Senior Orangeman defends playing of controversial tune
Posted By: July 04, 2017
IRISH CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING
Distributed by Irish National Caucus
Defending the Indefensible
Top Orange cleric, Grand Secretary, former Grand Chaplain — and former Special Branch policeman— defends the provocative playing of the “Famine Song” tune in front of Catholic Church…. Like playing an anti- Semitism tune outside a Synagogue.
See below the article from the Irish News (Belfast)—followed by the racist, Anti-Catholic lyrics of the outrageously bigoted song. In Northern Ireland, the song/tune is aimed at Catholics; and in Scotland, it is aimed at the Irish—hence the refrain, “Why don’t they go home?
Senior Orangeman defends playing of controversial tune
Irish News. Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Orange Order Chaplain [Rev.] Mervyn Gibson
A SENIOR member of the Orange Order has said loyalists who played the Famine Song outside a Catholic church sparking a major parade dispute did not mean to cause offense.
The Rev. Mervyn Gibson, pictured, was speaking after it emerged that the controversial tune was played and sung during an Orange Order march in Glasgow to mark the Battle of the Boyne at the weekend.
There was controversy in Belfast 2012 when the Young Conway Volunteers, was filmed walking in circles while playing the tune outside St Patrick’s Church on Donegall Street.
The song, which contains anti-Irish lyrics and is sung to the air of the Beach Boys hit Sloop John B, was branded racist by a Scottish court in 2009.
Speaking on Radio Ulster yesterday Rev Gibson said he knows the tune “as the Beach Boys song”.
The Orange Order chaplain later told The Irish News that the tune was played by loyalist bands before the lyrics were ever added.
“We can’t start banning music, are we going to start banning books next?” he said.
“It was played long before it became the Famine Song because it’s a tune that can be played on the flute.”
He said that other songs such Yellow Submarine – which was a hit for the Beatles – are also played.
Rev. Gibson said he didn’t believe that the Famine Song was played outside St Patrick’s in 2012 to offend.
“I am 100 percent satisfied that tune was not played outside St Patrick’s to cause offense,” he said.
***
Orange Order Chaplain [Rev.] Mervyn Gibson
A SENIOR member of the Orange Order has said loyalists who played the Famine Song outside a Catholic church sparking a major parade dispute did not mean to cause offense.
The Rev. Mervyn Gibson, pictured, was speaking after it emerged that the controversial tune was played and sung during an Orange Order march in Glasgow to mark the Battle of the Boyne at the weekend.
There was controversy in Belfast 2012 when the Young Conway Volunteers, was filmed walking in circles while playing the tune outside St Patrick’s Church on Donegall Street.
The song, which contains anti-Irish lyrics and is sung to the air of the Beach Boys hit Sloop John B, was branded racist by a Scottish court in 2009.
Speaking on Radio Ulster yesterday Rev Gibson said he knows the tune “as the Beach Boys song”.
The Orange Order chaplain later told The Irish News that the tune was played by loyalist bands before the lyrics were ever added.
“We can’t start banning music, are we going to start banning books next?” he said.
“It was played long before it became the Famine Song because it’s a tune that can be played on the flute.”
He said that other songs such Yellow Submarine – which was a hit for the Beatles – are also played.
Rev. Gibson said he didn’t believe that the Famine Song was played outside St Patrick’s in 2012 to offend.
“I am 100 percent satisfied that tune was not played outside St Patrick’s to cause offense,” he said.
***
LYRICS OF THE FAMINE SONG
I often wonder where they would have been
I often wonder where they would have been
If we hadn’t have taken them in
Fed them and washed them
Thousands in Glasgow alone
From Ireland they came
Brought us nothing but trouble and shame
Fed them and washed them
Thousands in Glasgow alone
From Ireland they came
Brought us nothing but trouble and shame
Well the famine is over
Why don’t they go home?
Now Athenry Mike was a thief
And Large John he was fully briefed
And that wee traitor from Castlemilk
Why don’t they go home?
Now Athenry Mike was a thief
And Large John he was fully briefed
And that wee traitor from Castlemilk
Turned his back on his own
They’ve all their Papists in Rome
They’ve all their Papists in Rome
They have U2 and Bono
Well the famine is over
Well the famine is over
Why don’t they go home?
Now they raped and fondled their kids
That’s what those perverts from the dark side did
Now they raped and fondled their kids
That’s what those perverts from the dark side did
And they swept it under the carpet
and Large John he hid
Their evils seeds have been sown
Cause they’re not of our own
Well the famine is over
Why don’t you go home?
Now Timmy don’t take it from me
and Large John he hid
Their evils seeds have been sown
Cause they’re not of our own
Well the famine is over
Why don’t you go home?
Now Timmy don’t take it from me
Cause if you know your history
You’ve persecuted thousands of people
In Ireland alone
You turned on the lights
You turned on the lights
Fueled U boats by night
That’s how you repay us
It’s time to go home.
END
