James Larkin Songtext
von Ronnie Drew

In Dublin City in 1913
The boss was rich and the poor were slaves
The women working and children starving
Then on came Larkin like a mighty wave
The workers cringed when the bossman pondered
Seventy hours was his weekly chore
He asked for little and less was granted
Lest getting little then he′d ask for more


In the month of August the bossman told us
No union man for him could work
We stood by Larkin and told the bossman
We'd fight or die but we wouldn′t shirk
Eight months we fought and eight months we starved
We stood by Larkin through thick and thin
But foodless homes and the crying of children
It broke our hearts, we just couldn't win

Then Larkin left us, we seemed defeated
The night was black for the working man
But on came Connolly with new hope and council
His motto was that we'd rise again

In 1916 in Dublin City
The English soldiers they burnt our town
They shelled our buildings and shot our leaders
The harp was buried ′neath the bloody crown
They shot MacDermot and Pearse and Plunkett
They shot McDonagh and Clarke the Brave
From bleak Kilmainham they took their bodies
To Arbour Hill and a quicklime grave

But last of all of the seven heroes
I′ll sing the praise of James Connolly
The voice of justice, the voice of freedom