The popularity of the song I'll Always Be A Womble in Loyalist circles provides a rock solid proof that the extensive use of swearwords isn't reserved to native Irish.
In Northern Ireland the nickname Womble is used against and by Loyalists.
The real Wombles made their appearance in 1968 in children's books written by Elisabeth Beresford. In the 1970's the furry creatures were taken to television.
At first glance there is not the slightest similarity between the recycling, environmentally aware, rodent-like creatures and descendants from Scottish and English settlers in Northern Ireland. Although the Wombles' habitat is Wimbledon they aren't bound to Britain, nor are they cut-and-dried British in their behaviour or ideas. The flimsy connection with Wimbledon might be sufficient to use the nickname Womble in a degrading manner, but it lacks a certain emotional value needed to be used as honourable designation, especially because most Protestants in Northern Ireland are of Scottish parentage.
Even after studying the Wombles for some days we were unable to get a grip on this nickname. Maybe the nickname isn't derived from the Wombles as a group, but from their leader, Great Uncle Bulgaria. Unlike the other Wombles the conservative Great Uncle Bulgaria is averse from new ideas. Because of his old age he has many stories to tell about the good old days. His only link with the present is his daily copy of The Times. Probably the most significant connection between Great Uncle Bulgaria and the Ulster Young Militants (UYM), who bear the nickname Womble with pried, is his inevitable tartan scarf. The Ulster Young Militants (UYM) stem from the so-called Tartan Gangs, a name derived from the tartan scarf the gangs used to identify themselves.
We have to admit that our explanation is shaky. Other suggestions are welcomed.
Apparently Loyalists have a weak spot for cartoon figures. The boxer Spike, famous by its performance in the Tom & Jerry cartoons, Donald Duck, the Viking Hagar the Horrible and Bart Simpson are regular visitors of murals, websites and other means of communication.
| Title: I'll Always Be A Womble |
| Author unknown |
| No recordings known |
| Category: Loyalist Song and The Troubles |
Copyright Statement |
Oh, I'll always be a Womble
Till the day i drop an die
An I'd hate to be a Fenian
Coz they're bastards an they're sly
Oh, they're all dirty wee fat fucks
An they're two faced slimey cunts
They should be burnt out and sent to Dublin
to spend their fuckin' punts
So come on Jim don't talk to him
his heads a fuckin' way
u young lad should be a man and fight the IRA
no matter what they tell you no matter what they say
follow in your fathers footsteps son an join the UDA
No I don't give a fuck about Donald Duck
coz he doesn't give a fuck about me
and I don't give a fuck about Martin McGuiness and that bastard Gerry
Oh, they're all dirty wee fat fucks
An they're two faced slimey cunts
They should be burnt out an sent to Dublin
to spend their fuckin' punts.
(Thanks to Nicky for sending the lyrics)