Dublin City 1913 (Ballad of Larkin and Connolly)
Dick GaughanOriginale | Thanks Diarmuid Breatnach! |
DUBLIN CITY 1913 (BALLAD OF LARKIN AND CONNOLLY) In Dublin city in 1913 The boss was boss and employed a slave The woman worked while the child went hungry Then Larkin came like a towering wave. The worker cringed when the bossman thundered And seventy hours was his weekly chore He asked for little and less was granted Lest getting little he'd ask for more. Then God sent Larkin, so dark and handsome A mighty man with a powerful tongue The voice of labour the voice of justice And he was gifted and he was young. Then God sent Larkin in 1913 A powerful man with a gifted tongue He raised the worker and gave him courage He was the hero the worker sung. In the month of August the bossman told us No union man for him could work We stood by Larkin we told the bossman To fight, to starve we would not shirk. Eight months we faught and eight months we starved We followed Larkin through thick and thin But foodless homes and the crying children They broke our hearts and we coild not win. Then Larkin left us, we seemed defeated The night was dark for us working men But Connolly rose with new hope and council He gave the slogan "We'll rise again!" In Dublin Citry in 1916 The British army burnt down the town They shelled the city they took the leaders The harp was buried beneath the crown. They shot MacDonagh and Pearse and Plunkett They shot MacDermott and Clark the brave. From bleak Kilmainham they took Ceannt's body To Arbor Hill to a quicklime grave. But last of all of the seven captains A dying man they shot Connolly The voice of labour, the voice of justice Who gave his life that men might be free. | DUBLIN CITY 1913 In Dublin City in 1913 The boss was boss and the employee the slave The women worked and the child went hungry Til Larkin came like a towering wave The worker cringed when the bossman thundered And seventy hours was their weekly chore They asked for little and less was granted Lest getting little they might ask for more Then came Larkin in 1913 A mighty man with a powerful tongue The voice of labour, the voice of justice And he was gifted as he was young God gave us Larkin in 1913 A powerful man with a mighty tongue He raised the workers, he gave us courage He was our leader, the workers' son In 1913 the bossman told us No union man for him might work We stood by Larkin, we told the bossman To fight, to starve, we would never shirk 8 months we fought and 8 months we starved We stood by Larkin through thick and thin But foodless homes and starving children They broke our hearts and we could not win Then Larkin left us, we seemed defeated The night seemed dark for our workless men But Connolly came with new hope and courage And raised the slogan, "We rise again" In Dublin City in 1916 The British Army they shelled the town They burned our city, the shot our leaders The harp was shattered beneath the crown They shot MacDiarmad and Pearse and Plunkett They shot MacDonagh and Clarke the brave From bleak Kilmainham they took Ceannt's body To Arbour Hill and a quicklime grave But last of all of these seven heroes A dying man, they shot Connolly The voice of labour, the voice of justice He gave his life that we might be free |