Luke Kelly: Battle Of The Somme/Freedom Come All Ye

Roch the win i the clear day's dawin
Blaws the clouds heilster-gowdie owre the bay
But thair's mair nor a roch win blawin
Thro the Great Glen o the warl the day
It's a thocht that wad gar our rottans
Aa thae rogues that gang gallus fresh an gay
Tak the road an seek ither loanins
Wi thair ill-ploys tae sport an play

Nae mair will our bonnie callants
Merch tae war whan our braggarts crousely craw
Nor wee weans frae pitheid an clachan
Murn the ships sailin doun the Broomielaw
Broken faimilies in launs we've hairriet
Will curse 'Scotlan the Brave' nae mair, nae mair
Black an white ane-til-ither mairriet
Mak the vile barracks o thair maisters bare

Sae come aa ye at hame wi freedom
Never heed whit the houdies croak for Doom
In yer hous aa the bairns o Aidam
Will fin breid, barley-bree an paintit room
Whan MacLean meets wi's friens in Springburn
Aa thae roses an geeans will turn tae blume
An a black laud frae yont Nyanga
Dings the fell gallows o the burghers doun.


Translation

It's a rough wind in the clear day's dawning
Blows the clouds head-over-heels across the bay
But there's more than a rough wind blowing
Through the Great Glen of the world today

It's a thought that would make our rodents,

All those rogues who strut and swagger,
Take the road and seek other pastures
To carry out their wicked schemes

No more will our fine young men
March to war at the behest of jingoists and imperialists

Nor will young children from mining communities and rural hamlets
Mourn the ships sailing off down the River Clyde

Broken families in lands we've helped to oppress
will never again have reason to curse the sound of advancing Scots

Black and white, united in friendship and marriage,
Will result in the military garrisons being adandoned and empty

So come all you who love freedom
Pay no attention to the prophets of doom

In your house all the children of Adam
Will be welcomed with food, drink and hospitality

When the spirit of John MacLean returns to his people

All the flowers will blossom
And black Africa will bring crashing down
All Imperialism's dreadful apparatus of oppression.

http://www.soundsirish.com/search/?pid=71

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Luke
• Kelly
• And
• The
• Dubliners

[megastones]

a great song, written by a great Scotsman, Hamish Henderson ( who I remember coming to visit my father when I was a small child) and sung by an equally great Irishman, the amazing Luke Kelly. what a combination!

[DonegalRaymie201]

@prudence42

I suggest you listen to the lyrics of this great song, then tell us "this is music not politics"!!!

The Late, Great Hamish Henderson was NOT writing a wee pop diddy, but a song with something strong and aye, very political to say, as Luke well appreciated!

[MrJoncando]

..regime change ain't social change

[3tangle3]

@celtfin1 save that phrase you used and spread it

[joeygsmom]

humans can be both noble and detestable. of course, hearing Lukey sing tends to bring out the sublime...

[robsargent4]

@3tangle3 well that would explain a lot!

[3tangle3]

@robsargent4 we have part bonobos and chimp genomes in us...chimps are the evil little gits...bonobos live in total peace with only rare non lethal fights

[robsargent4]

@3tangle3 mind you, the fact that we'll never be perfect doesn't mean we shouldn't give it a go

[robsargent4]

@3tangle3 unfortunately I think violence is as much part of human nature as kindness is. As far as I can see, there will always be war, as long as there are people.

[3tangle3]

@robsargent4 maybe i am depressed but i dont see the meaning in so many things people hold sacred, all these wars over a spec of dust hurtling through infinite space

[robsargent4]

@3tangle3 well I agree, I don't think it's a sacrifice worth making, but it's a sacrifice all the same

[celtfin1]

they fought for a those whow opreesed ther own nations