"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

Battles: of the Bogside and of Hayes Pond

Four new songs. The first three are "Those Lyrics," see this for an explanation. The first two are not my favorites, the last two are really good. The 3rd is a new kind of "Those Lyrics," it's based on a N. Ireland loyalist song.

1. Defenders of the Republic. The IRA in N. Ireland.
2. John McGuffin's Song. Anarchist republicanism in N. Ireland.
3. Battle of Hayes Pond. An armed showdown between American Indians and the KKK in 1958.
4. Battle of the Bogside. The successful repulsion of a massive police attack on a Catholic ghetto in Derry (N. Ireland) in 1969.

I think that's it. 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).

"Defenders of the Republic" based on "Defenders Of The Reich" by Final War, original lyrics are here.

1. Of course, in general Volunteers (members of republican paramilitaries) didn't walk around looking like Volunteers, but I have seen footage in a documentary of them walking around during riots, and they would sometimes patrol their neighborhoods during times of calm; there are also other times, possibly including times when they're en route to attacking the British security forces, that they would appear as Volunteers (in the early 70s with the no-go areas it was very common for this to be the case). The line makes enough sense that I'm keeping it.
2. The reference to a phase is a little odd,but it sort of works and I like to change as little as possible.
3. The last brick refers to their willingness to fight (if all they had was a brick , they would throw it at the Brits).
4. Belfast is the capital of N. Ireland.
5. The 3rd line of the 2nd verse is not available on the Internet, and I could barely understand it, so that's not based on the original at all.
**6. 58% of this version is me, 42% is the original.
7. This is not an endorsement of continuing armed struggle after the IRA cease-fire of 1997.
8. I give this song/poem two out of five stars.
9. Considering the original, I should explain what is probably obvious, that Irish pride within N. Ireland is almost always 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)
10. This is exclusively about the IRA.
11. UPDATE 12/13/10 I just changed the second line of the last verse- I replaced "republican-socialist" with "anti-fascist." The thing is, the original is American, see this for more.
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. 

Walking down the street with your head held high
People know you're a Volunteer as you pass by
Army jacket and mask, you're prepared
Brits Fuck with us if they dare
Volunteer's not a phase, it's a national calling
We'll give the British occupiers a real mauling
Our flags fly high and our banners are unfurled
Anti-Imperialist Volunteers a tradition across the world!

Chorus:
Volunteers-Defenders of the republic
Volunteers- We fight to the last brick
Volunteers-Standing proud and fast
Volunteers-We fight to free Belfast

When we see the Brits commin, we attack without fear
We fight with honor, We're anti-fascist Volunteers
We've been marching and fighting since 1968
Won't be long until the Brits capitulate
Fighting for our class and nation, fighting for our land
And we fight with the winning hand
A glorious battle it will be
A shining bright, republican victory

*****

"John McGuffin's Song" based on "War Machine" by Final War, original lyrics are here.

1. I barely changed this one, but what got my attention was the most important part. The line about flags (colors) was originally "red, white and blue and the red, white and black" the first flag being the American one, the second being the Nazi flag. The line below that required that if I kept with the flag theme, I had to keep the word black, and then it hit me, the red and black of the anarchist flag.
2. John McGuffin was a well known and well-liked Irish anarchist who took part in what I consider the most inspirational event in the Troubles, the Belfast-Derry march by People's Democracy (see this). For more on him, see this (he died in 2002). This is basically about anarchist republicanism, the references to fighting are certainly NOT neccessarily meant to involve arms, and would be mostly non-violent.
3. I give this song/poem four out of five stars.
*4. 5% of this version is me, 95% is the original.
5. Although there are a small hand-full of "National Anarchists," anarchism is very anti-Nazi (I say that because that's the only thing that twists the lyrics, and I wanted to make sure people knew that).
6. UPDATE 3/14/20 I THINK McGuffin was a republican or sorts- an anarchist republican friend of mine didn't say anything critical when I showed him this poem.

Another step forward, no steps back
we're fully motivated goin' in for the attack
our goals set high, we're prepared to die
success or death is our battle cry
pickin' up the pace, goin' face to face
moving forward fast let's cut to the chase
starring straight ahead, never lookin' behind
we're geared for gain one thing on our minds

Chorus
Like a War Machine into battle we ride
fighting together side by side
unified our strengths become one
like a War Machine- we'll fight 'till we've won

Our minds are focused, our minds are clear
we've got our sight set we have nothing to fear
we're pushing forth, growing strong
keeping motivated, moving right along
we're in this to win to lose would be a sin
our destiny awaits us let the battle begin
all for one and one for all
as a unified movement we can never fall

We're the Green, White and Orange and the Red and Black
these colors don't run they stand and fight back
they're a collaboration of our Nation and our Class
We educate, organize and struggle en masse
let's take another step forward, no steps back
we're fully motivated, goin in for the attack
our goals set high, we're prepared to die
success or death is our battle cry

*****

"Battle of Hayes Pond" based on "Gibraltar" author unknown, version very similar to what I used is here.

