Come Out Ye Black & Tans
Kilmaine Saints Lyrics
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Where the royal drums do beat
And the loving British feet the walked all over us
And each and every night when me father come on tight
He′d invite the neighbors outside with this chorus!
Oh why don't you tell how you slandered great Parnell?
When you thought him well and truly persecuted
When our leaders of 16 were executed
Come out ye Black And Tans
Come out and fight me like a man!
Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders!
Tell her how the IRA
Made you run like hell away!
From the green and lovely lanes of Killashandra
Well, tell us how you slew
Those poor Arabs 2 by 2
Like the Zulus they had knives, and bows and arrows
And how you faced each one
With your sixty pounder gun
And you frightened them poor natives to their marrow
Come out ye Black And Tans
Come out and fight me like a man!
Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders!
Tell her how the IRA
Made you run like hell away!
From the green and lovely lanes of Killashandra
Come out ye British Huns
Come out and fight without your guns
Show your wife how you won medals up in Derry
For you murdered 16 men
And you′d do it all again
Get out of here and take your bloody army!
Come out ye Black And Tans
Come out and fight me like a man!
Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders!
Tell her how the IRA
Made you run like hell away!
From the green and lovely lanes of Killashandra
Come out ye Black And Tans
Come out and fight me like a man!
Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders!
Tell her how the IRA
Made you run like hell away!
From the green and lovely lanes of Killashandra
From the green and lovely lanes of Killashandra
From the green and lovely lanes of Killashandra
"Come Out Ye Black and Tans" is a traditional Irish rebel song that was written during the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921). The song is about the British paramilitary force known as the Black and Tans, who were notorious for their brutality and violence towards the Irish population. The Black and Tans were made up of ex-soldiers who were recruited to help the British government suppress the Irish independence movement. The lyrics are a call to arms for the Irish people to stand up to the Black and Tans and their violent tactics.
The first verse sets the scene for the rest of the song, with the singer describing his birthplace in Dublin where the sound of the "royal drums" can be heard. He talks about how the British have "walked all over us," highlighting their dominance and the oppression felt by the Irish people. The chorus is a direct challenge to the Black and Tans, daring them to come out and fight like men instead of relying on their weapons.
The second verse brings up the topic of Charles Parnell, a prominent Irish nationalist leader who was falsely accused of having an affair with another man's wife, leading to his downfall. The singer accuses the British of slandering Parnell and persecuting him. He also references the execution of Irish leaders in 1916, which further fuels his anger towards the British occupation.
The final verse directly addresses the British Army, calling them "Huns" and challenging them to fight without their guns. The lyrics reference the Bloody Sunday massacre in Derry, where 14 unarmed civilians were shot dead by British soldiers. The singer accuses the British of murder and tells them to leave Ireland.
Overall, "Come Out Ye Black and Tans" is a powerful protest song that highlights the anger and resistance felt by the Irish people during the War of Independence. It has become a symbol of Irish identity and is often sung at political rallies and sporting events.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born in a Dublin street
I grew up in Dublin and have seen the struggles of my people firsthand
Where the royal drums do beat
The British monarchy's influence and control is felt everywhere
And the loving British feet the walked all over us
The British have oppressed us and treated us unfairly
And each and every night when me father come on tight
My father would come home drunk every night
He'd invite the neighbors outside with this chorus!
He would invite the neighbors to sing this rebellious song against the British
Oh why don't you tell how you slandered great Parnell?
The British have defamed our leader Parnell, tell us the truth
When you thought him well and truly persecuted
When you unjustly treated him badly
Where are the smears and jeers that you loudly let us hear?
Where are the lies and insults you used against us?
When our leaders of 16 were executed
When the British executed our leaders during the Easter Rising of 1916
Come out ye Black And Tans
Addressing the British paramilitary force that terrorized Irish citizens
Come out and fight me like a man!
Challenge to the Black and Tans to fight fairly instead of using their power
Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders!
Show off your medals from the First World War, as if they justify your actions in Ireland
Tell her how the IRA made you run like hell away!
Boasting about how the Irish Republican Army made the British forces retreat
From the green and lovely lanes of Killashandra
Referring to the natural beauty that is being destroyed by the violence of the British occupation
Well, tell us how you slew
Tell us how you killed
Those poor Arabs 2 by 2
Referring to the Arab Revolt during the First World War in which the British used extreme violence
Like the Zulus they had knives, and bows and arrows
Similar to how the British justified their violent tactics against the Zulus in South Africa
And how you faced each one
How you confronted the enemy
With your sixty pounder gun
The British used heavy artillery against Arab forces
And you frightened them poor natives to their marrow
The British instilled fear in the indigenous population
Come out ye British Huns
Addressing the British forces as Hun-like conquerors
Come out and fight without your guns
Challenge to fight without the use of weapons
Show your wife how you won medals up in Derry
Show off your medals from the violence that occurred in Derry, as if they are something to be proud of
For you murdered 16 men
Referring to the Bloody Sunday massacre in Derry in 1972
And you'd do it all again
The British are willing to repeat their violent actions
Get out of here and take your bloody army!
Demanding the British forces to leave Ireland
Contributed by Camden B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.