The Wolfe Tones, an I… Read Full Bio ↴The preferred artist name is The Wolfe Tones.
The Wolfe Tones, an Irish rebel music band, incorporate elements of Irish traditional music in their songs. They take their name from the Irish rebel and patriot Theobald Wolfe Tone, one of the leaders of the Irish Rebellion of 1798, with the double entendre of a wolf tone – a spurious sound that can affect instruments of the violin family.
The Wolfe Tones began in 1963. They and have continued recording and performing to this day. They originally consisted of the brothers Derek and Brian Warfield and their friend Noel Nagle, with Tommy Byrne joining soon after. It was then that three neighbouring children from a quiet working-class Dublin suburb, Inchicore, brothers Brian and Derek and a pal Noel Nagle started playing round the fleadhs of Ireland more for fun than anything else. They used to get together at weekends playing Fleadh cheoils or music festivals, mainly as a pastime. Thoughts of fame and riches were a world apart.
Brian and Noel had taken tin whistle lessons at the Pipers Club in Thomas Street in Dublin, while Derek took up the mandolin for no better reason than his father played it.
During the summer of 1963 the four of them had hitch-hiked across Ireland, from Dublin to Kerry, for a weekend at a Fleadh Ceoil, an annual gathering of traditional Irish musicians where there's lashings of drink and non-stop music. The lads were really there for the beer although they did play and sing, but only for their own amusement.
Brian Warfield recalls what happened next: "I remember arriving in Killarney fairly late at night and looking around for somewhere to bed down. It was two o'clock in the morning as we trooped through the streets of the town and probably, because we had a few drinks in us, we started to play and sing. It was August and there were still some people on the streets. A few of them gathered around us as we sang and after a dozen tunes a fella with an American accent came up and asked us if we knew some song or other. We knew it - and played it for him."
It was later that year while they were waiting in a pub in the village of Kilrush, County Clare to catch a ferry across the estuary of the river Shannon to play in Ballybunnion, County Kerry that they named themselves "Wolfe Tones". It was in honour of the 18th Century Irish Nationalist leader who was condemned to death by the occupying British forces but cheated the hangman the night before he was to be executed by cutting his own throat. The name and the symbol it evokes in Irish history and republicanism, has inspired them since.
In 2002 Derek Warfield left the group to pursue a solo career but the rump of The Wolfe Tones still tour constantly, usually appearing at small function halls. However, 2004 was their last tour year doing that. They will continue to tour, but only at select venues according their website.
The well known rebel song, "Celtic Symphony" was written by Brian Warfield back in 1987 for the 100th anniversary of Celtic Football Club. It has been covered by countless bands around the world. Other famous songs written by the group include Joe McDonnell, a song about the life and death of the IRA Volunteer who was the 5th person to die on the 1981 Hunger Strike, which is also said to be their most popular stage song.
The band achieved an honour in 2002, when their song "A Nation Once Again" was voted the best world music song of all time by an online BBC poll.
Go On Home British Soldiers
Wolfe Tones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Have you got no fucking homes of your own
For 800 years we've fought you without fear
And we will fight you for 800 more
If you stay British Soldiers If you stay
You'll never ever beat the IRA
For the 14 men in Derry
So take a tip And leave us bloody be
So Go on home British Soldiers Go on home
Have you got no fucking homes of your own
For 800 years we've fought you without fear
And we will fight you for 800 more
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
So Go on home British Soldiers Go on home
Have you got no fucking homes of your own
For 800 years we've fought you without fear
And we will fight you for 800 more
We'll fight them British Soldiers for the cause
We'll never bow to Soldiers because
Troughout our history We were born to be free
So geo out British bastards leave us be
So Go on home British Soldiers Go on home
Have you got no fucking homes of your own
For 800 years we've fought you without fear
And we will fight you for 800 more
Go on home British Soldiers Go on home
Have you got no fucking homes of your own
For 800 years we've fought you without fear
And we will fight you for 800 more
The Wolfe Tones' song "Go On Home British Soldiers" is a powerful and passionate cry for Irish independence and unity. The song is a bold and defiant statement of Irish pride, reflecting the centuries of oppression and conflict between the Irish and British. The lyrics portray the British soldiers as unwelcome outsiders who are not wanted in Ireland.
