Lyrics The Wolfe Tones

The Wolfe Tones

Joe McDonnell

O me name is Joe McDonnell from

Belfast town I came

That city I will

never see again

For in the town of Belfast

I spent many happy days

I love that town in oh so many ways

For it's there I spent my childhood and found

for me a wife

I then set out to make

for her a life

But all my young ambitions met with bitterness and hate

I soon found myself inside a prison gate

And you dare to call me a terrorist

while you looked down your gun

When I think of all the deeds that you had done

You had plundered many nations divided many lands

You had terrorised their peoples you ruled with an iron

hand.

And you brought this reign of terror to my land

Through those many months internment

In the Maidstone and the Maze

I thought about my land throughout those days

Why my country was divided, why I was now in jail

Imprisoned without crime or without trial

And though I love my country I am not a bitter man

I've seen cruelty and injustice at first hand

So then one fateful morning I shook bold freedom's hand

For right or wrong I'd try to free my land

And you dare to call me a terrorist

while you looked down your gun

When I think of all the deeds that you had done

You had plundered many nations divided many lands

You had terrorised their peoples you ruled with an iron

hand.

And you brought this reign of terror to my land

Then one cold October morning trapped in a lion's den

I found myself in prison once again

I was committed to the H-blocks for fourteen years or

more

On the Blanket the conditions they were poor

Then a hunger strike we did commence for the dignity of

man

But it seemed to me that no one gave a damn

But now, I'm a saddened man I've watched my comrades

die

If only people cared or wondered why

And you dare to call me a terrorist

while you looked down your gun

When I think of all the deeds that you had done

You had plundered many nations divided many lands

You had terrorised their peoples you ruled with an iron

hand.

And you brought this reign of terror to my land

May God shine on you Bobby Sands

for the courage you have shown

May your glory and your fame be widely known

And Francis Hughes and Ray McCreesh who died

unselfishly

And Patsy O Hara and the next in line is me

And those who lie behind me may you're courage be the

same

And I pray to God my life is not in vain

Ah but sad and bitter was the year of 1981

For everything I've lost and nothing's won.