Van Wikipedia
Rifles of the I.R.A. is een Iers verzetslied, vaak gecatalogiseerd onder de Ierse rebel-muziek. De tekst handelt over de Paasopstand en de daaropvolgende strijd tussen het Iers Republikeins Leger (het IRA) en de zogenaamde "Black and Tans", zo genoemd naar hun zwart-met-bruine uniform, een soort militie die door de Britten gebruikt werd om de Ierse opstand in de kiem te smoren.
De tekst luidt als volgt (zoals gezongen door o.a. de Wolfe Tones):
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"In 1916, the forces of the Crown,
for to take the orange white and green
bombarded Dublin Town
But in '21, Brittania's sons
were forced to earn their pay
When the black and tans
like lightning ran
from the rifles of the I.R.A.
They burned their way through Munster
and laid Leinster on the rack
Through Connaught and through Ulster
marched the men in brown and black
They shot down wifes and children
in their own heroic way
But the black and tans
like lightning ran
from the rifles of the I.R.A.
They hang young Kevin Barry high
a lad of eighteen years
Cork City's flames lit up the sky
but our brave lads knew no fear
The Cork brigade with hand-grenades
in ambush wait and lay
And the black and tans
like lightning ran
from the rifles of the I.R.A.
The tans were got, taken out and shot
by the brave and the valliant few
Sean Treacy, Denny Lacey
and Tom Barry's gallant crew
Though we're not free yet
we won't forget until our dying day
How the black and tans
like lightning ran
from the rifles of the I.R.A."
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"Rifles of the I.R.A." is ook de titel van een album van de Wolfe Tones.
