Rifles of the IRA - Dominic Behan (Cover) by Seth Staton Watkins

Rifles of the IRA - Dominic Behan (Cover) by Seth Staton Watkins

Rifles of the IRA is another classic Irish rebel song. The song is associated with the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War. Many references are made in the song to events in Irish history such as the execution of Irish republican Kevin Barry, the Easter Rising and the Burning of Cork. It was recorded by The Wolfe Tones on their 1969 album by the same name.

In the video, I am wearing my keffiyeh, in solidarity with Palestine. May 11th has been World Keffiyeh Day since 2016, and it is a day to show support for the Palestinian people and culture, as well as to remember the "Nakba" (meaning the catastrophe in Arabic), which took place on the 15th of May, the day that led to the displacement of over 700,000 Palestinians from their homes and the creation of a large diaspora of millions of refugees that are now forced to advocate for their home from abroad. The Irish have long been the most outspoken European advocates for the Palestinian cause, and the most outspoken critics of the ongoing military occupation of Palestine by Israel. Free Palestine.

Lyrics:
In nineteen hundred and sixteen
The forces of the crown
To capture the Orange, White, and Green
Bombarded Dublin Town.

But in '21, Britannia's sons
Were forced to earn their pay,
And the black and tans, like lightning ran
From the Rifles of the IRA!

They burned their way through Munster,
And laid Leinster on the rack,
In Connaught and in Ulster
Marched the men of brown and black.

They shot down wives and children
In their own heroic way!
And the black and tans, like lightning ran
From the Rifles of the IRA!

They hanged young Kevin Barry high,
A lad of eighteen years .
Cork City's flames lit up the sky,
But our brave boys 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 IRA!

The tans were taken out and shot
By the brave and valiant few.
Sean Treacy, Dinny Lacey,
And Tom Barry's famous 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 IRA!