damien dempsey to hell or barbados

[ClancyPhotography]

Absolutely brilliant...........I can feel the pain of my ancestors every time I listen to this. Some songs transcend music , this is a piece of historical art

[cherepaninets]

Очень красивый голос!!! Brilliant voice!!! Kaunis!!!

[BrotherLeader]

Hell or Barbados..!

[tygtygtygtygeza]

i need lyrics!!

[BrotherLeader]

You wont catch that shell of a man eoghan harris writing about this ! #sindo

[scottishwar4]

i bought the book to hell or barbados and it is extremly sad what really happened if this happened in current society it would rank with the holocaust

[kingpharaohtsar]

@scottishwar4 it doz but we wont take it as a leg up the way jews do i dont talk about such things with none gael coz that wud b piss an wineing we dont do that we are humble yet proud like bobby sands rip

[wackybumcheek]

what a man. why hasn't he been on jools holland?

[spainishgirl]

@SuperiorBlueEyedCelt strong thrist to learn of my dear IRISH PEOPLE'S HISTORY.

LOVE,PEACE AND JOY TO YOU ALWAYS,

Dorothy ( Dot )

[SuperiorBlueEyedCelt]

@spainishgirl Many thanks!

[wackybumcheek]

stunning. i wont say tiocfaidh ar la, instead i'll say we shall overcome, we always do, and we always will. Damo is Universal, he sings for anyone who has ever struggled, and lets face it, if you havent your not alive

[wackybumcheek]

stunning

[8aPeach2]

4 people are homies with King James the 1st

[spainishgirl]

THIS SONG MAKES MY HEART MY CRIES. .MY PATERNAL GRANDMOTHER.... SHE WAS PART IRISH... (SO IRISH BLOOD FLOWS THROUGH MY VEINS ALSO) I NEVER GOT TO MEET HER. SLAVERY OF ONE IS WICKED  AND EVIL!! I AM GLAD THE TRUTH IS COMING OUT ABOUT THE GREAT TRAGEDY. MY POOR IRISH BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

[SuperiorBlueEyedCelt]

@spainishgirl The celts settled in spain and went up into ireland, look at xabi alonso the spannish footballer he looks like a Celt/Irish man lol ;-)

[Conall2007]

@SuperiorBlueEyedCelt ginger beard lol

[davemooney100]

best song off that album!!!

[rorygallag]

Damian singing proudly in the Dublin brogue and how we love to hear its rich articulation - give me a regional accent any day : ) His heart and strong sense of injustice around the place is where he is at and he is an inspiration ....

[gangstaboo62]

Now I understand why Rihanna has an Irish-Caribbean accent!!! It all makes sense!

[MrSeanyFitz]

TONIGHT IN VICAR STREET!

[flats1916]

He doesn't have a strong Dublin accent are u takin d piss

[keanovid]

@flats1916 course he does ya bollox

[liams18]

The crimes against the downtrodden and oppressed are the easiest forgotten

[liams18]

@snipereire what book?

[123RUTH123]

"then a whip-lash licks my heels,

and my scorched skin bursts and peels,

for my people were not made,

for these boarding fields."

Gets me everytime! :'/

[dortalinho]

@123RUTH123

burning fields?!

[vivlfc]

@123RUTH123 I've not seen the lyrics, but always heard it as burning fields

[wackybumcheek]

beautiful damo

[MrBushytop]

If anyone has lyrics for the bit at the end would be great. Whats the great man up to at the moment

[Larry2me]

It's disgusting that we aren't thought about the evil inflicted upon our nation by the colonial masters!! The only way we can truely become a proud nation is by honouring our ancestors and our Gaelic heritage. The British Empire was responsible for the death of millions upon millions of our people. Lest we forget...

[Freshhhhh1982]

@Larry2me I learnt about it in national school. I thought it was common knowledge.

[123RUTH123]

I cannot believe as an Irish person at the age of 20 until today I had NO idea of the extent of Irish slavery, let alone there were Irish slaves, really am in shock, and quite annoyed that I was never taught this in school or told about it at all!?! Amazing song!

