Dunnes Stories
Christy Moore Lyrics


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Close your eyes and come with me back to 1984
We'll take a walk down Henry Street to Dunnes
Department store.
The supermarket's busy and the registers make a din'
The groceries go rolling out and the cash comes rolling in.
Mary Manning is at the checkout and she's trying to keep warm,
When a customer comes up to her with a basket on her arm
The contents of the basket Mary's future is to shape
But the label clearly stated "Produce Of The Cape"
I can't check out your oranges Mrs, now won't you bring them back.
For they come from South Africa, where White oppresses black
I'd have it on my conscience and I couldn't sleep at night
If I helped support the system that denies Black people's rights
Our union says "Don't Handle Them. It's the least that we can do.
We Fought oppression here for centuries, we'll help them fight it too"
The managers descended in an avalanche of suits
And Mary was suspended cos she wouldn't touch the fruits.
Dunnes Stores Dunnes Stores
Dunnes Stores with St Bernard Better Value Beats Them all
Well, her friends are all behind her and the union gave support
And they called a strike and the
pickets brought all Dunnes' Stores to a halt
No one was going to tell the Boss what he bought or Sold
These women are only workers, they must do as they are told.
Isn't it just typical of a partite screwball law?
It's not just in South Africa, the Rich Temple and the poor.
He wouldn't have a boycott, he couldn't give a tinker's curse
Doesn't matter how he fills the shelves as long as he lines his Purse
The messages came rollin' in from all around the world
For such concern and sacrifice and for courage brave and bold.
When 14 months were over, 10 women and a man
Had helped to raise the consiousness all around the land.
Cleary's in O'Connell street wouldn't sell South African shoes.
Best Man sent all their clothes
back, Roches Stores sent back their booze.




Until all South African goods were taken off the shelves in Dunnes.
And Mary Manning was down in Henry Street sticking to her guns

Overall Meaning

The song "Dunnes Stores" by Christy Moore tells the story of a brave act of protest by Mary Manning, a checkout worker at the Dunnes department store in Dublin, in 1984. Manning refused to check out a basket of oranges from South Africa, as part of a boycott against apartheid in that country. The song describes how others joined in the protest, and how the Dunnes workers went on strike and picketed the store until it stopped selling South African goods.


The lyrics of the song are poignant and powerful, conveying the urgency of the political situation, as well as the courage and determination of the workers who stood up for what they believed in. The song also touches on broader issues, such as labor rights and economic inequality, and suggests that individual actions can have a wider impact on society.


Overall, "Dunnes Stores" is a stirring tribute to the women and men who fought against injustice and discrimination, and a reminder that social change requires the constant questioning of unjust norms.


Line by Line Meaning

Close your eyes and come with me back to 1984
Take a moment to imagine and be transported back in time to the year 1984.


We'll take a walk down Henry Street to Dunnes Department store.
Let's visit Dunnes, a department store located on Henry Street.


The supermarket's busy and the registers make a din', The groceries go rolling out and the cash comes rolling in.
The store is busy, the cash registers are loud, and many people are buying groceries.


Mary Manning is at the checkout and she's trying to keep warm, When a customer comes up to her with a basket on her arm
Mary Manning is working at a checkout counter and trying to stay warm. A customer with a basket approaches her.


The contents of the basket Mary's future is to shape, But the label clearly stated "Produce Of The Cape"
The customer's basket contains items that Mary will have to handle. However, the label on the oranges clearly states that they are from South Africa.


I can't check out your oranges Mrs, now won't you bring them back.
Mary refuses to scan the customer's oranges, requesting that they be returned instead.


For they come from South Africa, where White oppresses black
Mary is refusing to handle the oranges because the system of apartheid in South Africa oppresses Black people.


I'd have it on my conscience and I couldn't sleep at night
Mary does not want to support a system that discriminates against Black people because it would weigh heavily on her conscience and prevent her from sleeping peacefully.


If I helped support the system that denies Black people's rights
Mary recognizes that her actions could contribute to the oppression of Black people in South Africa.


Our union says "Don't Handle Them. It's the least that we can do.
Mary's union has communicated to her and other members not to handle South African goods as a form of protest.


We Fought oppression here for centuries, we'll help them fight it too"
The union members are aware of the oppression that exists in their own country and are committed to helping others who are fighting oppression in South Africa.


The managers descended in an avalanche of suits, And Mary was suspended cos she wouldn't touch the fruits.
The store managers respond by suspending Mary for refusing to handle the oranges, and they come in droves wearing their suits.


Dunnes Stores Dunnes Stores, Dunnes Stores with St Bernard Better Value Beats Them all
This line is part of an advertisement jingle for Dunnes that highlights how their store is better than others.


Well, her friends are all behind her and the union gave support, And they called a strike and the pickets brought all Dunnes' Stores to a halt
Mary's friends and union offer her their support, and they call for a strike that brings all Dunnes' Stores to a stop.


No one was going to tell the Boss what he bought or Sold, These women are only workers, they must do as they are told.
The song suggests that the owner of Dunnes does not care about the issues of the workers and that the workers are not meant to question their orders.


Isn't it just typical of a partite screwball law? It's not just in South Africa, the Rich Temple and the poor.
The song critiques the unfair laws and systems that exist in many parts of the world, including not just South Africa, but also in Ireland.


He wouldn't have a boycott, he couldn't give a tinker's curse, Doesn't matter how he fills the shelves as long as he lines his Purse
The song suggests that the owner of Dunnes does not care about the cause and that all he is concerned with is making a profit.


