Anonymous Ulster - They Never Veered (Covenant, UVF, Gun-Running & 36th Ulster Division at Somme)

THEY NEVER VEERED

On 28th September 1912 (Ulster Day), nearly half a million men & women of Ulster signed an oath in defiance of the British Government - The Ulster Covenant. But covenants without swords are but words, so a 100,000 strong militia of the Ulster Volunteers was formed to back the Ulster Provisional Government in the event of the Home Rule Bill being passed into law.

In April 1914, a colossal haul of rifles and ammunition from Germany landed in Larne to arm the volunteers. However, on the outbreak of the Great War men of the Ulster Volunteer Force rallied in defence of the British Empire joining the 36th (Ulster) Division, created specifically for its members.

LYRICS:

[Verse 1]
They tried before to impose Home Rule
But Ulster new that was Rome rule
So half a million signed a Covenant
To solemnly stand against Dublin government

[Verse 2]
But words without swords just wouldn’t do
So a force was raised from the loyal crew
The Ulster people they never veered
They signed their names then volunteered

[Chorus]
The Ulster people they never veered
They signed their names, then volunteered

[Verse 3]
Those loyal citizen volunteers
Couldn’t fight with sticks and spears
So arms they sought for Ulster cohesion
To resist the plot of government treason

[Verse 4]
Frederick Crawford and Mountjoy 2
A fine old plan it well thought through
And from the harbour came the guns
To arm those brave loyal Ulster sons

[Chorus]
The Ulster people they never veered
They signed their names, then volunteered
And from the harbour came the guns
To arm those brave, loyal Ulster sons

[Verse 5]
Armed and ready was Ulster’s land
Its fate now with their own red hand
But when that Great war broke out
Its loyalty to Britain was never in doubt

[Verse 6]
Those volunteers uniformed and equipped
At Ulster’s expense to France they shipped
Their devotion tested at the Somme
The pride of Ulster where the 36th shone

[Chorus]
The Ulster people they never veered
They signed their names, then volunteered
And from the harbour came the guns
To arm those brave, loyal Ulster sons
Their devotion tested at the Somme
The pride of Ulster, where the 36th shone

[Bridge]
The Ulstermen could not be bought
And for their land they went and fought
So remember this every Ulster Day
True Ulstermen will never sway

[Chorus]
The Ulster people they never veered
They signed their names, then volunteered
And from the harbour came the guns
To arm those brave, loyal Ulster sons
Their devotion tested at the Somme
The pride of Ulster, where the 36th shone