Is the song "The Patriot Game" Anti-IRA?
Asked by
w2pow2 (
485
)
August 19th, 2009
Come all ye young rebels, and list while I sing,
For the love of one’s country is a terrible thing.
It banishes fear with the speed of a flame,
And it makes us all part of the patriot game.
My name is O’Hanlon, and I’ve just turned sixteen.
My home is in Monaghan, and where I was weaned
I learned all my life cruel England’s to blame,
So now I am part of the patriot game.
This Ireland of ours has too long been half free.
Six counties lie under John Bull’s tyranny.
But still De Valera is greatly to blame
For shirking his part in the Patriot game.
They told me how Connolly was shot in his chair,
His wounds from the fighting all bloody and bare.
His fine body twisted, all battered and lame
They soon made me part of the patriot game.
It’s nearly two years since I wandered away
With the local battalion of the bold IRA,
For I read of our heroes, and wanted the same
To play out my part in the patriot game.
[extra verse I found]
I don’t mind a bit if I shoot down police
They are lackeys for war never guardians of peace
And yet at deserters I’m never let aim
The rebels who sold out the patriot game
And now as I lie here, my body all holes
I think of those traitors who bargained in souls
And I wish that my rifle had given the same
To those Quislings who sold out the patriot game.
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13 Answers
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I believe the first paragraph implies that the song is indeed anti-IRA. The song appears to depict life from the perspective of someone who develops under the typical IRA ideology which may cause the song to be misinterpreted (assuming that my interpretation is correct).
I have wondered the same thing – the lyrics certainly seem anti-IRA, with the narrator’s almost childish perspective on the conflict, but the song was written by Dominic Behan (Brendan Behan’s brother), so it would seem to have a pretty strong IRA pedigree. Also, for what it’s worth, the song’s Wikipedia page claims it is “immensely popular amongst the IRA”.
Before I posted this question, I misinterpreted the line that goes:
“And now as I lie here, my body all holes
I think of those traitors who bargained in souls
And I wish that my rifle had given the same
To those Quislings who sold out the patriot game.”
My 4 pound brain thought that he was talking about IRA authorities. But I just realized he’s talking about deserters.
But the line that goes:
But still De Valera is greatly to blame
For shirking his part in the Patriot game.
DEFINITELY sounds anti- IRA
Just looked up the definition of “Shirk” And discovered that I’m a dumbbutt
A quisling is a turncoat or traitor to a cause. I think the song is more nuanced than just pro or anti-IRA. It seems to be saying multiple things about the Irish resistance movement and probably has more subtle meanings for thoose with more knowledge.
Thanks for the answer @Flo Nightengale
I have never been a fan of literary theory, but it seems clear to me that sometimes writers and artists portray truths to which they themselves are blind. Kipling’s “White Man’s Burden” is to modern ears a powerful critique of the costs and frustrations of Imperialism. (“bind your sons to exile”, “bring all your hopes to nought”, “go mark them with your living, and mark them with your dead”). Kipling meant it as praise.
From what I have read in the Google search that brought me to this page, it seems clear the songwriter meant to praise the IRA. But to me, the song is an indictment of those who exploit youths for their idealism and their hunger to belong. During the Iran/Iraq war, the fanatics in Iran told 13 year old boys that they would earn heavenly rewards of a martyr if they marched hand-in-hand across battle fields as human minesweepers. That is more obscene than what the IRA did to O’Hanlon, but only by degree.
@hubconstnt Great answer – gave you lurve. Welcome to Fluther!
@hubconstnt Those kinds of comments will earn you great respect among the flutherites. Well thought-out. Graceful. Informative.
Please, stick around.
And welcome to fluther!
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