What made them unique was their introduction of the marching drums to their music, a style that has subsequently been copied by many bands of this genre ever since. It gave them an unmistakable and uncompromising sound that became the soundtrack of an entire generation during a period of civil strife prior to the IRA ceasefire of the late nineties.
The band was led by Irish republican supporter, Glasgow-born folk rock singer Gary Og, who is now a successful solo artist.
* This band is also known as Éire Óg, but the band does not officially include fadas: http://www.myspace.com/officialeireog
Go On Home British Soldiers
Eire Og Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
have you got no fuckin' homes of your own?
For eight hundred years we've fought you without fear
and we will fight you for eight hundred more.
If you stay British soldiers if you stay,
you'll never ever beat the IRA.
The fourteen men in Derry are the last that you will bury
Go on home British soldiers go on home
have you got no fuckin' homes of your own?
For eight hundred years we've fought you without fear
and we will fight you for eight hundred more.
No! We're not British, we're not Saxon, we're not English,
we're Irish! and proud we are to be
so fuck your Union Jack we want our country back
we want to see old Ireland free once more.
Go on home British soldiers go on home
have you got no fuckin' homes of your own?
For eight hundred years we've fought you without fear
and we will fight you for eight hundred more.
Go on home British soldiers go on home
have you got no fuckin' homes of your own?
For eight hundred years we've fought you without fear
and we will fight you for eight hundred more.
Well we're fighting British soldiers for the cause
we'll never bow to soldiers because
throughout our history we were born to be free
so get out British soldiers leave us be.
Go on home British soldiers go on home
have you got no fuckin' homes of your own?
For eight hundred years we've fought you without fear
and we will fight you for eight hundred more.
Go on home British soldiers go on home
have you got no fuckin' homes of your own?
For eight hundred years we've fought you without fear
and we will fight you for eight hundred more.
The lyrics to Eire Og's song "Go on home British soldiers" express the deep-seated Irish resentment towards the British occupation and domination of their land. The song is a call to the British soldiers to leave Ireland and return to their own land as they are not welcome in Ireland. The lyrics assert that the Irish have fought against the British for centuries with unyielding resistance and will continue to do so until they achieve their freedom.
The opening lines, "Go on home British soldiers go on home, have you got no fuckin' homes of your own?" exhibit the Irish frustration and anger towards the British presence in their country. The phrase "For eight hundred years we've fought you without fear, and we will fight you for eight hundred more" reflects the Irish people's determination and resilience in surviving and resisting British oppression for centuries.
The lyrics are an explicit call to the British army to leave Ireland and a declaration of Irish pride with phrases like "No, we're not British, we're not Saxon, we're not English, we're Irish! and proud we are to be, so fuck your Union Jack we want our country back, we want to see old Ireland free once more." The song's final lines suggest that the Irish will never submit to the British army, declaring "We'll never bow to soldiers because throughout our history we were born to be free, so get out British soldiers leave us be."
Overall, the song passionately expresses the Irish people's desire for freedom and independence from British domination.
Line by Line Meaning
Go on home British soldiers go on home
We demand that British soldiers leave our country and return to their own homes.
have you got no fuckin' homes of your own?
We question why the British soldiers are still occupying our land and wonder if they have no homes to go to.
For eight hundred years we've fought you without fear
For eight centuries, we have bravely battled against the British without faltering or being intimidated.
and we will fight you for eight hundred more.
We are committed to defending our land and will continue to fight against British occupation for another eight centuries if necessary.
If you stay British soldiers if you stay,
If the British soldiers choose to remain, they will not be able to defeat the IRA and will only prolong their own suffering.
you'll never ever beat the IRA.
The IRA is a powerful force that cannot be conquered by the British soldiers, no matter how long they stay.
The fourteen men in Derry are the last that you will bury
The British soldiers will not succeed in killing any more Irish people in Derry or elsewhere.
so take a tip and leave us while you may.
We advise the British soldiers to leave immediately while they still have the chance to do so without further consequences.
No! We're not British, we're not Saxon, we're not English, we're Irish!
We assert our Irish identity and reject any association with the British, the Saxons or the English.
and proud we are to be
We take great pride in being Irish and will defend our national identity against any external threats.
so fuck your Union Jack we want our country back
We express our hatred for the Union Jack and demand the return of our country to Irish rule.
we want to see old Ireland free once more.
We long for the days when Ireland was an independent and free nation and hope to see this come to fruition in the future.
Well we're fighting British soldiers for the cause
We are actively fighting against British soldiers in order to achieve our goals and regain our independence.
we'll never bow to soldiers because
We will not be intimidated or defeated by the British soldiers, no matter how powerful they may seem.
throughout our history we were born to be free
Freedom is an integral part of our national identity and is something we have fought for throughout our entire history as a nation.
so get out British soldiers leave us be.
We demand that the British soldiers leave us alone and allow us to determine our own destiny as a free and independent people.
Contributed by Annabelle D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@tdavani
This is the song for all oppressed and anti colonial fighters.
@kid--presentable
No this is a song for the Irish and the Irish alone
@RubbaDubbaDooskie
@@kid--presentable "Everybody's voices now..." Did he stutter?
@krazyeast9471
@@kid--presentablenah maoris too
@kid--presentable
@@RubbaDubbaDooskie no no it's for the Irish . Written by Irish about Irish for the Irish .. very simple you have your culture we have ours . PS I love the Maoris
@RubbaDubbaDooskie
@@kid--presentable I was trying to be comical more than obnoxious by quoting lyrics. It's certainly an Irish song written by Irish about Irish history. As to who it's "for", I s'pose that can rightfully be left to the artist to designate. I come from a world where it's essentially impossible to designate a cultural "what" I am beyond maybe an odd 1/4 or 1/8th here or there. The next generation's proper designation being even more nebulous. So just what is "mine" to a person like myself when we talk about culture? I claim no ownership to Irish anything. Just curious as to your take on that.
@user-if6hf7ky1t
My old da was from the rebel liberties. I was raised on rebellion, listening to songs of glory, heroes of renown! Amazing patriots, fearless men and women who could and would fight, through illness and, I can’t stand the wording of “poverty” because it doesn’t describe it bad enough. Diphtheria, skeletal families and hunger. Still fought. Amazing resilience and true determination for the cause of a one and only free Irish Republic. Endless respect for the war they fought to free the Irish. 💚🥃🙏🏼✌🏻☘️🧝🏻♀️
@domdigger5451
DONT 🇮🇪 LET 🇮🇪THE🇮🇪CROWN🇮🇪GET🇮🇪YOU🇮🇪DOWN
@kid--presentable
I think Ireland has more problems than the crown currently
@danielmorris4585
"Resistance Is Our Existence"
I'm Wales 🏴 But Got Irish Family ❤️