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The Dead B​-​Specials - Take It Down From The Mast

from From The Plough To The Stars- A Celtic Punk Celebration Of Irish Rebel Songs by Various Artists

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about

'Take It Down From The Mast' is an Irish rebel song written in 1923 by James Ryan but in the 1950's it was re-written by Dominic Behan to include references to Rory O'Connor, Liam Mellows, Richard Barrett and Joseph McKelvey. Four leading members of the IRA executed on 8th December 1922 during the Irish Civil War. The Anti-Treaty IRA regarded their Civil War opponents as traitors and therefore unworthy to use the Irish tricolour.

lyrics

Take it down from the mast Irish traitors,
The flag we Republicans claim,
It can never belong to Free Staters,
You brought on it nothing but shame.

Then leave it to those who are willing,
To uphold it in war and in peace,
To those who intend to continue,
Until England’s cruel tyranny cease.

You have taken our brave Liam and Rory,
You have murdered young Richard and Joe,
Your hands with their blood are still gory,
Fulfilling the work of the foe.

But we stand with Enright and Larkin,
With Daly and Sullivan bold,
We will break down the English connection,
And bring forth the nation you sold.

Take it down from the mast Irish traitors,
The flag we Republicans claim,
It can never belong to Free Staters,
For you brought on it nothing but shame.

credits

from From The Plough To The Stars- A Celtic Punk Celebration Of Irish Rebel Songs, released February 24, 2023
The Dead B-Specials London Irish band.

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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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