1. The Battle of Hayes Pond was in 1958. The Ku Klux Klan had been harrasing an American Indian community in North Carolina. One night the Klan held a rally. All of a sudden they were surrounded by 500 armed Indians, who opened fire. Some of the Klan were wounded, the rest took off. After that the State clamped down on the Klan, and between that and I think the battle itself, until 1984 there was no more white supremacist activity in that area.
2. The battle is sometimes referred to as the Battle of Maxton Field.
3. Strom Thurmond ran for President in 1948 as a segregationist.It's possible I'm slightly exaggerating his position on the Klan, but even if I am, that's reflecting the original lyrics.
4. Robeson is the county the battle took place in.
5. It's not too likely they were going to leave MANY for dead, but it's possible, and they were certainly going to harrass and assault people and destroy property.
6. James W. "Catfish" Cole was the leader of the Klan in South Carolina, which had crossed the state line into NC.
7. Four Klan were wounded, but not seriously.
8. The captured flag was a prized trophy.
9. There were about 50 Klan, 350-500 Lumbee.
**10. 64% of this version is me, 36% is the original.
11. The original is about the Ulster Defense Association (a loyalist paramilitary), which to one degree or another has been connected with British Nazis and racist violence in N. Ireland. Also, my experience has been that there's a fair number of American Indians who have shown a lot of solidarity with the Irish struggle, so this is twisting the original lyrics.
12. "The Blood and the Soil" is a racist phrase.
13. The chronology is off a little, because the original refers to first one event and then a second one, but it seems to work pretty well anyway.
14. I give this song/poem four out of five stars.

There's a place called Maxton Field, well-known as Hayes Pond
The Klan were rallying for hatred and their false racial bond
When along came some warriors, they are America's best
Oppressed people the whole world over were very impressed

Chorus:
And the KKK, were scared away
The Klan didn't return for 25 years after that day

Well, Thurmond, he was angry, for "the Blood and the Soil"
The Klan terror in Robeson, the warriors did foil
For the Klan planned to terorrize and leave many for dead,
But the brave warriors made them run in panic instead

Chorus

That wanker "Catfish" Cole, what a wonderfull sight,
He left his wife and ran away completely in fright,
The mad yellow bigot didn't know what to do,
When faced with native warriors, all so brave and so true.

Chorus

The nation of these anti-racist warriors, it's called the Lumbee,
Right to Hayes Pond they went to bring the Klan to it's knees
Three hundred fifty guns they were fired and four Klan they got nipped
The Klan's flag was captured and the Invisible Empire was whipped

Chorus

*****

"Battle of the Bogside" based on "Battle of Maxton Field" by Malvina Reynolds (and changed a bit by Pete Seeger) The web-page where I first found this is gone and I can't find the right lyrics on-line. below my version is most of the original, except for the last 1-2 verses which I didn't feel like I could do anything with. (I typed the original lyrics based on the audio of Seeger, not the very original version by Reynolds)

