This list (organized chronologically) provides more details about the songs included on the timeline.
In addition, this is a link to the playlist I initially curated for the creation of this website, which includes a lot more songs: Spotify Playlist
There are many recordings of these songs. For the links to recordings, I tried to pick verified accounts as they are less likely to be taken down by Youtube.
Think about the categories, common themes, and common tones defined on the home page. How would you categorize these songs?
“Foggy Dew“-
Written in the 1840s and categorized as an Irish ballad, the catchy tune of a ballad has made it extremely popular even during the Troubles. The tune has been adopted by many other Irish Rebel Songs, such as “Soldiers of ’22”.
This recording by Sinéad O’Connor & The Chieftains is particularly intriguing, especially in their use of percussion – making the drums sound like gunfire – and the use of footage of what the viewer may assume to be IRA members.
Written in the early to mid 1840s by Thomas Osborne Davis. Davis was one of the founders of Young Ireland, an early Irish Independence organization. During a 1912 Home Rule demonstration, a writer for The Times recounted that:
“About one hundred and fifty bands kept a persistent music during the afternoon. Nearly all of them confined themselves to the tune of ‘A Nation Once Again’ which, after awhile, even the patriots must have found monotonous. It was intended, perhaps, to represent a sort of shouting round the walls of Jericho, for it was played at least 2000 times in the course of the day.” (Parfitt, 2015)
This is a recording from 1906 by John McCormack.
Written around 1865, first printed and circulated in 1867. The ballad refers to the outbreak of the 1798 rebellion. The air of hope and optimism associated with the ultimately doomed rebellion was intended to provide inspiration for rebels preparing the Fenian rebellion of 1867, and the Rising in 1916.
This is a recording by The Dubliners copyrighted from 1967.
“God Save Ireland” –
Appeared first in print around 1867, just after the execution of the “Manchester Martyrs.” It served as the unofficial Irish national anthem from the time it was written until the 1920s.
This is a recording by The Dubliners copyrighted from 2016.
“Amhrán na bhFiann” or “The Soldier’s Song”
Composed in late 1909 or early 1910 by Peadar Kearney and Patrick Heeney. It is currently (and controversially) Ireland’s national anthem, due to it being a call to arms and the continued tensions between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
This is a recording by Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones, copyrighted 2016.
Written sometime during WWI by Brian Na Banban. In the tune of “Rising of the Moon”.
“Not Germany or Austria,
Nor Russia, France or Spain,
That robbed or reeved this land of ours,
They forged for her no chain.
But England of the wily word,
That crafty, treacherous foe,
‘Twas England robbed our Motherland, ‘
Twas England laid her low.”
Recording by Brain O’Higgins, unknown recording date.
“Soldiers of Cumann Na mBan” –
Written in 1916 to honor women’s service in the rebellion. This organization was founded in 1914, and became an auxiliary branch of the Irish Volunteers.
This is a recording by Terence O’Neill & Cormac O’Moore, copyrighted 2009.
“Wrap the Green Flag Around Me Boys” –
Written sometime in the 1910s by Terence MacSwiney, who died in 1920 on hunger strike after being arrested by the British. Glorifies dying for the green flag of Ireland.
“Wrap the green flag round me boys, to die were far more sweet.” (opening lyrics)
This is a recording by The Clancy Brothers, copyrighted 1994.
“Take It Down from the Mast” –
Written in 1923 by James Ryan. Documents the feelings of betrayal felt by many rebels about the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, continues to be sung on anniversaries and in performances. Has been referred to as the “National Anthem” by the Dubliners.
This is a recording by The Dubliners, copyrighted 2007.
“The Boys of the Old Brigade” –
Written in 1966, the narrator is reflecting on his time with the Old Brigade (the original brigade in the fight for Irish freedom in 1916).
Opening chorus:
“Oh father why are you so sad on this bright Easter morn’
When Irish men are proud and glad of the land where they were born
Son I see in memories view of far-off distant days
When being just a lad like you I joined the IRA”
This recording is by the Wolf Tones, with an unknown record date.
Written in 1968 by Dominic Behan, and glorifies the “rifles” and the men of the IRA.