[seanuspaulus]

This is Damo's best,powerful and emotionally stirring.

[The0000jan]

This issue might seem out of date to a great amount of ignorant twats, however demo brings back certain facts of history for all to acknowledge. And the music is great too. He's not nationalist, he's humane

[mcanner25]

@The0000jan looks like your out of date you gimp his name is damo not demo get it right jack ass

[sammidoll85]

favourite song of his.. <3 him

[muxmahony]

Cracking Song

[spraoi111]

There is a great book written on this subject that's well worth reading called-

To Hell or Barbados: The Ethnic Cleansing of Ireland by Sean O'Callaghan

It goes through the whole process of the Irish Gaels being sent off as slaves and goes on to descibe how the slave traders got so greedy that they began to send there own English young girls as well to be sold off as sex slaves to dirty rich planters...

[Larry2me]

@spraoi111 The Ethnic Cleansing Of Ireland by Seán O'Callaghan??!! I thought it was Oliver Cromwell!!! :P ;) Sorry, just had to make that joke...

[spraoi111]

@Larry2me :) I see that now... Dont worry it could have been worse

[scottishwar4]

@spraoi111 i love that book

[paulk7446]

cant liseen to antin else 4 now pure class

[paulk7446]

not meny songs come close to dis fuken class

[wackybumcheek]

1 thing i get from damos music is positivity, we as a nation should embrace that and go forward. we've had a rotten past but now we're one of the most envied nations on earth, for what we made it through, and come out smilin. ive been all over and thats the truth. viva damo! viva la isla! and anyone else who wants to come with us! we made it

[Larry2me]

@wackybumcheek I'm glad that you're so positive about our glorious nation, but we still haven't made it through the dark times. Our culture and identity are almost completely destroyed. Until they are revived and Ireland becomes a Gaelic nation then we are still carrying the chains of slavery.... ÉIRE GO BRÁCH...

[wackybumcheek]

makes me cry. his best work imo. what a ballsie bastard, lettin it go like we all would like to. maith an fear!

[idealkid]

One of my faviourate songs, resistance to the system, fight til were free no way wil our sweet country be corupted by britain, for we are stronger and will strive through this life untill up with god at his pearly gates. Ideal

[GuildF40]

Being Irish and having lived in Barbados I can assure you they are still there. Living on the east coast. They are called the poor whites and were given land when set free on the east coast which is useless as it is salted by the trade winds. Every person on the planet needs to know slavery was not just a BLACK thing.

[wackybumcheek]

@GuildF40 my man i live in the carib and what you say is true, they are the poorest of the poor. slaves thats were left behind, hundreds of years ago, no idea where they came from or why they are there. empires, the ones in the past should be damnated, stripped, their proud ancsetors disgraced.

[Teetee33]

Still three years or so on, one of my favorites of Damien Dempsey's--and I like all of them. Power and conviction, and an important history lesson. Good stuff.

[icookstuff]

all we were thaught in school was bull,there was no famine,it was a starvation! the english exported corn and beef under armed guard hundreds of years after they sold our people as slaves to work on planters sugar plantations and if we had have been taught the thruth in our crappy schools then maybe we not be in the mess that we are in now.maybe we would be a 32 county nation and find a real pride in ourselves for taking back what is rightfully ours.

[StSimonOfTrent]

Irish Catholics were Forbidden to receive Education, Enter a Profession, Hold Public office, Engage in a Trade,

Own land, Lease land, Accept a mortgage on land, Vote, Keep Arms, Practice Law.

Forbidden to buy land from a Protestant, inherit land from a Prot.

He could not, when dying, leave his infant children under Catholic guardianship.

He could not attend Catholic Mass.

He could not educate his child.

300,000 Catholics sold as Slaves-Proclamation 1625

Millions Genocided-Potato Famine

[o0oKilluminatio0o]

i have the book,i have only read the first 2 chapters so far..it goes into great detail of how oliver cromwell took most over ireland and why...i suggest you all buy it and find time to read it

erin go bragh x

[oramikleepunk]

This history is never talked about in America.They try to cover it up.The dutch owned African and Irish in the Americas.

