Joe McDonnell Wolfe Tones
THE WOLFE TONES
JOE McDONNELL
This song is about Joe McDonnell, an Irish Republican Volunteer who died in prison
while on hunger strike in 1981, he and his comrades were protesting against
the conditions and the fact that the British were trying to force them to wear
prison uniform when they were POW's. The British government wrongly convicted
them of being terrorists when the terrorists were and still are the British
government who have beign terrorising the Irish since 1167.
Verse 1
O me [G]name is Joe McDonnell, from [C]Belfast town I [G]came
That [C]city I will [G]never see agai[D]n
For [G]in the town of Belfast I spent[C] many happy [G]days
I [C]love that town in [G]oh so many [D]ways
For it's [Am]there I [C]spent my [Am]childhood and [C]found for me a [G]wife
I [Am]then set out to [C]make for [G]her a li[D]fe
But [G]all my young ambitions met with [C]bitterness and [G]hate
I soon [C]found myself [G]inside a prison [D]gate
Chorus
And you [Am]dare [C]call me a [Am]terrorist while [C]you look down your [G]gun
When I [Am]think of all the [C]deeds that [G]you have [D]done
You had [G]plundered many nations divided many lands
You had [C]terrorised their [Am]peoples you ruled [C]with an iron [D]hand
And you [G]brought this reign of [C]terror to my [D]land
Verse 2
Through those many months internment in the Maidstone and the Maize
I thought about my land throughout those days
Why my country was divided why I was now in jail
Imprisoned without crime 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 faithful morning I shook bold freedom's hand
For right or wrong I'd try to free my land
Chorus.....
Verse 3
Then one October morning trapped in a lions 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 am a saddened man I've watched my comrades die
If only people cared or wondered why
Chorus.....
Verse 4
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 lay behind me may your courage be the same
And I pray to God my life was not in vain
Ah but sad and bitter was the year of 1981
For everything I've lost and nothing's won
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