This is a recording by The Wolfe Tones, copyright 2013.
Written in 1967, a humorous song about “mixed” parents and the issues with having both a Protestant and a Catholic parent.
This is a recording of a live performance from 1995 by The Irish Rovers.
Written in 1971, protesting those who had been wrongfully imprisoned for simply “being Irish” (see lyrics).
“Being Irish means they’re guilty
So we’re guilty one and all”Chorus
“Armored cars and tanks and guns
Came to take away our sons
But every man will stand behind
The Men Behind the Wire”
This is a recording by The Wolfe Tones, copyright 2010.
Written in 1972, about dad who was an IRA member who died, and the son puts on his dad’s uniform and takes up the fight. Broad black brimmers were a popular hat/uniform of the early IRA.
This is a recording by The Wolfe Tones, unknown record date.
“Come Out, Ye Black and Tans” –
Recorded in 1972, most notable recording by The Wolfe Tones (recording chosen), was actually written by Dominic Behan at an unknown date.
“Give Ireland Back to the Irish” –
Written in 1972 by Paul McCartney (The Beatles member) and Linda McCartney. It was banned from broadcast in the UK by the BBC, however the single topped the national chart in Ireland. Having never released an overtly political song before, McCartney was condemned by the British media for his seemingly pro-IRA stance on Northern Ireland.
“Go on Home British Soldiers” –
Written in 1972. Telling British soldiers to go home. Bloody Sunday happened on the 30th of January of this year.
This is a recent (2022) recording by Seth Staton Watkins.
“Sniper’s Promise” –
Written in 1975. Encompasses the feelings of hesitation, regret, and/or internal struggle of an IRA sniper launching an attack on a group of British soldiers- you’re supposed to empathize with both the sniper and the one targeted. Usually you don’t encounter “rebel songs” that are hesitantly anti-British.
“Oh mama, oh mama comfort me
For I know these awful things have got to be
Oh but when the war for freedom has been won
Oh I promise you I’ll put away my gun”
This is a recording from Derek Warfield & the Young Wolfe Tones, copyrighted 2022.
“Little Armalite” –
This song dates back to the early 1970s, and one of the first recordings was released in 1975. The IRA secretly imported armalites (a type of gun) from the United States in the late 1960s/early 1970s. This song praises the use of these armalites in the fight against Great Britain.
This is a recording by The Spirit of Freedom, unknown recording date.
U2’s most famous “not a rebel” song, recorded in 1983. Song about Bloody Sunday in 1972, as well as looking back to the Bloody Sunday in 1920. Captures the feelings of the time of “why is this happening again”.
“Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six” –
Song written by The Pogues in 1988, both memorializing the Birmingham bombing and protesting the arrests of the Birmingham Six, a group of Irishmen wrongfully convicted for the Birmingham bombing in 1963. They were only released from prison in 1991.
“Provo’s Lullaby” –
Tune taken from Woody Guthrie’s “Hobo’s Lullaby”. It is a very popular performance song due to its catchy chorus and artists encouraging the audience to join in – unique in the fact that takes an American tune, as it could make the song more popular to Americans.
This is a recording from a 1999 performance by Athenrye.
“The SAM song” –
Written in 2004. It captures the emotion felt by new and changing technology of the IRA.
Verse two:
“Well I started out with petrol bombs and throwing bricks and stones
There were a hundred more lads like me I never was alone
Soon I learned that bricks and stones won’t drive the Brits away
It wasn’t very long before I joined the IRA
Tiocfaidh ár lá, sing up the ‘RA (Ooh, ah, up the ‘RA! Ooh ah up the ‘RA!)
SAM missiles in the sky…”
By Éire Óg.
Written in 2004. It is a very satirical/humorous about the narrator’s dad being a Provo. This song, and the previous song (“The SAM Song”), are interesting given that they are written and recorded after the Troubles ended, but are written right after the early 2000 bombings in Ireland.
Chorus:
“Well, my old man’s a provo with a beret and a gun
I haven’t seen him lately, he’s always on the run
He looks so really trendy, in his shades and DM boots
Far cooler than those other da’s in ties and shirts and suits”
Recording by The Irish Brigade, copyright 2015.