[o0oKilluminatio0o]

yes sir..we will never forget

[onblock7]

They try to cover up alot of things, all we hear about is the african slaves and Indians etc. here in our schools! I never knew about this growing up at all till now and I am IRISH! THIS OPENED MY EYES, this and other stories on the net.

[oramikleepunk]

I agree with you.One other reason it is cover up is it happened years before the American revolution,when the brits owned this land.Nat turner was a irish slave,he was renamed after his master,but people lack history in America.

[o0oKilluminatio0o]

@oramikleepunk it was the jewish dutch..just like the jewish who controled the african slave trade..christopher columbus was a jew..also the celts traveled to the americas before him..theres evidence..

[NuNegus]

The slavery of the Irish and Scottish has been washed away; I'm an aspiring musician myself and my favorite genre is reggae.

When I was in Jamaica a couple of years ago and I mentioned that I had a lot of Irish in my ancestry, many people I spoke to were thrilled and began talking about the history of Irish slaves on their island. In fact, to this day, many Jamaicans consider the Irish their "cousins".

Peter Tosh often said he loved the Irish because they knew the struggle for freedom.

[steve0281]

That is why the Jamaican accent has a similarity to that of the Irish.

[NuNegus]

Indeed; I've actually known about that a lot. Many linguistic scholars trace the origin of the Jamaican accent in large part to the arrival of Irish slaves, particularly those from Cork.

[onblock7]

Peter TOSH is one of my faves of all times, this made me cry hearing you say this here, it seems Africans and Irish can relate in alot of ways, thing is most only know the struggle of Africans and nothing of the irish from schools.

[NuNegus]

Peter is a personal hero of mine, as is Bob Marley, and many other reggae revolutionaries. I'm glad you liked what I had to say - the Irish and the Africans, and many others, know the yoke of oppression all too well, and it's too little mentioned. I actually saw a poem that goes something like this here on YouTube once that rather fits:

Who put the red in the Union Jack?

The Irish and the Scots and the African black

People who died to get their freedom back

Blessed love from Seattle

[mcanner25]

yes we are a like but there are some big differences to it a little knowing fact white people have bigger brains then black people, plus its very annoying all these kurupt nigerians coming into our beautifull land and takin advantage , i mean there not even in the EU , they need to get back on the bannana boat they sailed in on

[Globalfaction]

@mcanner25: So your cranium is bigger...so what the fuck! My Apple Mac is smaller and more streamlined than most PC's and yet it's memory, functions and styling smashes any PC....your fucking head is bigger but you're still in a blasted mind trailor park! get real or STFU with your racist shit. Your Big cranium is not wise enough to realise that ALL of humanity has the capacity to be great or to be dumb like you.

[LisalisamagsOReilly]

@mcanner25 UR A PRICK YE R!!!!

[wabawab]

what a tune, anybody know where i can get the tabs for guitar.

[mcanner25]

yes i can send them onto you for a small fee ?

[laidbackshane]

absolutely amazing song...makes the hairs on my neck stand up....damien doesnt get the recognition he deserves! every thing he says in his songs are true! greatest songwriter ireland has everseen! keep it up damo tiocfaidh ar la!

[preacain]

this song is victory for the truth over of the evil deeds comitted by an evil empire whitch was based on racisim robbery slavery genocides and censorship, the story is well told with heart , victory to the truth , good Man Damo !

[sportydevil666]

Look to Blame the british Royal Monarchy and there Lord's in the house of Lord's for they have alot to answer for and im scottish and look what they done to our country the SWINE'S they will pay one day... Ps very good song keep up the fight

[fredxmertz]

What a great song! This subject is also in the song TOBACCO ISLAND by the group Flogging Molly, but set in a very different 'vibe'

[bajadom]

I moved from Finglas to Barbados 2 years ago, and am still astounded at the similarities between our 2 beautiful countries. I remember Father Blackett telling us they were travelling over to Ireland; but unfortunatelty I could not travel. I think my Dad met them tho.

