1919 was the year the trouble all went down
The Defence of the Realm Act was invoked by the Crown
They imposed martial law upon old Limerick town
And they made the local people foot the bill
The local trades and workers council met for 12 long hours
And said we will not recognise the British Army’s powers
This city is the people’s, we reclaim it now as ours
It ever was and shall be ever still
We are the Limerick Soviet
We answer only to the people’s plea
We care no more for their martial law
Than the British Army cares for you and me
The printing workers laboured through the darkness of the night
To urge the population to resist the army’s might
Within two hours the city walls proclaimed a General Strike
And Limerick responded to the call
Workers in their thousands were parading through the streets
The Irish Times was horrified and called for their defeat
But the people were in charge now not the Army or elite
They held the torch of freedom for us all
We are the Limerick Soviet
We answer only to the people’s plea
We care no more for their martial law
Than the British Army cares for you and me
The Soviet of Limerick it lasted two weeks long
A forgotten revolution overlooked by history’s song
John Cronin and his strike committee’s beacon has not gone
It lights the path to justice for us still
We are the Limerick Soviet
We answer only to the people’s plea
We care no more for their martial law
Than the British Army cares for you and me
The Clancy’s - Recruiting sergeant …The Pogues do the ultimate version but can’t find it…if anyone can post it…
Does Billy Idol’s Rebel Yell count? Or even Bowie’s Rebel Rebel.
If not maybe the Boys of the old brigade
The Pogues version is mixed in with Rocky Road to Dublin and The Galway Races, it’s called “Medley”
Liam Clancys patriot game is super
Sings it brilliantly alright. His version of The Band Played Waltzing Matilda is brilliant
Are you home chewie?
Fly into Dublin Sunday morning
I would like to encounter Chewy Louie and sing a bar of Spancil Hill with him.
I am a very average singer but need very little encouragement to sing, regardless of alcohal consumption
Any youth worth his salt should learn a few verses of an Irish ballad.
If I ever encounter on a night out ye’ll do well to shut me up.
Same boat as myself, I’d sing at the drop of a hat once I’d any bit of booze in me.
I sang a good half a dozen songs last Sunday in the company of some auld Irish stocks with nothing but sparkling water and good craic in me
I was asked to sing at a funeral a few months ago and it was the first time I sung in front of a crowd stone sober.
Pertified.
I have some great singers and musicians in the family but unfortunately it skipped a generation, doesn’t stop me trying though.
There is an auld lad from Kilkishen who loves the sing song and is a great man to get the sing song going, also very good to tell a lad like me when I am going too high or too fast when singing. Makes it that bit easier and stops me balling them out and makes it all the more enjoyable