-Fascist Action. Frank Ryan was an Irish Republican leader of the anti-Fascist foreign volunteers in the Spanish Civil War. The words are taken from a song by The Pogues, who seem progressive. (Blackshirts were Italian fascists who were in the Spanish Civil War)

Below are two new songs. They're both based on that crap I listen to. For more of an explanation, see this. 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).

"Always Stupid" based on "Always Near (For Ian Stuart)" by Brutal Attack, original lyrics are here.

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. There's another anti- song I did on one of the other lyrics posts.

1. I wouldn't say the skinhead scene was perfect before the Nazis became a big part of it in the late 1970s UK, but it certainly got worse with them, and if you first get rid of the Nazis, and then with the rest remove the fairly universal homophobia, common hostility towards immigrants, common hostility towards hippies, and probably a tiny amount of unjustified violence, the skinhead thing is kind of cool. It's about working-class pride, good music, friends, drinking, an interesting look, fighting when appropriate- there's nothing wrong with that.
2. I read somewhere about another fatal accident that took something like 3/4 of a Nazi band.
3. I'm not quite sure this was appropriate, but apparently I've developed a habit of referring to Seamus Costello in my songs about Ian Stuart. In this one I thought it'd be better to refer to Bernadette Devlin-McAliskey, but fortunately she's still alive. The instant she dies, change "Seamus" to "Bernadette."
4. Henry Rollins, who seems to have excellent anti-racist credentials, has said that Ian Stuart was a good singer, and I've heard other people say that minus the fascsim, Skrewdriver was a good band.
5. I'm not sure "crooner" is the right word.
6. The Starry Plough is the flag of republican socialism (it's shared by many Irish groups, the Irish Republican Socialist Movement is one).
7. The line about Nazis driving is inspired by a professional anti-Ian Stuart song by MDC called "Nazis Shouldn't Drive."
**8. 52% of this version is me, 48% is the original.
9. I give this song/poem two out of five stars.
10. This is similar to my poems about anti-racist skinheads and the "smashing the struggle" would be a lot less than 100% non-violent.

Now I sit alone and as I write this song
I think about how everything you did was wrong
You screwed up the skinhead scene, and ruined lives
Fortunately for us, Nazis don't know how to drive

Chorus:
This happiness I feel is oh so great
The death of Ian Stuart is so very easy to take
Remembering all his shit oh so crystal clear
And I know Seamus' strength is always near

Now some say absence makes the heart grow fonder
But not with Ian Stuart, his talent he did squander
Why is life so unfair, why didn't he die years sooner
We would have been a lot better off without that crooner

Our hatred for you will never be allowed to fade
We will continue to smash the struggle on which your life was made
I don't know all the answers, but I will stand up true
In all my anti-fascist actions Ian, I will think of you

Now Seamus, inspire me like the starry plough you unfurled
So I do what is right while I fight for our world
Steer me safe along the path that's destiny
To the ultimate goal when we are all free

*****

"Lanford" based "White Kid's Gonna Fight" by Bully Boys, original lyrics are here.

1. Lanford is the name of the large town in the late 80s/mid- 90s TV show "Roseanne." It's one of my favorite shows. It's hilarious, and it's about a working class family that's liberal across the board. "Roseanne" had one semi-main character who was gay, another who came out towards the end of the series, and a third that was in about 33 episodes. The show was also very anti-racist, and they had a fairly good attitude towards religion. Besides the politics, it was an amazing show. Also, the guy who played Mark is from Ireland.
2. The original is about demographic change in a small town, this version is about conservatives taking over a town and economic recession at roughly the same time, connected to a large degree. I suppose it's a large town or even a small city.
3. In general I don't like changing lyrics without a good reason. The original says Susan instead of Roseanne and I'm not sure exactly what it means. In my version, I guess it refers to Roseanne slightly breaking under the strain of the conservative nonsense that's taking over her town, which means that there's a lot of that nonsense, because it takes a lot to have that effect on Roseanne.
4. Considering that this is about a town being taken over by conservatives (and the rape line was already there, I didn't add it) I should say that it's probably not accurate to say that rapes would increase with an influx of conservatives, although it seems possible it would, more possible than with an influx of liberals. The main point though, is that, as evidenced by Sarah Palin and the rape kits (see this), and some other things I have heard, conservatives, including conservative women, are less likely than liberals to have the appropriate attitude about rape.
5. The darkened streets are the result of people not able to pay their power bills and/or the town/city cutting back on things like street-lights.
6. The words "porno store" were there with the original, but it almost makes sense the way I have it re-written for my version. Also, when I first read the original lyrics, I didn't know what a "porno store" was, a friend had to explain it to me, I had never heard of that kind of place.
7. In my version, the fighting is meant at least 99% non-violently. Also, although the quality isn't as great as I thought it would be, and I'm not sure how singable it is, it's possible this could be used to inspire people doing canvassing and get-out-the-vote efforts. UPDATE 2/23/09 I've changed my mind about the quality, and have been singing the altered version as I listen to the original, and it's awesome.
**8. 29% of this version is me, 71% is the original.
9. I give this song/poem five out of five stars.

UPDATES 3/31/09
1) The line about the porno store. I could have gone with the original and changed it to "Fred's old diner is now a gun store," but I'm pretty sure, based on some stuff in the show, that the Conner family on "roseanne" would have been more upset about the porno store closing than a gun store opening, and although it's close (I'm in the middle on guns) I would feel the same way.
2) Cops were portrayed pretty positively on the show, but it's fairly possible in a fairly liberal working-class town like Lanford that there could be no problem with police brutality (until the influx of conservatives) so that could explain why the cops were portrayed the way they were.
3) There was one tiny element that was also pro-prison.
4) Obviously I'm not a liberal, but I said "liberal" because it might be more accurate to call the Conners liberal than progressive, and they certainly weren't socialist.
5) The last season, the family gets rich from the lottery, but that season also includes by far the most anti-capitalist element of the show when Jackie and Roseanne use some of their money to help workers at a factory buy it- it becomes an employee-owned factory.
6) I think the cops, prisons, and the lottery wealth are the only elements that undermine the idea that it was solidly liberal (I guess I mean so liberal that you could almost call it progressive (but it's not like it advocated for single-payer; and although there are progressives fond of small business, the show was pro-small business and that's more of a liberal thing than a progressive thing)).

This used to be where I belonged
Now where have all the liberal kids gone?
The working-class built this fucking town
Now the damn place is going down
Well, Roseanne's looking a little beat
The homophobes just moved onto Karl St.
The cops shot miguel at 8th and Main
And Kate got raped, but who's to blame

Chorus:
Darkened streets and smashed dreams
My hometown is torn at the seams
But I won't leave without a fight
I've got just one chance to make things right... fight!

The union hall is now all we've got
There's Republicans in every parking lot
The employers have declared class war
The Puritans closed down the porno store
I think I know just who's to blame
But I won't play their crying game
The GOP still wants to turn back the clock
I'm gonna fight this block by block



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?).

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?).