Irish + Bajans = United in History

[orasis]

The Irish were slated for extermination by the British. John Stuart Mill wrote about them, as an inferior race. The Natives of America were also included in the list.

NEVER FORGET.

[tubeviewerthree]

My mummy was born in Barbados and she passed when I was 13. Part of my ancestry is the Arawak Indian. I recently visited my family in Barbados and while I was there I met Father Harcourt Blackett who recently led a contingent to Ireland on behalf of the "Red Legs' who have all but been forgotten in Barbados. I also recently read the mentioned book.

I mourn for your ancestors just as I mourn for my ancestors who suffered under the cruel, cruel hand of slavery.

I am proud to say I am a Bajan

[wackybumcheek]

be proud and dont mourn any more, its our world now, ive met a lot of peolple from a lot of places. and thats what makes it so sweet. celebrate! viva!!

[heffyhoof]

Wow this song is so amazing. Every time i hear this i get goosebumps all over. If anyone wants to help Damo go to other vids that are highly watched and slip in a mention of him if its appropriate. I do it whenever i get the chance.

[Dehnaldinho]

Personally for me this is one of the most incredible songs Ive ever known. How he can get into the mindset of what it was like for the Irish slaves hundreds of years ago is beyond me. He's up there with the greatest songwriters ever for me.

If you close your eyes and drift off you are on that island, he puts you there. Incredible.

[FAEMINOSMITH]

Damien is an amazing discovery for me.

Such an interesting and talented artist.

VIVA BOB DOYLE, one of the best Irish men our eyes we'll see.

VIVA LA XV BRIGADA

[deirdrec1]

Beautiful Song...

haunting melody...

5 Stars..

[preacain]

have a lot of your stuff Damo, fair play to ya! this is beauty full way to fight evil .... With good music ... Diamas na paisti black and white !

[ardoynecelt]

amazing song damo is a legend

[ciarand19]

damos not about the history of his songs, in my opinion hes about the power within him that lets him sing any song or story to anybody and they will understand, it comes from the heart, that what music is about...

[ire1land]

hitler,cromwell,pol pot, saddam, stalin,mao have all fused into one lethal killing machine which controls the media and has the u.s.a as a big brother enabling them to kill at will and the world sits back. This kinda genocide it what makes bin laden look like a school boy. what an irony that they said after ww2 this would never be allowed to happen again and now look at what is happenning, the victims of the last genicide are doing the same horrific murderious crimes. ya never kill our will ....

[bigmacontour]

we shall never forget but we should respect everyone regardless of colour or creed. almost all english i've met are great people. history doesn't reflect on them well, but that doesn't excuse pointless hatred. One day, we will be united through peaceful means please god

[offdstage]

love ur channel,

i have been trying to upload damos album version of spraypaint back alley having awful trouble done it with windows movie maker,wont go up 1rst they said couldnt convert file then said file too small, my head is wrecked any ideas ?

cheers ..maybe you could up load it

[LCDproductions09]

pure legend...

someone to be proud of...

but because he doesnt play the game with certain people(lick arses)he doesnt get the recognition he deserves....

dont think damo cares or would have it any other way though...

its about the music

[fitzdarren]

One of the greatest songs ever. How can anyone not like this man just because he sings with his own accent he tells the history of our past. He's a legend.

[celticboxingfan]

thank you for the acknowledgement kenno83... DAM STRAIGHT ! CROMWELL SHOULD ROT IN HELL!! he was responsible for MASS GENOCIDE on a scale even worse than HITLER ! its a fact but unfortunately a forgotten one. i dont want to stir anti british sentiment but we must not forget our history or let those who have inflicted such pain forget it either. that doesnt mean we should hate ourselves... we should make sure this never happens again in the name of ANY CAUSE !

[SuperiorBlueEyedCelt]

@celticboxingfan My man, you cannot compare Hitler to Cromwell!

