Sunday Bloody Sunday
John & Yoko / Plastic Ono Band Lyrics
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When they shot the people there
The cries of thirteen martyrs
Filled the free Derry air
Is there any one among you
Dare to blame it on the kids?
Not a soldier boy was bleeding
When they nailed the coffin lids!
Sunday bloody Sunday
Bloody Sunday's the day!
You claim to be majority
Well you know that it's a lie
You're really a minority
On this sweet Emerald Isle
When Stormont bans our marchers
They've got a lot to learn
Internment is no answer
It's those mother's turn to burn!
Sunday bloody Sunday
Bloody Sunday's the day!
You Anglo pigs and Scotties
Sent to colonize the north
You wave your bloody Union Jacks
And you know what it's worth!
How dare you hold on to ransom
A people proud and free
Keep Ireland for the Irish
Put the English back to sea!
Sunday bloody Sunday
Bloody Sunday's the day!
Yes it's always bloody Sunday
In the concentration camps
Keep Falls and roads free forever
From the bloody English hands
Repatriate to Britain
All of you who call it home
Leave Ireland to the Irish
Not for London or for Rome!
Sunday bloody Sunday
Bloody Sunday's the day!
The lyrics to Sunday Bloody Sunday by John & Yoko / Plastic Ono Band / Elephant's Memory are a commentary on the Troubles in Northern Ireland in the 1970s, particularly the Bloody Sunday massacre in 1972. The song is characterized by its forceful, angry lyrics, and its call for an end to British rule in Ireland. The opening lines of the song describe the violent events of Bloody Sunday, where British soldiers shot and killed thirteen protesters in the Bogside area of Derry. The cries of the martyrs fill the air, echoing the pain and grief of the community.
The lyrics then turn to address those who might try to blame the violence on the young protesters rather than on the occupying military. The song underscores the fact that no soldiers were injured in the violence, and yet they were the ones responsible for the deaths of the thirteen innocent protesters. The song further escalates its critique of British rule in Ireland, calling out the English and Scottish colonial agents who wave their Union Jacks as a symbol of their dominance. The song calls for the return of Ireland to the Irish people, and an end to the occupation.
Line by Line Meaning
Well it was Sunday Bloody Sunday
The event that happened on Sunday is now known as Bloody Sunday
When they shot the people there
People were shot by someone at that location
The cries of thirteen martyrs
Thirteen people were killed and their cries were heard
Filled the free Derry air
The air in Derry was filled with the sounds of those who were killed
Is there any one among you
Does anyone here
Dare to blame it on the kids?
Have the courage to blame children for it?
Not a soldier boy was bleeding
No soldiers were injured
When they nailed the coffin lids!
When they closed the coffins
You claim to be majority
You say you are in the majority
Well you know that it's a lie
But you know that is not true
You're really a minority
Actually, you are part of a small group
On this sweet Emerald Isle
On the island of Ireland
When Stormont bans our marchers
When the government prohibits our protestors from marching
They've got a lot to learn
They need to learn a lesson
Internment is no answer
Imprisonment is not the solution
It's those mother's turn to burn!
It is those in power who must suffer the consequences
You Anglo pigs and Scotties
You English and Scottish people
Sent to colonize the north
Sent to take control of Northern Ireland
You wave your bloody Union Jacks
You proudly display the Union flag
And you know what it's worth!
And you know its true value
How dare you hold on to ransom
Why do you dare to hold people hostage
A people proud and free
A group of people who are proud and want to be free
Keep Ireland for the Irish
Let Ireland be controlled by the Irish people
Put the English back to sea!
Make the English go back to their own country
Yes it's always bloody Sunday
It seems like every day is a violent day
In the concentration camps
In the places where people are being held captive
Keep Falls and roads free forever
Ensure that Falls and roads remain free from violence forever
From the bloody English hands
From the hands of the English who have caused so much violence
Repatriate to Britain
Go back to Britain
All of you who call it home
Everyone who considers it their home
Leave Ireland to the Irish
Let Ireland be for the Irish people
Not for London or for Rome!
Not for those who do not truly belong there
Sunday bloody Sunday
A reminder of the terrible events of Bloody Sunday
Bloody Sunday's the day!
A day that will never be forgotten
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN WINSTON LENNON, YOKO ONO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ralph Del Rio
Sounds great! Just needs a remix. Should be a single for the box.
k higgins
When I saw it was the ‘ without Yoko version’ I decide to check it out.
Yoko On No!
LM L
Absolutely hilarious that all the Yoko haters conveniently forget that John loved her, period.
cinematiccrisis
I like Yoko Ono, especially on this song.
d co
great song ,
Kennedy Bollaris
yall complaining bout yoko just dont understand that yokos vocals arent meant to be nice to listen to, theyre harsh and uncomfortable for a reason. her shrillness is there to leave an impact on the listener of the distress of the time and event, not to be pretty.
Kennedy Bollaris
@cunt it's a song about the murder of innocent Irish civilians, I don't think the intent was to make something nice to listen to. It's activism.
cunt
Why would I want to listen to something not nice? I love heavy metal screamint but what she's doing is horrible and anyone could do it. No talent at all.
d.Walsh. Noise
Yeah sure...... pffff
BenjaminRenegadeAngel
@Wendy Johansen she says sunday bloody sunday