The first verse of the song declares that the British soldiers should go home because they do not have any homes of their own. The reference to 800 years of fighting refers to the long history of conflict between the Irish and the British, including the British colonization and occupation of Ireland. The second verse warns the British soldiers that they will never beat the IRA, and that the last 14 men killed in the Bloody Sunday massacre in Derry would be the last that the British would bury. The final verse reaffirms Irish pride and calls for the return of a united Ireland, free from British rule.
Overall, "Go On Home British Soldiers" is a powerful and emotionally charged song that reflects the ongoing struggle for peace and unity in Ireland. The song has become an anthem for those who fight for Irish independence and stands as a testament to the resilience and determination of the Irish people.
Line by Line Meaning
Go on home British Soldiers Go on home
Leave our country, British soldiers, go to your own homes and stay there.
Have you got no fucking homes of your own
Are you homeless, British soldiers? Why are you trying to take over our land?
For 800 years we've fought you without fear
For over 800 years, we have resisted British attempts to invade and occupy our country with courage and bravery.
And we will fight you for 800 more
We will continue fighting against British oppression for another 800 years if we have to.
If you stay British Soldiers If you stay
If you decide to remain in our country, British soldiers,
You'll never ever beat the IRA
you will never be able to defeat the Irish Republican Army.
For the 14 men in Derry
Referring to Bloody Sunday when British soldiers shot and killed 14 unarmed civilians in Derry, Northern Ireland
Are the last that you will bury
Those lives lost will be the last of innocent Irishmen that the British soldiers will kill.
So take a tip And leave us bloody be
Take heed of this warning and let us be, stop the bloodshed and leave us in peace.
We're not British, we're not Saxon we're not English
We do not identify as British, Saxon or English, we are Irish and proud of it.
We're Irish and proud we are to be
We are proud of our national identity as Irish people.
So fuck your Union Jack We want our country back
We reject the British flag, the Union Jack, and demand the return of our own independent country.
We want to see old Ireland free once more
We wish to see Ireland free and independent as it once was before British rule.
We'll fight them British Soldiers for the cause
We will fight against the British soldiers for our cause, for the independence and freedom of our country.
We'll never bow to Soldiers because
We will never submit to British soldiers or obey their commands because
Throughout our history We were born to be free
Throughout our history, we have always been fighting for our freedom and independence.
So geo out British bastards leave us be
Go away, British soldiers, and stop interfering with our country and people. We will not tolerate your presence any longer.
Contributed by Dylan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@garrysteptoe2279
When I was young I was brought up to believe through the media and the
majority of folk around me that Britain was right in their actions. I am
fortunate now to recognise I was indoctrinated and all the rubbish
Britain spouts is so wrong. More folk are awakening too! I don't
understand why some folk are still blindly loyal to these murdering
imperialists. Also it's not about religion for me, I was brought up
C.O.S protestant I now am a non religous Scot who believes in
nationalism and republicanism. I hope Ireland becomes one and free from
Britain soon and Scotland also gets independence.
@infanteriadelinea8264
British out of Northern Ireland.
From Chile.
@franklinclinton3036
ALex GM ayeeeeee
@carolrooney9815
Love 🇨🇮🇨🇮🎀😜
@carolrooney9815
Love it 🇨🇮🇨🇮🎈🎀
@MF-zf7cr
🇮🇪
@sophie.m1948
ITS NORTH OF IRLAND ITS NOT THERE PART OF ENGLAND ITS OIRS 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪 UP THE RA
@FranmanBSA
British out of Nothern Ireland
from Argentina
@Cjnw
#FreeMalvinas
@niksarass
@R Ando That will come soon enough my friend
@captaintommy8159
1982/10