[scottishwar4]

@celticboxingfan amen brother but many people wont listen to what i tell them

[paddydub]

@celticboxingfan music is not history to you. you were not born in times of trouble, when we had trouble we dealt with it and still are

[brophyg2]

i actually wrote this song. not damo. its actually about my two week holiday in gran canaria after i finished my leaving cert. i wrote it outside the fiddler on some homeless lads ukelele. "barbados" actually means the 'pink lady' restaraunt. id rather hell than eat another margareita pizzini from that god-forsaken hole of a eating establishment.

[kenno83]

cromwell was voted the best brittian of the last 100 years!! purely as celticboxingfan said certain elements were rubbed under the carpet! forgive but NEVER forget.

[joebhoy1916]

Forgive what Cromwell did? You must be joking.. The struggle until our Island is free will always continue.

[babyboomer22]

well guess wat weve sold our selves to collonialism once again but this time its in form of big corporations they are the true rulers of us and the government

[elctronicmusic]

used to listen to albums seize the day and shots on a daily basis but aint been listening to damiens stuff lately god ive been missing out this song is so emotional its what i love about his stuff all his stuff has so much meaning and not just the same old love songs like most artists

[Maddacheb]

new album out this week!

[caitlin21meeenie]

what album?

[Maddacheb]

its called "The Rocky Road"

[rathcooleposse]

rudebwai gives me the shivers everytimne

[emceelynx]

one of my absolute favorite songs of his.

[flamingsword67]

its amazing the amount of cultures that are connected because of slavery by the english,i know the 800 years are well over but because of the amount of irish that were killed for no reason or for rebeling against them i for one will never forgive...absalutely beautifull song,i love his voice and the big dublin accent :P

[dontgetpersonel]

amazing book im half irish ,my mums from sligo,and my dads fom st lucy barbados i never knew how intertwined ther history was the book really opened my eyes.

[ire1land]

I have the books that inspires this song. it called to "hell or barbados" and its a must read. Then you will really feel the song and what it means. This song is along the lines of the great man himself "mcgowan"would write long may it continue damo you now carry the mantle of luke kelly and you have earned.Most powerful ballad since wolf tones done "Joe mc donnell" cromwell hope your rottten down in hell and suffer hundred fold what you put those poor souls through.

[heressShelly]

what a legend..:D

[Gambit118]

man i love this song its pure class geat to listen to when ur stoned

[harry180702]

Excellent stuff.

Damo!!!!!!

[raygeraghty]

what an unbelievable man. goosebumps stuff

[Teetee33]

I'm not Irish, but Damo could be singing this song about my people--the Africans--word for word, who were dehumanized on Barbados right alongside the Irish. More amazing stuff from a beautiful, talented-beyond-description man. He and I have a date next Friday night in NYC, LOL! Rock on, Damo!

[AntiDark777]

Great Song ,agreed

It says in the album booklet its specifically about the Comwellian invasion of Ireland, who gave Irish the choice: Be deported to Barbados to work as slaves, or die and be sent to hell (he believed all catholics went to hell), hence the title

[pinhead1304]

fucking class song. thats some proper irish music!

[celticboxingfan]

this song was wrote about cromwellian times in ireland. cromwell gave the irish one choice.go to barbados or die!being from wexford, a place where cromwell plundered and set his base fort this song is an ode to my forefathers and touches my heart strings.its inspirational and beautifully crafted."my skin bursts n peels,my people are not made for these burning fields".thank you damien.

[celticboxingfan]

thank you damien.thank you for remembering somthing which was erased from the history books.for that we will always owe you....

[pureirish07]

Another one flats good man keep them comin go on the damo

[flats1916]

wat do u want up

[championkhan]

Is this singer Irish?

[flats1916]

irish to d core

[eireisthebest]

@flats1916 Is he from Dublin ? He doesn't have a very strong accent :P

[buckfastpk]

very good song good man

[Joobasorus]

love this fucking song.

[mcanner25]

YE very good keep them comin