At the end of this post is a cracking short film on The Limerick Soviet, a tale I wrote about in my song of the same name.
The wonderful thing about the film is that it shows the actual strike proclamations featured in my song, and shows the currency that the workers issued when they printed their own money.
The lyrics of the song are repeated below. And you can hear the song itself by pressing play on the audio player.
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The song is featured on my album We Can Make The World Stop which is for sale here.
The Limerick Soviet
1919 was the year the trouble all went down
The Defence of the Realm Act was invoked by the Crown
They imposed martial law upon old Limerick town
And they made the local people foot the bill
The local trades and workers council met for 12 long hours
And said we will not recognise the British Army’s powers
This city is the people’s, we reclaim it now as ours
It ever was and shall be ever still
We are the Limerick Soviet
We answer only to the people’s plea
We care no more for their martial law
Than the British Army cares for you and me
The printing workers laboured through the darkness of the night
To urge the population to resist the army’s might
Within two hours the city walls proclaimed a General Strike
And Limerick responded to the call
Workers in their thousands were parading through the streets
The Irish Times was horrified and called for their defeat
But the people were in charge now not the Army or elite
They held the torch of freedom for us all
We are the Limerick Soviet
We answer only to the people’s plea
We care no more for their martial law
Than the British Army cares for you and me
The Soviet of Limerick it lasted two weeks long
A forgotten revolution overlooked by history’s song
John Cronin and his strike committee’s beacon has not gone
It lights the path to justice for us still
We are the Limerick Soviet
We answer only to the people’s plea
We care no more for their martial law
Than the British Army cares for you and me
What a great video – to go with a top song. Stories like this must live on and inspire is the fights to come.
Great song.
I had read a lot about the Limerick Soviet & taken the walking tour, but this was my first time hearing your song.
Thanks for yet another history lesson Al!!! You’re just f-ing brilliant Mister!!! I love documentaries; this one is fabulous — and so is your song! Are their other people singing along with you at the end?
Just me lots of times in different voices to recreate the rousing crowd sound. Was fun recording that! Ended up sounding quite stirring too!!
Hi Alun,
That sounds really good and a lot better than the you-tube version!
Well done and keep up the singing…
Larry
Hi Larry
Thanks for the kind comments.
Friends will be interested to hear that Larry is from Limerick and has a relative who took part in the Limerick Soviet.
Not only that, but Larry has also written a song called The Limerick Soviet, so we’ve been chatting about music and revolution since he dropped me a line.
Why not check out Larry’s song on the Limerick Soviet here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUH0vq_HWdU
Al