SONGS OF SEAMUS ROBINSON

( FOR THE SIX MEN -- BRENDAN MAGUIRE, JOHN LOUGHRAN, JAMES SLOAN, JAMES McCANN, ANTHONY CAMPBELL, AMBROSE HARDY -- MURDERED BY BRITISH AND PRO-BRITISH FORCES 3 – 4 FEB 1973 )

‘Twas early one morn in the street called North Queen,

Along my way I met a colleen.

Her face was the saddest that I’ve ever seen,

And there on her coat she wore black on the Green.

Black on the Green – black on the Green –

And there on her coat she wore black on the Green.

I stopped to ask why she was so sad,

And why on her coat those colours she had.

She lifted her face and spoke like a queen –

Last night on the New Lodge, six died for the Green.

Died for the Green – died for the Green –

Last night on the New Lodge, six died for the Green.

Maguire and Loughran, Sloan and McCann,

Campbell and Hardy – a hero each man.

The finest of flowers that I’ve ever seen –

Last night on the New Lodge, they died for the Green.

Died for the Green – died for the Green –

Last night on the New Lodge, they died for the Green.

A.CAMPBELL J.LOUGHRAN J.SLOAN J.MC CANN

She turned away from me and went on her way,

And all around, the day had gone grey. A.HARDY B.MAGUIRE

I’ll always remember that lovely colleen –

And why on her coat she wore black on the Green.

Black on the Green – black on the Green –

And why on her coat she wore black on the Green.

PLAY

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BRAVE FRANK STAGG

( for Vol. Frank Stagg, IRA, who died on hunger strike in Wakefield Prison on the 12th of

February 1976. His last wish was to be taken home to Mayo and be buried next to his comrade

and friend, Michael Gaughan. Free-State forces hijacked his body, burying him in a grave not

of his family's choosing, and covering the grave over with concrete. Nine months later an IRA

unit retrieved his body and with full military honours carried out the last wish of Frank Stagg.)

In a cruel British prison, a brave Irish soldier lies;

Body thin and weak with hunger, as the light fades from his eyes.

By his side – two women weeping, one is old and one is young;

On their knees to God appealing, in their soft sweet Mayo tongue.

“Ah, my loves,” the young man murmurs. “Do not cry your tears for me,

For my time is nearly over, and today I will be free.

I can see a bright sun shining on my own green Mayo fields,

And I see dear Michael Gaughan, waiting there beneath the trees.”

In that cruel British prison, just before the break of day,

With his loved ones there beside him, that brave soldier passed away.

But he lives in Erin’s heart yet, and wherever flies her flag,

Ireland’s sons and Ireland’s daughters, will remember brave Frank Stagg.

Yes he lives in Erin’s heart yet, and wherever flies her flag,

Ireland’s sons and Ireland’s daughters, will remember brave Frank Stagg.

PLAY SONG ( SEAMUS ROBINSON )

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LIKE JOE McCANN

( On an April day in 1972 the British murdered an

un-armed IRA volunteer. His name was Joe McCann. )

O mother I have seen you cry ,

But ne’er like this before .

O mother mine then tell me why

You weep so sad and sore ?

My son, she said, your father’s dead ,

Because he loved Ireland .

Where e’er you go, be proud to know

That you’re of Joe McCann .

The young boy turned – his eyes they burned ,

And tears of sorrow fell .

For in his heart ‘twas hard to part

From him he loved so well .

O mother I shall ne’er deny ,

Nor shame my father’s clan .

In weal or woe ‘gainst Ireland’s foe ,

I’ll fight like Joe McCann .

The mother dried the tears she’d cried ,

And softly kissed his face .

And to her breast, the child she pressed ,

And held in fond embrace .

Let it be vowed we’ll e’er be proud

And true unto our land .

In weal or woe ‘gainst Ireland’s foe ,

We’ll fight like Joe McCann .

* * *

PLAY

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CARRICK HILL

On Carrick Hill, on Carrick Hill,

Sure in my mind I see her still –

A-walking barefoot from the mill –

My sweet wee love on Carrick Hill .

One day as I walked through Belfast,

On a summer in the times long past,

I met a maid as she came from the mill ;

Her hair so gold and eyes so blue --

And smiling face I knew was true –

I gave my heart that day on Carrick Hill .

Sweet maid, I said, could you decide,

To come and be my bonnie bride ?

She smiled at me and said : I will –

We’ll make our home on Carrick Hill .

But winter came and food grew scarce,

And not a penny in my purse,

As day by day I watched her growing ill ;

The sheen went from her golden head –

By springtime she lay cold and dead –

And I was left alone on Carrick Hill .

On Carrick Hill, on Carrick Hill,

Sure in my mind I see her still –

A-walking barefoot from the mill –

My sweet wee love on Carrick Hill .

On Carrick Hill, on Carrick Hill –

My sweet wee love on Carrick Hill .

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CASTLEREAGH

(1)

It was five in the morning when they took me away,

Five in the morning and up to Castlereagh.

They took my finger prints, they took my photograph,

And drew up a statement for my autograph.

( chorus )

Sign the dotted line, just sign the dotted line,

Sign the dotted line and autograph a crime.

Forget about your rights, it’s true what they say –

You’ve got no bloody rights when you’re up in Castlereagh

(2)

To a torture chamber they dragged me by the hair,

And in that torture chamber they tied me to a chair.

They then produced a hood and placed it o’er my head,

We’ll make you sign , one of them said.

(3)

Days and nights of torture and I couldn’t stand the strain,

My head it was aching and throbbing with pain.

I took their damned confession, oh I must have been insane,

But I took their damned confession and to it put my name

(4)

A judge without a jury found me guilty of a crime,

And sent me off to H-Block to serve out my time.

Now naked in my cell I spend each lonely day,

Plotting my revenge on the pigs of Castlereagh.

PLAY P. ROBINSON

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