Gotta Gettaway 7"
Gotta Gettaway
Bloody Sunday
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Get It
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Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Stiff Little Fingers
Almost forgot today was St. Patty's Day. Noticed a lot of Irish related posts today so I thought, better jump on the band wagon like a jackass, right? So here's one from way back in 1979. This is probably my favorite SLF 7'' (next to Alternative Ulster of course) The title track ain't anything spectacular, but it's the b-side that's the true gem here. Bloody Sunday is an amazing song. Great music, great lyrics, & great energy. Just wish it had a proper ending (can't be too greedy, right?) It pertains to the infamous Bloody Sunday which occurred in Derry, Northern Ireland 1972, where 27 civilians were shot dead by the British Parachute Regiment during a civil rights protest. Sad day. So you all just sit back, enjoy a pint of Murphy's (cause Guiness here in the U.S. is just watered down piss), & be thankful for what you have. Enjoy!
Gotta Gettaway 7"
Gotta Gettaway
Bloody Sunday
-------
Get It
-------
Gotta Gettaway 7"
Gotta Gettaway
Bloody Sunday
-------
Get It
-------
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6 comments:
I have this single and I love both songs, but Bloody Sunday is probably my favorite SLF song ever. I couldn't be bothered to look for it just now so I just downloaded it from you. It's good to be reminded of this great shit every now and then.
Thanks.
And amen to what you said about Guiness. When people here in CA offer me a Guiness I tell them I can't drink that swill. I've had Guiness in the UK. There's no comparison. Thank fuck for Arrogant Bastard.
Praise be to Arrogant Bastard's! Best damn beer I've had in years. Many of my friends cringe at it's bold beautiful taste. But they're just pussies! Stone has got to be the best brewery here in Ca. Thanks for the comment!
Can we all please remember that this song is about people losing their lives fighting for a cause they believe in, Not just a day to get pissed!And while i`m on the subject, can we not forget the funding of the ira by noraid(boston, usa), and continued american support for the israrli government which is in violation of international law but who gives a fuck about that, you just do what you want anyway
SLF, after their fantastic debt album,were critised by some press for the lyrical content of some songs. with comments like ' another track about the troubles' and here we go again about how hard it is in ulster'. To combat this backlash and show a sence of humour they produced this b-side, which at first glance appears to be about that day in the title. It is in fact just a song that most teenagers in the 70's can relate to, Sundays are shit, theres nothing to do, everythings closed,etc..No politics here, just a piss take...
Sorry to rain on your parade but the song is not about the incident where innocent civilians seeking basic civil rights were shot by the British Army (the exact figure was I believe 13, not 27 but who ever let the wearing of the green get in the way of facts?)
The song is actually about the fact that religeous adherance in the North of Ireland means everything used to be closed on a Sunday, so "there's nothing to do on bloody Sunday". Times have thankfully changed.
So please try to know our history before you post on the internet.
Lyrics -
Take a look around you all is dead
A good look around makes me see red
What have they done to us
Taken all the fun from us
We might as well stay all day in bed
Of course we're right
you know we're right
it's worse than Monday
yes of course we're right
and you know we're right
there's nothing to do on Bloody Sunday
They say the day of rest
ought to be Sunday best
but they do what they can
to make it Sunday worst
the week is weak enough
without a non day
And please aslso note the following from Stiff Little Fingers
"Each dollar a bullet"
Oh it must be so romantic
When the fighting's over there
And they're passing round the shamrock
And you're all filled up with tears
"For the love of dear old Ireland"
That you've never even seen
You throw in twenty dollars
And sing "Wearing of the Green
[Chorus:]
Each dollar a bullet
Each victim someone's son
And Americans kill Irishmen
As surely
As if they fired the gun
Now you've never stood on
Belfast's streets
And heard the bombs explode
Or hid beneath the blankets
When there's riots down the road
No you've never had your
best friend die
Or lost a favorite son
But you'll stand there and tell us
Just what we're doing wrong
Each false word a bullet
Each victim someone's son
And Englishmen kill Irishmen
As surely
As if they fired the gun
From the minute that
you're born you're told
To hate the other side
"They're not like us,
they're not the same
We know because we're right"
But can't you see we're all the same
There is no right and wrong
Why can't we stop and realize
Just what we're doing wrong
We've hated too much too long
Each old lie a bullet
Each victim someone's son
And Irishmen kill Irishmen
As surely
As if they fired the gun
How can you convince yourself
That what you do is right?
When people are dying there
Night after night
Don't you ever wonder
Why it still goes on?
The hopes and fears and all the tears
Are buried in your ground
Buried in your ground
Each rumour a bullet
Each victim someone's son
And careless talk kills Irishmen
As surely
As if words fired the gun
Well it's lasted for so long now
And so many have died
It's such a part of my own life
Yet it leaves me mystified
How a people so intelligent
Friendly, kind and brave
Can throw themselves so willingly
Into an open grave
Each new day a bullet
Each victim someone's son
And ignorance kills Irishmen
As surely
As if we fired the gun
Love and peace (maaan) from someone who was there.
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