1. For more on the Battle of the Bogside, see this.
2. There are various things indicating racism among the Apprentice Boys (a group comparable to the Orange Order), see the first half of this (the AB members would be largely members of the UUP and the DUP) It's also probably safe to say that they were not sure Irish Catholics are members of the Aryan Race (no thanks, we'll pass).
3. For more on Loyal Orders in N. Ireland, including the Apprentice Boys, see this. That will also explain why it was acceptable for kids to stone the AB parade.
4. Fenian is a derogatory term for republican, although it has been adopted by republicans. It's also a derogatory term for Catholic.
5. In the original 3rd verse about coke and pie, it says girls. I went with men, because there was a very popular civil rights/nationalist/labor politician in the late 1960s and then during the 1970s named Ivan Cooper who was a Protestant and according to the movie "Bloody Sunday" (he's the main character) his girlfriend was Catholic (my version doesn't work pefectly, but it's close).
6. The RUC was the Royal Ulster Constabluary, the police until 2001.
7. The MP was Bernadette Devlin, who is celebtated for her role in encouraging the Bogsiders. There's an amazing mural of her in the Bogside, you can see it here. More information on her is available here.
8. I almost always use the voice of someone I'm not with my songs. In the original, the voice switches from Klan to anti-Klan and back, and in mine, it's the same thing with an Orange or anti-Orange perspective, and since the original anti-klan voice is that of a white ally, I'm also using the voice of a Protestant throughout. (and I guess it's a female in the 3rd verse)
9. The Starry Plough is the flag of republican socialism.
10. Stormont was the sectarian devolved government of N. Ireland.
11. The BA is the British Army. Although they intervened at the end (and in Belfast where something similar but much worse for the Nationalist population was happening, the BA SORT of saved the Nationalists) they did so when the RUC were being beaten, they hadn't stopped the RUC from attacking the Bogside, and there's plenty of reason to think that they were not bothered by the police attacking the Bogside.
12. Interestingly, right before I "wrote" this song, I took a Loyalist song and twisted it into a song about the "Battle of Hayes Pond," the subject of the original of this song (audio for the song "Battle of Maxton Field" can be found here.
**13. 46% of this version is me, 54% is the original, and I ignored 2 verses that it seemed like I couldn't do anything with.
14. With the exception of the vague reference to the IRA of the future, this is not about them, but about a popular act of resistance.
15. UPDATE 5/18/09 Considering this is an addition and not a change in what's already there, I'm not really breaking my rule of only changing lyrics after I publish with a good reason. The last chorus about the BA is new.
When I suggest they're bigots, bear in mind I didn't have a good reason to change the original, and consider this- although poverty was probably a much bigger factor than bigotry in people joining the BA during The Troubles, that line could be meant as referring to those, and there must have been some, who joined BECAUSE of the conflict, and maybe also sort of those who joined, very comfortable with the possibility-liklihood that they would be sent to the North. Also, since I still don't think I can do anything with the last verse (you never know, I might do that at some point), this kind of ruins it for singing along with the original, but if some performer wants to do it, that's not an issue.
16. I give this song/poem four out of five stars.
17. UPDATE 5/8/11 When I finished this years ago, I sent it to a community group called The Museum of Free Derry (I link to them above). I didn't hear back. I asked a friend of mine if he thought any of this poem was offensive, he said "no." I think I figured out what might have offended them. The line where I end with the word "spine." I used that word because it was already RIGHT THERE in the original, and it was pretty close to what I needed to say. I'll see if I can come up with something more appropriate. (UPDATE 7/27/12 I just added the word "more;" does that make it less offensive?)

Oh, have you seen the Apprentice Boys- sectarianism they incite
they marched here in Derry just looking for a fight

"rally 'round you Boys bold In hatred's cold embrace
we'll march on Derry's wall's and save the aryan race"

Chorus
oh the Boys,
oh the Boys
It's only Protestants that they employ
if you are free and Protestant and bigot
and get your courage from a spigot
they be needing reinforcements for to fight the fenian

"Now the Catholics, the Catholics- They are our natural foe
they lure our men with beer and steak and take them to a show"

"they worship the Father and the Son but anyone can see
they are not real Christians- the likes of you and me"

now some kids threw rocks and the police stood in circle brave and fine
as the kids resisted, one MP gave them encouragement and more spine

an Irish youth with steely eyes, as the Starry Plough was flown
she stood fast and encouraged resistance with the megaphone

chorus:
oh the RUC,
oh the RUC
They serve the Protestant bourgeoisie
if you are free and Protestant and bigot
and get your courage from a spigot
they be needing reinforcements, for to fight the fenian

The Battle continued for three days- there was not a moment's rest
As a hundred thousand Bogside kids took on Stormont's best

well maybe not a million quite but surely more than eight
the RUC were retreating- The bogside had won against the state

now the BA they were down the road- they did not lift a gun
they heard the noise, they said the boys, were having a little fun

But when they saw the RUC lads streaming down the road
they knew that something went amiss- the wrong switch had been throwed

Oh the BA
Oh the BA
They thought they would defeat the IRA
If you are free and British and Bigot
And get your courage from a spigot
They'll be needing reinforcements, for to fight the fenian


Original lyrics:

Oh, have you seen the bed-sheet boys the terors of the night
they rallied here at maxton just honin' for a fight

rally around you klansmen bold but do not show your face
we'll burn the fiety cross tonight and save the nordic race

Chorus
oh the Klan,
oh the klan
it calls on every red-blood fighting man
if your are free and white and bigot
and get your courage from a spigot
they be needing reinforcements for to fight the indian

Now the Indians, the Indians They are our natural foe
they lure our girls with coke and pie and take them to a show

they wear blue jeans and leather coats but anyone can see
they are not reall americans the likes of you and me

now the head-lights shone the klansmen stood in circle brave and fine
when suddenly a whoop was heard that curdled every spine

an Indian youth with steely eyes he sauntered in alone
he calmly drew his shooting iron and conked the microphone

chorus

now another shot the lights went out there was a moment's hush
then a hundred thousand lumbee boys came screaming from the brush

well maybe not a million quite but surely more than four
the klansmen shook from head to foot and headed for the door

now the troopers they were down the road they did not lift a gun
they heard the noise, they said the boys were having a little fun

But when they saw the nigh-shirt lads streaming down the road
they knew that something went amiss the wrong switch had been throwed


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?).