The messages came rollin' in from all around the world, For such concern and sacrifice and for courage brave and bold.
The song highlights the international response to the strike, with messages of support coming from people all over the world, who admire the courage and commitment of the strikers.


When 14 months were over, 10 women and a man, Had helped to raise the consiousness all around the land.
After 14 months, the strike finally ended, with the help of ten women and one man, the message of the strike had become widespread.


Cleary's in O'Connell street wouldn't sell South African shoes, Best Man sent all their clothes back, Roches Stores sent back their booze.
Other stores across Ireland joined the protest against South African goods.


Until all South African goods were taken off the shelves in Dunnes, And Mary Manning was down in Henry Street sticking to her guns
The strike resulted in a boycott of South African goods in all Dunnes' Stores, and Mary Manning continued to hold her position on the matter.




Writer(s): sandra kerr

Contributed by Jordan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@bridgetmohan5499

Close your eyes and come with me back to 1984
We'll take a walk down Henry Street to Dunnes
Department store.
The supermarket's busy and the registers make a din'
The groceries go rolling out and the cash comes rolling
In.


Mary Manning is at the checkout and she's trying to
Keep warm,
When a customer comes up to her with a basket on her
Arm
The contents of the basket Mary's future is to shape
But the label clearly stated "Produce Of The Cape"

I can't check out your oranges Mrs, now won't you bring
Them back.
For they come from South Africa, where White oppresses
Black
I'd have it on my conscience and I couldn't sleep at
Night
If I helped support the system that denies Black
People's rights

Our union says "Don't Handle Them. It's the least that
We can do.
We Fought oppression here for centuries, we'll help
Them fight it too"
The managers descended in an avalanche of suits
And Mary was suspended cos she wouldn't touch the
Fruits.

Dunnes Stores Dunnes Stores
Dunnes Stores with St Bernard Better Value Beats Them
All

Well, her friends are all behind her and the union gave
Support
And they called a strike and the pickets brought all
Dunnes' Stores to a halt
No one was going to tell the Boss what he bought or
Sold
These women are only workers, they must do as they are
Told.

Isn't it just typical of a partite screwball law?
It's not just in South Africa, the Rich Temple and the
Poor.
He wouldn't have a boycott, he couldn't give a tinker's
Curse
Doesn't matter how he fills the shelves as long as he
Lines his Purse

Chorus

The messages came rollin' in from all around the world
For such concern and sacrifice and for courage brave
And bold.
When 14 months were over, 10 women and a man
Had helped to raise the consiousness all around the
Land.

Cleary's in O'Connell street wouldn't sell South
African shoes.
Best Man sent all their clothes back, Roches Stores
Sent back their booze.
Until all South African goods were taken off the
Shelves in Dunnes.
And Mary Manning was down in Henry Street sticking to
Her guns



All comments from YouTube:

@NancyKerrMusic

This song was in fact written by my mother, Sandra Kerr. I remember her writing it, very clearly - especially the line "he couldn't care less how he fills his shelves, as long as he lines his purse"!

@martygraxoxo

Fair play to her. It's a belter.

@adamd5497

What a great woman your mother must’ve been! You should be so proud!

@cosmoseinfeld1

I have no idea why someone would share such an obvious lie. Shameful

@TheCiller10

@@cosmoseinfeld1how is it an obvious lie👀

@cosmoseinfeld1

@@TheCiller10 alt account? Nice try

1 More Replies...

@tommymorgan73

What a powerful song! It really goes to show that one person really can make a difference.

@bridgetmohan5499

Close your eyes and come with me back to 1984
We'll take a walk down Henry Street to Dunnes
Department store.
The supermarket's busy and the registers make a din'
The groceries go rolling out and the cash comes rolling
In.


Mary Manning is at the checkout and she's trying to
Keep warm,
When a customer comes up to her with a basket on her
Arm
The contents of the basket Mary's future is to shape
But the label clearly stated "Produce Of The Cape"

I can't check out your oranges Mrs, now won't you bring
Them back.
For they come from South Africa, where White oppresses
Black
I'd have it on my conscience and I couldn't sleep at
Night
If I helped support the system that denies Black
People's rights

Our union says "Don't Handle Them. It's the least that
We can do.
We Fought oppression here for centuries, we'll help
Them fight it too"
The managers descended in an avalanche of suits
And Mary was suspended cos she wouldn't touch the
Fruits.

Dunnes Stores Dunnes Stores
Dunnes Stores with St Bernard Better Value Beats Them
All

Well, her friends are all behind her and the union gave
Support
And they called a strike and the pickets brought all
Dunnes' Stores to a halt
No one was going to tell the Boss what he bought or
Sold
These women are only workers, they must do as they are
Told.

Isn't it just typical of a partite screwball law?
It's not just in South Africa, the Rich Temple and the
Poor.
He wouldn't have a boycott, he couldn't give a tinker's
Curse
Doesn't matter how he fills the shelves as long as he
Lines his Purse

Chorus

The messages came rollin' in from all around the world
For such concern and sacrifice and for courage brave
And bold.
When 14 months were over, 10 women and a man
Had helped to raise the consiousness all around the
Land.

Cleary's in O'Connell street wouldn't sell South
African shoes.
Best Man sent all their clothes back, Roches Stores
Sent back their booze.
Until all South African goods were taken off the
Shelves in Dunnes.
And Mary Manning was down in Henry Street sticking to
Her guns

@Vegan123

Isn't it just typical of apartheid's cruel law?
It's not just in South Africa, the rich trample on the poor

@OutlawMinniePearl

Israel, you're next!!! Great song, Christy!!! The Irish always tell it like it is!!! They're the ones who taught us all that TRUTH IS A FIXED STAR!!!

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