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about

'The Broad Black Brimmer' was written by Art McMillen and tells the story of a boy whose father died before he was born, fighting for the Irish Republican Army. The narrator young boy is asked by his mother to try on his father's old uniform and as he does so, she tells his father's story. The title refers to the wide brimmed hat worn by the IRA in the 1920's Irish War of Independence.

lyrics

There's a uniform that's hanging in what's known as father's room
A uniform so simple in its style
It's got no braid of gold or silk no hat with feathered plume
Yet me mother has preserved it all the while
One day she made me try it on, a wish of mine for years
"In memory of your father, dear" she said
And when I put the Sam Browne on she was smiling through her tears
As she placed the broad black brimmer on me head

It's just a broad black brimmer, ribbons frayed and torn
By the careless whisk of many's a mountain breeze
An old trench coat that's all battle-stained and worn
And breeches almost threadbare at the knees
A Sam Brown belt with the buckle big and strong
A holster that's been empty many's a day (But not for long)
But, when men claim Ireland's freedom the one should choose to lead them
Will wear the broad black brimmer of the IRA

It was the uniform been worn by me father long ago
When he reached me mothers homestead on the run
It was the uniform been worn in that little church below
Now Father Maccy blessed the pair as one
After truce and treaty and the parting of the ways
He wore it when he marched out with the rest (And the best)
And when they bore his body down that rugged heather braes
They placed the broad black brimmer on his breast

It´s just a broad black brimmer, ribbons frayed and torn
By the careless whisk of many's a mountain breeze
An old trench coat that's all battle-stained and worn
And breeches almost threadbare at the knees
A Sam Brown belt with the buckle big and strong
And a holster that's been empty many's a day (But not for long)
But, when men claim Ireland's freedom the one should choose to lead them
And wear the broad black brimmer of the IRA

There's a uniform that's hanging in what's known as father's room
A uniform so simple in its style
It's got no braid of gold or silk no hat with feathered plume
Yet me mother has preserved it all the while
One day she made me try it on, a wish of mine for years
"In memory of your father, dear" she said
And when I put the Sam Browne on she was smiling through her tears
As she placed the broad black brimmer on my head

It´s just a broad black brimmer, ribbons frayed and torn
By the careless whisk of many's a mountain breeze
An old trench coat that´s all battle-stained and worn
And breeches almost threadbare at the knees
A Sam Brown belt with the buckle big and strong
A holster that's been empty many's a day (But not for long)
But, when men claim Ireland's freedom the one should choose to lead them
And wear the broad black brimmer of the IRA

credits

from From The Plough To The Stars- A Celtic Punk Celebration Of Irish Rebel Songs, released February 24, 2023
Auld Corn Brigade are a Irish republican Celtic-Punk band from Nordhausen in Germany. This song is taken from 'A Fighters Lullaby'.

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The London Celtic Punks London, UK

For drunx, celtic-punx and vagabonds!
"There's always been a strong argument that folk music is the original rebel music. The music of the people and historically through that music the people challenged the land owners, challenged the state and wrote the stories that recounted these acts; Therefore it could be argued that folk was in fact the first real punk rock" ... more

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