Steve Ladue’s drums provide the perfect heartbeat to the living thing that is 1916. He has played in several bands over the years and brings his experience to the table as a truly gifted performer.
The etherial guitar stylings of Tony Thireos take us from metal to blues in the blink of an eye, but always leave us wanting for more. Just watch your whiskey around this guy!
Chris VanCleve brings his chops as an upright bassist to combine the styles of Rockabilly with Irish Rock to make a kickass and unique musical experience.
Jake Publicover brings his passion for Irish music to the front as he perfects his vocals and melodies along with his amazing guitar playing to give 1916 that rich, full bodied sound.
Bill Herring plays with the passion of one who is descended from the hard working families that came here during the great Hunger. His zeal for history and appetite for loud crazy music make 1916 the perfect band to play at any rock club or drunken pub!
Black & Tans
1916 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the loyal drums still beat
And the lovin′ English feet they tramped all over us
And each day and every night
When me father comes home tight
He'd invite the neighbors outside with this chorus
Oh come out you black and tans!
Show you wives how you won medals down in Flanders
Tell her how the IRA made you run like dogs away
From the green and lovely lanes of Killashandra
Oh let me hear how you slew
Them poor Arabs two by two
Like Zulus they had spears and bows and arrows,
How you bravely faced each one
With your sixteen pounder gun
And you frightened them poor natives to their marrow
Oh, come out you black and tans!
Come out and fight me like a man (Fight me like a man!)
Show your wives how you won medals down in Flanders
Tell them how the IRA made you run like dogs away,
From the green and lovely lanes in Killashandra.
Allen, Larkin and O′brien
Held you strong and called you swine
Robert Emmet you did hang and drew and quartered
Up upon the scaffold high
How you butchered Henry Joy!
And our heros of sixteen were executed
Oh, come out you black and tans,
Come out and fight me like a man (Fight me like a man!)
Show your wives how you won medals down in Flanders
Tell them how the IRA made you run like dogs away,
From the green and lovely lanes in Killashandra.
From the green and lovely lanes in Killashandra!
The lyrics to the song "Black and Tans" by 1916 speak to the deep-seated animosity between the Irish and the English. Born on a Dublin street, the singer is well-aware of the history of oppression and violence faced by his people at the hands of the English. The lyrics refer to the Black and Tans, a paramilitary force sent by the British government to suppress Irish nationalism in the early 20th century. The force was known for its brutal tactics and indiscriminate violence, including attacking civilians and burning down homes. The singer's father would invite his neighbors outside with the chorus to taunt the Black and Tans, challenging them to come out and fight like men.
The song also references the conflict between the British and the Arabs in the Middle East, and how the British soldiers were seen as heroes for their bravery in war. However, the singer points out the hypocrisy of the Black and Tans, who run away like dogs when confronted by the IRA in Ireland. The lyrics also mention the execution of Irish heroes, including Robert Emmet and Henry Joy, at the hands of the British. The song captures the sense of defiance and resistance felt by the Irish people in the face of their oppressors.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born in a Dublin street
I am a product of Dublin, a city that has been oppressed and mistreated for generations.
Where the loyal drums still beat
Despite the oppression, the British occupiers still have the audacity to loudly celebrate their loyalty and power.
And the lovin′ English feet they tramped all over us
The English have shown no mercy, invading our homes, our streets, and our lives, leaving us feeling helpless and powerless.
And each day and every night, When me father comes home tight, He'd invite the neighbors outside with this chorus
Despite all of this, our fathers still find the energy to rally us and call us to action, knowing that we must stand and fight for our freedom.
Oh come out you black and tans!
Black and tans were an infamous British paramilitary unit sent to crush the Irish rebellion. This is a challenge to their authority.
Come out and fight me like a man (Fight me like a man!)
This is a call for the British occupiers to stop using their superior firepower and engage in a more equitable fight.
Show you wives how you won medals down in Flanders
The British had recently been in World War I and often boasted about their heroic acts to reinforce their authority. This line mocks that boastfulness.
Tell her how the IRA made you run like dogs away From the green and lovely lanes of Killashandra
This is a reference to an IRA ambush of a Black and Tan unit in County Cavan. The ambush was successful and this line is meant to remind the British of their defeat.
Oh let me hear how you slew Them poor Arabs two by two, Like Zulus they had spears and bows and arrows
This is a critique of the British colonialism in the Middle East and Africa, where they showed no respect for local populations and used superior firepower to suppress them.
How you bravely faced each one, With your sixteen pounder gun, And you frightened them poor natives to their marrow
This line mocks the British for using their advanced weaponry to instill fear in their colonial subjects and shows them as bullies rather than brave soldiers.
Allen, Larkin and O′brien, Held you strong and called you swine, Robert Emmet you did hang and drew and quartered
These are references to Irish revolutionaries who were killed by the British government. This line is a reminder of past injustices committed by the British against the Irish people.
Up upon the scaffold high, How you butchered Henry Joy!, And our heroes of sixteen were executed
This line shows how the Irish have not forgotten the atrocities committed by the British against their people, and how they will continue to fight for justice and freedom.
From the green and lovely lanes in Killashandra!
This final line is a rallying cry for the Irish people to come together and fight for their freedom from British rule.
Contributed by Brody E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.